Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Food supply – South Africa – Stutterheim'

The challenges of food insecurity and the manner in which it can be addressed is a global concern. Governments throughout the world have strived for means to address global food security either through development of Millennium Development Goals or United Nations protocols. It is a major concern that the South African Government has made it its centre focus to address the challenge of food security. In the Eastern Cape, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform has embarked on numerous food production programmes in an attempt to address this challenge. It is however noticeable that these attempts somehow did not manage to address their intended purpose. A study of literature with the aim of identifying critical success factors was done. The critical success factors identified and explored were, project management, establishing a clear mission and project objectives, addressing challenges and opportunities of social, environmental and economical sustainability, addressing physiological needs of the beneficiaries, involving the youth and community, role of extension services, training and capacity development, create local partnership and on-going monitoring and evaluation. The factors were then explored through a study of projects from the food production programme in Amahlathi Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. A multiple case study wherein a purposive selection of four food security projects selected from two food security programmes was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to source the information from all members of the selected projects to evaluate the existence of the critical factors. The main aim was to test whether these factors, if they existed in these projects, contributed to their existence. The findings reveal that none of the identified factors existed in the selected projects and though not proven, the non-existence of these factors has resulted in these projects being in survival mode instead of a sustainable state. A recommendation is made of a further study focusing on a bigger sample wherein these factors could be tested. The study could assist in developing a formal model for the running of these projects successfully.

How should the impact of HIV and AIDS on rural livelihoods be factored into efforts to monitor and stabilise household food security? With both HIV and AIDS and food security at the top of the global development agenda, this is a question posed by many scholars, practitioners, donor agencies and government departments. However, while there is an excess of discourse outlining the theoretical bases for how HIV and AIDS can, and is, radically transforming household food acquisition; there is a lack of empirical evidence from the South African context that demonstrates if, and how, HIV and AIDS changes household-level strategies of food acquisition and intake. This thesis explores the association of household-level mortality, chronic illness and additional child-dependent fostering with household experience of food security and food acquisition strategies, in three rural villages in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces of South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data-collection were applied to 307 households in the three sites. For twelve months, both HIV and AIDS-afflicted and non-afflicted households were repeatedly visited at 3-month intervals, in order to be assessed for levels of food security, dietary intake and method of food procurement (purchased, cultivated, wild or donated). Overall, HIV and AIDS-afflicted households showed a significantly higher experience of food insecurity, probably attributable to shortages in food quantity. Dietary composition and overall diversity, however, was not significantly different. Although households with chronic illness and recent mortality showed a heightened investment in cultivation sources, the success of these strategies were to a great extent mediated by household income, and the level of medical treatment received by those who were chronically ill. Chronic illness was also associated with more donations, but these required considerable investments in social capital networks. Finally, use of wild leafy vegetables was not associated with household HIV and AIDS status, despite the financial, nutritional and labour-saving properties of these foods. Overall, the study suggests that there was little evidence of long-term planning and strategy in household food security responses. There was no evidence for shifts to labour-saving crops or foods and, in some instances, child labour was being used to ameliorate prime-adult labour deficits. Moreover, given that the vast majority (89.2%) of food groups were sourced through purchase, it is questionable whether investing in diverse food acquisition strategies would be advisable. Unless supported by medical treatment and steady earned household income, policies to promote intensified household agricultural subsistence production in the wake of HIV and AIDS are unlikely to provide households with anything more than short-term safety-nets, rather than long-term, sustainable food security solutions.

People living in rural areas are continually losing their value, dignity, ubuntu and rural nature of livelihood. Agriculture in these areas characterises the nature of rural livelihood. Traditionally, people living in rural areas were highly dependent on their production from gardens for food, income (barter exchange), and other social activities. Nowadays, that motive and interest is no longer operating at its full potential, so to revive that history and nature, household (homestead) production, certain programmes were introduced to greatly improved the standard of living of the poor, and it has proved to have an impact as it has generated income, and created food stability and employment through the project. Home gardens are there and can be used as the method and the strategy toward improvement and development of the people around the world, more especial to developing countries. Certain programmes that are initiated for acting against the challenges faced by rural people have failed to materialise and operate on their fully potential. The Siyazondla homestead food production programme is the one of the programmes practiced by the government of South Africa to act against such challenges, affecting especially poor people. This study was aimed at assessing the role of Siyazondla homestead food production programme in food security and poverty alleviation in selected communities of Nkonkobe local municipality of the Eastern Cape. It took the form of a case study in Msobomvu, Ngcothoyi and Binfield locations. The Nkonkobe local municipality is demarcated into five major areas: Middledrift, Alice, Seymour, Fort Beaufort and Balfour. The study sample was collected from beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the Siyazondla programme. The sample size was 90 respondents, from which in one area, a 15 beneficiaries and anticipated non- beneficiaries were targeted. The target sample from each village was collected from 15 beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. Many farmers from the study area benefited from the programme, though a limited number was targeted. Therefore, a probability sampling was applied and employed, where there were more than required number of beneficiaries of the programme and anticipated beneficiaries of the programme. The study was effectively and efficiently carried out and achieved with the use of personal interviewing of the recipients by use of questionnaires. The study was analysed by a computerised programme of analyses called SPSS v.2.1 and excel. The objectives of the study based on food security, poverty alleviation and reduction, and also improving nutritious status. The finding of the research clearly indicates the outcome of the programme on livelihood basis of the beneficiaries. Some of the objectives of the programme were achieved, such as food security and nutritious levels, whilst other objectives had shortcomings. The finding of the study also shows that programme, though had original benefits but also there are the anticipated and probable benefits of the programme Siyazondla, such as income, skill of farming, improving social status, and there are some possibilities when the programme is properly implemented. Though the majority of people are concentrated in rural areas, the programme on its own had shortcoming to meet needs of the whole population, as food insecurity, unemployment and poverty are taking its course. The programme on its own had shortcoming such as lack of adequate resource and as results, very few people benefited from the programme. Another shortcoming of the programme is the effectiveness of agricultural extension personnel to certain aspect such as marketing of farmers produce and proper monitoring and evaluation of the programme. Therefore, in the long run programmes of this nature are promising, there will be some development and improvement toward growth and better standards of livelihood. It is through this study that had to assess the structure, procedure, strategies implemented of the programme and impact of the programme to both beneficiaries and anticipated beneficiaries of the programme.

This study sought to investigate the purchasing determinants of food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat, in the Eastern Cape. The study comprised a pilot study and main study (n=459) making use of an adapted version of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. It was found that food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat were high, with most households experiencing food insecurity conditions between three and ten times per month. Income level was found to have a significant effect on food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat. The availability of efficient transport and refrigeration was also found to significantly influence the experience of food insecurity conditions.

Supply chain is one of the important pillars driving business competitiveness, and its performance is critical for the success of the organisation. This research aimed to investigate the applicability of the sand cone model with regard to improving supply chain performance to being more lean (efficient) and agile (effective), within South African food fast moving consumer goods manufacturers (FMCGs) and food retailers. The sand cone model says one must implement and embed agile initiatives first before implementing lean initiatives to create high performing supply chains.
Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
zk2016
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
MBA
Unrestricted

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of rural development projects on food insecurity and malnutrition at Siyazama food garden project in Sakhisizwe Municipality. The study followed a qualitative approach which included in-depth interviews of twenty-six (26) Siyazama food garden project members and four (4) municipal officials. The process of collecting data also made use of observations. Data was analyzed qualitatively, using thematic analysis of the content of the data, which employed an interpretative approach, resulting in a presentation of data, which is textual rather than statistical. The study found that the level of food insecurity and malnutrition in the studied area is still regarded as being high as most of the participants reported that they still have a problem in accessing all the vital nutritional elements which constitute a balanced diet. Also, the study also found that although most of the rural development projects like the Siyazama food gardening project have a profound effect in tackling food insecurity and malnutrition on household level, in South Africa there is a debate about the sustainability or such projects in solving this issue. The study found a number of challenges facing the Siyazama Food gardening project which include: theft, poor management, lack of support, lack of agricultural expertise and conflict amongst members. The study concluded by making some recommendations with to view of resolving the above mentioned challenges.

Food is vital to human life. Therefore, ensuring its safety as it moves from producer to consumer in food supply chains (FSCs) is essential. This can be achieved through the use of food traceability technology which enables track and trace of produce within a FSC. Recently, blockchain technology (BCT) has shown great potential to enhance traceability in FSCs, owing to its ability to securely store data in a decentralised and tamper-evident manner. However, it appears that research on blockchain-enabled food traceability exists primarily within the context of large FSCs, whilst scarce for local FSCs in which traceability is often an inefficient and manual process. Given this background, this exploratory research is carried out, to investigate whether a blockchain-enabled system can be used to improve traceability in local FSCs. To do this, we (i) collaborate with Oranjezicht City Farm Market (OZCFM) - a farmers market in Cape Town, the smallholder farmers that supply OZCFM with fresh local produce and the OZCFM patrons that purchase the produce; (ii) map out the local FSC by conducting observations and running surveys with the aforementioned actors; (iii) design, develop and pilot FoodPrint - a web based and blockchain-enabled food traceability application. During the pilot within the OZCFM-related local FSC, FoodPrint is used to capture data on the harvest, transportation and storage of produce; and reveal produce provenance at destination by scanning of supplier-produce specific quick response (QR) codes. We find that FoodPrint provides tamper-evident traceability and authentic transparency of produce related data to the local FSC actors. Further, we note that scanning a FoodPrint QR code for produce provenance does not enhance the consumers trust of the local FSC, as it pre-exists. This implies that local FSCs with existing and functional trust mechanisms do not benefit from trust-enhancing mechanisms such as blockchain-enabled traceability. Future work may consider data privacy in FSCs and automating FSC data entry to reduce the risk of fraud.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
Africa is the continent where home sapiens was born and with its worn out soils, fitful rain and rising population could very well provide a glimpse of our species’ future. The trends that are behind the current deterioration in food security go far beyond agriculture itself. South Africa is food secure at a national level and has been meeting its food needs from domestic sources in the past twenty years. However, in spite of its food secure status, 35% or 14.3 million South Africans are vulnerable to food insecurity. Food security challenges appear to be considerable against a backdrop of a South Africa being a net importer of wheat together with local cereal production that can fluctuate by up to 36% between years. It is unknown to what extend the true impact of climate change might affect this and other agricultural activity; a declining indigenous population as the HIV/AIDS pandemic takes effect; a population poorly endowed with an entitlement to gain access to sufficient food and nutrition; a dependency on oil for energy resulting in an outflow of foreign exchange, expensive agriculture and agricultural crops changed into fuel crops and markets that allocates the limited resources, but not feeding the needy poor. Considering the above, the determinants of food security for South Africa were grouped under the following headings: - Entitlement - Demography - Agriculture - Energy - Climate change - Markets. Nobody who has money to pay for food is starving therefore, given the pervasiveness of malnutrition, the money made by merchants in the food trade does seem an affront to common notions of economic justice. The economic and political point is missed when merchants are blamed for conditions that promoted huge food imports and malnutrition. Merchants are not interested in famine but in commercial markets. These merchants thrive upon a system that excludes the hungry. Recent protectionist behaviour by food export countries and the structural shift in the demand of food require South Africa to evaluate its food security determinants. South Africa requires accurate policies to guide its food security efforts towards 2030.

Food waste is not only the waste of scares resources but also has a negative environmental and social impact. Food waste has a commercial impact on the supply chain, and therefore the management of food waste in the food supply chain is paramount for the sustainability and can become a competitive advantage in a highly competitive industry. The specific drivers of food waste in the supply chain vary drastically depending on the specific condition and situation. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of waste at the retail level within the supply chain of perishables and the relationship thereof with supply chain factors such as shortages, promotions and price, shelf life and seasonal demand and supply. An improved understanding of the extent of food waste and the effect that specific supply chain factors have on food waste can be used by supply chain managers to better manage the efficiencies in the supply chain to reduce food waste. Quantitative research methods were used to test hypotheses related to the extent of food waste and its relationship with specific food waste drivers. Secondary data were collected from a specific retail group consisting of archived documents of sales, short deliveries, waste and loss of sales for a period of time for all the products in the fruit and vegetable range. Bivariate statistics, linear and multiple regression were applied to determine the relationship between shortages, promotions and price, shelf life, seasonal demand and supply, and food waste. The study indicated the level of food waste in the retail level of the food supply chain in South Africa. It identified food waste drivers with strong relationships with food waste and used that information to build a predictive model for supply chain managers to use to reduce food waste. Retail organisations should make food waste a key performance indicator and use the predictive model to focus on specific drivers of food waste to facilitate improved waste management practice. This study contributes towards supply chain management literature by showing that food waste management can contribute to the efficiencies of the supply chain and should be part of performance measures. Food waste management has a direct positive commercial impact on the organisations, improves food supply chain sustainability and food security as a whole.
Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017.
za2018
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
MBA
Unrestricted

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the gendered social relations that are attached to food, through an exploration of women’s management of food and food security in poor households in Paternoster, a small fishing community on the west coast of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. My study explores how women navigate the everyday provision, management and distribution of food within a context of limited resources, with food understood both in terms of sustenance and as implicated in processes whereby gender norms and larger concerns with ‘respectability’ (ordentlikheid) are established and maintained under difficult economic conditions. One of the important strategies employed to ensure food security within households in Paternoster is the establishment and maintenance by and among women of foodways in and between households. An exploration of foodways between households sheds light on the various social networks that exist in Paternoster and the important role of women within these networks. Paternoster is a space where the navigation of these issues is informed by the long history of subsistence fishing in the area and the symbolism attached to fish and fishing in the ways in which the local fishing community engages with the challenges of food security. Of particular interest is how women manage individual and/or household food security in Paternoster in the light of existing gender dynamics involved in the production, collection and consumption of food. The sharp division of labour historically has meant that women have traditionally been involved in the pre- and post-harvest sector, rather than in the actual catching of fish. This study is also driven by concerns around the impacts of the changing fishing environment on food security and social relations in this small village. One of the major consequences of these changes is the feeling of impending food insecurity experienced by many households. The increase in mechanization in marine resource use activities, drastic changes in fishing policies and the process of fisheries rights allocations as well as diminishing fish stocks are systematically impacting on the social systems and lived experiences of the people who were, and still are, heavily dependent on the fishing industry in Paternoster for their livelihoods.. Paternoster has seen the development of new sources of employment as a result of the growth of tourism, which has presented women in particular with new work opportunities, including working in guest houses and restaurants. However, this is on the low wage end. In this context the management of food security within the household and between households through maintaining foodways and established food networks is predominantly the responsibility of women.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie fokus op sosiale verhoudings van gender wat verband hou met voedsel, deur‘n verkenning van vroue se bestuur van voedsel en voedselsekerheid in arm huishoudings in Paternoster, ‘n klein vissersgemeenskap aan die weskus van die Wes-Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika. My studie verken hoe vroue die daaglikse voorsiening, bestuur en verspreiding van voedsel navigeer in ‘n konteks van beperkte hulpbronne, met ‘n begrip van voedsel as lewensmiddele sowel as geïmpliseer in prosesse waarin gender-norme en ‘n gerigtheid op 'ordentlikheid' onder moeilike ekonomiese omstandighede gevestig en onderhou word. Een van die belangrike strategieë wat deur en tussen vroue in huishoudings in Paternoster onderneem word om voedselsekerheid te verseker is die vestiging en onderhouding van voedselnetwerke (foodways) in en tussen huishoudings. ‘n Verkenning van voedselnetwerke tussen huishoudings werp lig op die verskeidenheid sosiale netwerke wat in Paternoster bestaan en die belangrike rol van vroue in hierdie netwerke. Paternoster is ‘n plek waar die navigasie van hierdie kwessies ingelig word deur die lang geskiedenis van bestaansvissery in die gebied sowel as die simboliek wat aan vis en visvang geheg word in die wyses waarop die plaaslike gemeenskap met die uitdagings van voedselsekerheid handel. Wat van besondere belang is, is hoe vroue individuele en huishoudelike voedselsekerheid in Paternoster bestuur in die lig van die bestaande gender-dinamika met betrekking tot die produksie, versameling en gebruik van voedsel. Die skerp historiese geslagsverdeling van arbeid het beteken dat vroue tradisioneel betrokke was in die voor- en na-oes proses, eerder as in die werklike vang van vis. Hierdie studie word ook gemotiveer deur kommer oor die impak wat die veranderende vissery-omgewing op voedselsekerheid en sosiale verhoudings in hierdie dorpie het. Een van die belangrikste gevolge van hierdie veranderinge is die gevoel van dreigende voedselonsekerheid wat deur talle huishoudings ondervind word. Die toename in meganisering in die aktiwiteite rondom die gebruik van mariene hulpbronne, die drastiese veranderinge in visserybeleid en die toekenningsproses van visregte asook die afname in visbronne impakteer sistemies op die sosiale sisteme en ervaring van die mense wat sterk afhanklik was van die visindustrie in Paternoster vir hul leeftog afhanklik was en nog steeds is. Paternoster het die ontwikkeling van nuwe bronne van werk ervaar as gevolg van die groei van toerisme. Dit het aan vroue veral nuwe werksgeleenthede gebied, insluitend werk in gastehuise en restourante. Hierdie werk was egter op die lae loonvlak. In hierdie konteks is die bestuur van voedselsekerheid binne die huishouding en tussen huishoudings, deur die handhawing van foodways en gevestigde voedselnetwerke hoofsaaklik die verantwoordelikheid van vroue.

Thesis (MDev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2014
Smallholder subsistence agriculture is regarded as an approach that can be adopted by poor rural households to meet their food and nutritional requirements. The practice of smallholder subsistence agriculture is a basis upon which poor households can enhance their household food security through increased incomes and food supply, ultimately generating extra income for other household needs. The present study discusses and analyses the importance of smallholder subsistence agriculture as an effective method easily available to households residing in rural areas to access food and incomes for household purposes. Hence, the study seeks to explore and analyses the role of smallholder subsistence agriculture in contributing to household food security in rural areas. Both primary and secondary data have been used to analyze the factors for the purpose of the study. The primary data were collected through a designed survey questionnaire administered to sampled smallholder subsistence farmers in the study area. This study used purposive sampling technique, through a transect walk, to draw households involved in smallholder subsistence agriculture in Maroteng Village. From the total population in the study area, only 100 households were selected for the purposes of the study. Both descriptive and qualitative techniques were used to analyze salient variables of the practice in order to give an insight of the important role the sector can play in addressing poverty, enhancing incomes and creating employment, consequently contributing to household food security in rural areas. The study shows that the participation on smallholder subsistence farming by households in rural areas could have positive impact on food security situations.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates practical approaches to growing sustainable food systems. It first establishes the condition of the global environment within which food systems function and critically assesses previous efforts to grow sustainable food systems. After applying these findings to a set of case studies on local-food distribution in Stellenbosch, I recommend ways for the local-food distribution network to encourage the growth of a sustainable Stellenbosch food system. The literature review provides an overview of the global environment in relation to food systems and lists certain contextual challenges that food systems must address to become sustainable. These challenges are social inequality, an urban future, degraded ecosystems, climate change, energy constraints, a growing global population and food insecurity. The literature review also describes how commercialisation has disembedded food systems from their contexts. This disembeddedness loosens the feedback loops food systems require to effectively respond to contextual challenges and consequently hinders their sustainability. The critical overview of previous attempts to re-embed food systems provides insight into practical ways of growing sustainable food systems. The overview demonstrates that while localisation and the building of social capital should not be seen as the ultimate goals of sustainable food systems, they can be useful mechanisms for nurturing sustainability if applied carefully. The case studies describe ten local-food distribution initiatives in Stellenbosch, and are informed by numerous in-depth semi-structured interviews. My conceptual framework contrasts each initiative’s self-reported vision, perceived reality, and realised actions; this highlights the conceptual and physical network connections between various local-food distribution initiatives, as well as the factors preventing and promoting their sustainability. The case studies show that although a local-food distribution network exists in Stellenbosch, it is fragile and lacks defined conceptual connections. This in turn constrains the formation of physical connections and thus the food system’s progress toward sustainability. The local-food distribution network in Stellenbosch can catalyse the growth of a sustainable food system because its initiatives focus on localisation but do not see it as a final objective. This shared focus indicates that localisation already constitutes a practical tool in the growth of a sustainable food system; however, the network’s lack of social capital still needs to be addressed. Inclusive projects designed to create and protect intellectual, political and economic spaces for reflection within the food system can generate the social capital necessary to grow a sustainable food system. The realisation of a sustainable Stellenbosch food system therefore depends on those with the capacity and resources to initiate the necessary changes.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek praktiese benaderings waarmee volhoubare kossisteme bevorder kan word. Dit stel eerstens die toestand van die globale omgewing waarin kossisteme funksioneer vas en oorweeg krities vorige pogings wat volhoubare kossisteme probeer bevorder het. Na ek hierdie bevindings toepas op ’n stel gevallestudies van inisiatiewe wat plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch versprei, kom ek met voorstelle vorendag vir dié verspreidingsnetwerk om die groei van ’n volhoubare Stellenbosch-kossisteem aan te moedig. Die literatuurstudie omskryf ’n oorsig van die globale omgewing met betrekking tot kossisteme en lys sekere kontekstuele uitdagings wat kossisteme moet aanspreek om volhoubaar te wees. Die uitdagings is maatskaplike ongelykheid, ’n verstedelikte toekoms, verswakte ekosisteme, klimaatsverandering, energiebeperkings, ’n groeiende globale bevolking en voedselonsekerheid. Die literatuurstudie bepaal ook dat kommersialisering kossisteme uit hulle omgewings ontwortel. Hierdie ontwortelling verswak die terugvoerbane wat kossisteme benodig om effektief op kontekstuele uitdagings te reageer en verhoed hulle volhoubaarheid. Die kritiese oorsig van vorige pogings om kossisteme nuwe wortels te laat skiet gee insig tot praktiese maniere om volhoubare kossisteme te bevorder. Die oorsig wys daarop dat terwyl lokalisering en die bou van maatskaplike kapitaal nie as die slotsom van volhoubare kossisteme beskou moet word nie, albei nuttige tegnieke kan wees vir die aankweek van volhoubaarheid indien hulle met sorg aangewend word. Die gevallestudies beskryf tien verspreidings-inisiatiewe van plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch en is ingelig deur verskeie in-diepte, semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude. My konsepsuele raamwerk kontrasteer elke gevallestudie se self-verklaarde visie, veronderstelde realiteit en gerealiseerde aksies. Dit lig die begrips- en fisiesenetwerkkonneksies tussen die inisiatiewe uit en stel ’n aantal faktore bloot wat die netwerk se volhoubare groei positief en negatief beïnvloed. Die gevallestudies wys daarop dat alhoewel ’n verspreingsnetwerk van plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch bestaan, dié netwerk swak is en omskrewe begripskonneksies kort. Om die beurt verhinder dit die formasie van fisiese konneksies en weerhou die kossisteem se vordering na volhoubaarheid. Die verspreidingsnetwerk van plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch kan die groei van ‘n volhoubare kossisteem kataliseer omdat die inisiatiewe waaruit dit bestaan deur ’n gemeenskaplike fokus op lokalisering verbind word, maar dit nie as hulle einddoel beskou nie. Hierdie gedeelde fokus wys daarop dat lokalisering reeds ’n bruikbare tegniek vir die groei van ‘n volhoubare kossisteem is, maar die tekort aan maatskaplike kapitaal binne die netwerk moet steeds aangespreek word. Inklusiewe projekte wat saamgestel word om intellektuele, politiese en ekonomiese ruimtes vir besinning binne die kossisteem te bevorder en te bewaar, kan die nodige maatskaplike kapitaal kweek om ’n volhoubare kossisteem te vestig. Die verwesenliking van ’n volhoubare Stellenbosch-kossisteem hang dus van diegene af wat die kapasiteit en hulpbronne het om die nodige veranderings in te lei.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to develop the content of a programme to increase the awareness of women in Duncan Village of I) the potential role of food micro-enterprises in the improvement of food security; 2) the consumer demand concerning the operations of food micro-enterprises; and 3) appropriate microenterprise training programmes available in the greater East-London area. This was based on an identified need for the inclusion of a module on food security in a comprehensive programme to prevent growth failure in 0 to 24-month-old children attending local government clinics in Duncan Village by improving the capacity of mothers or primary caregivers to care for their children. Food security is defined as access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. The potential role of food micro-enterprises in the improvement of food security was established through a literature review. It was established that street foods contribute to individual food security by providing food where people work or congregate at cheap prices, thus increasing availability. It also helps in meeting energy and nutritional needs if safe, nutritious food is provided. The main method by which it increases an individual's access to food is by supplying an income to food micro-enterprise owners if they sell street foods. The consumer demand concerning the operations (including the products) of food micro-enterprises was determined through personal interviews with the customers and non-customers of food micro-enterprises in Duncan Village, using a structured questionnaire. One hundred and twenty-nine customers and 129 non-customers were selected using a combination of cluster and convenience sampling. Food microenterprises operating at the schools and on pavements in Duncan Village and at the taxi rank in East London were included. The results of this particular survey indicate that the consumer behaviour is influenced by the trade area where the customers purchase their food, the age and gender of the customers as well as the friendliness of the vendor. The product choice of consumers was mostly determined by taste, price and how filling the food is. There was general satisfaction with the operating times of, and the products sold by, food micro-enterprises. Street food consumers were least satisfied with the locations where the enterprises were situated. The dusty environment was given as a reason for dissatisfaction. Further, cleanliness of the food, the vendor and the environment were the main problems cited, especially by the non-customers. The appropriateness of micro-enterprise training programmes available in the greater East London area for current and prospective food micro-enterprise owners in Duncan Village was determined by compiling a profile of food micro-enterprises, their owners and their business operations in Duncan Village; identifying the features of the ideal training programme for current and prospective food microenterprise owners in Duncan Village; investigating the supply of micro-enterprise training in the greater East London area; and evaluating the appropriateness of the identified training programmes. The profile of food micro-enterprises in Duncan Village owned by women, included a profile of the owners, the enterprise itself as well as the business operations thereof. The data were gathered by means ofa personal interview (using a structured questionnaire) with the owners of food micro-enterprises. The enterprises included in the study were operated by women producing and trading processed foods from non-permanent structures at schools and on pavements in Duncan Village, as well as at the taxi ranks in East London. Systematic sampling techniques were used to select food micro-enterprises at the schools while all the enterprises at the pavements and at the taxi rank were included. This resulted in the inclusion of 41 food micro-enterprises. The results indicated that the profiles of these owners do not differ significantly from micro-enterprise owners operating in the informal sector elsewhere in South Africa. Furthermore, they indicated a clear need for training in all aspects regarding their business operations. The identification of the features of the ideal micro-enterprise training programme for the training of current and prospective female food micro-enterprise owners operating in Duncan Village was based on the profiles of street food consumers and food micro-enterprise owners, discussions with experts and on the literature. The identified features were used for the development of a framework to evaluate the appropriateness of micro-enterprise training in the greater East London area for current and prospective food micro-enterprise owners in Duncan Village. The supply of micro-enterprise training in the greater East London area for food micro-enterprise owners was investigated using a structured questionnaire, completed during a personal interview with the training managers of the organisations. All governmental and non-governmental organisations in the area offering training programmes with the objective to motivate and enable persons to establish a microenterprise in the informal sector; or with the objective to enable established micro-enterprises to operate more efficiently within the informal sector, were included in the study population. These organisations were identified through snowball sampling and resulted in ten organisations and 17 programmes being included. Subsequently, the appropriateness of micro-enterprise training programmes available in the greater East London area for current and prospective food micro-enterprise owners in Duncan Village was evaluated using the Evaluation Framework. The results indicate that only one programme, combining business management and cooking skills, could be rated as appropriate for current and prospective food microenterprise owners in Duncan Village. Five other programmes could be rated as moderately appropriate for particular groups. These programmes, with the exception of one, included business management skills and no cooking skills. The remaining programmes were rated as either not very appropriate or inappropriate for current and prospective food micro-enterprise owners in Duncan Village. It is concluded that a need for the mentioned awareness-creating programme exists. Furthermore, it is recommended that the programme developed in this research, be used as basis for the household food security module of the comprehensive programme.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was die ontwikkeling van 'n program om die bewustheid van vroue in Duncan Village ten opsigte van 1) die bydrae wat voedsel mikro-ondernemings tot die verbetering van voedsel sekuriteit kan lewer; 2) verbruikers se behoeftes betreffende die bedrywighede van voedsel mikroondernemings; en 3) toepaslike mikro-onderneming opleidingprogramme in die groter Oos Londen area te verhoog. Die behoefte om 'n module oor voedselsekuriteit in 'n omvattende intervensie program in te sluit, is reeds geïdentifiseer. Hierdie intervensie program het ten doeI om groeivertraging in 0 tot 24 maande oue kinders, wat munisipale klinieke in Duncan Village besoek, te voorkom deur die versorgingkapasiteit van hul moeders of primêre versorgers te verhoog. Voedselsekuriteit word gedefinieer as toegang deur alle mense, ten alle tye, tot genoegsame voedsel vir 'n aktiewe, gesonde lewe. Die potensiële rol wat voedsel mikro-ondernemings in die verbetering van voedselsekuriteit kan speel, is deur middel van 'n literatuuroorsig vasgestel. Daar is vasgestel dat die voedsel wat deur hierdie ondernemings verkoop word tot individuele voedselsekuriteit bydra deurdat dit goedkoop voedsel beskikbaar stel by plekke waar mense werk of andersins bymekaar kom. Indien veilige en voedsame voedsel voorsien word, kan dit help om energie- en voedingbehoeftes te bevredig. Die belangrikste metode waardeur dit 'n individu se toegang tot voedsel verhoog, is deur 'n inkomste aan die eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings te verskaf. Verbruikers se behoeftes betreffende die bedrywighede, insluitend produkte, van voedsel mikroondernemings is met behulp van gestruktureerde vraelyste tydens persoonlike onderhoude met die kopers en nie-kopers van voedsel van hierdie ondernemings, bepaal. Eenhonderd nege-en-twintig kopers en niekopers is onderskeidelik geselekteer deur 'n kombinasie van bondel- en geriefssteekproefneming te gebruik. Die voedsel mikro-ondernemings wat handel gedryf het by skole en op sypaadjies in Duncan Village, asook dié by die taxi staanplek in Oos Londen, is in hierdie steekproef ingesluit. Die resultate van hierdie opname toon aan dat verbruikergedrag bepaal word deur die gebied waar verbruikers hul kos koop, die geslag en ouderdom van die verbruiker, en die vriendelikheid van die verkoper. Verbruikers se produkkeuse word grootliks bepaal deur die smaak, koste en die vullingsvermoë van die voedsel. Verbruikers was oor die algemeen tevrede met die bedryfsure en die produkte van voedsel mikroondernemings. Hulle was egter die minste tevrede met die area waar die ondernemings bedryf word, hoofsaaklik vanweë die stowwerigheid van die omgewing. Nie-kopers in die besonder het die higiëne van die voedsel, die verkoper en die omgewing as hul grootste bronne van kommer bestempel. Die toepaslikheid van beskikbare mikro-onderneming opleidingprogramme in die groter Oos Londen omgewing vir huidige en voornemende eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village is geëvalueer deur die volgende stappe uit te voer: 'n Profiel van voedsel mikro-ondernemings, met inbegrip van die eienaars en die besigheidsaktiwiteite, is saamgestel. Die eienskappe van die ideale opleidingprogram vir huidige en voornemende eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village is geïdentifiseer, die beskikbaarheid van mikro-onderneming opleiding in die groter Oos Londen omgewing is ondersoek en die toepaslikheid van die geïdentifiseerde programme is geëvalueer. Die profiel van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village, het 'n profiel van die eienaars, die onderneming self en die besigheidbedrywighede ingesluit. Die data is ingesamel deur gestruktureerde vraelyste gedurende 'n persoonlike onderhoud met die eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings te voltooi. Die ondernemings wat in die studie ingesluit is, is bestuur deur vroue wat voedsel vervaardig en verkoop vanaf nie-permanente strukture by die skole en op die sypaadjies in Duncan Village, asook die taxi staanplek in Oos Londen. Sistematiese steekproefnemingmetodes is gebruik om die voedsel mikroondernemings by die skole te selekteer. Al die ondernemings wat vanaf die sypaadjies in Duncan Village en die taxi staanplek in Oos Londen bedryf is, is ingesluit. Een-en-veertig voedsel mikroondernemings is in die studie populasie ingesluit. Die resultate het aangedui dat die profiel van die eienaars nie wesentlik verskil het van dié van algemene mikro-onderneming eienaars in die informele sektor elders in Suid Afrika nie. Bykans alle eienaars het aangedui dat daar by hulle 'n behoefte bestaan vir opleiding in alle aspekte rondom die bestuur van hulle besighede. Die eienskappe van die ideale mikro-onderneming opleidingprogram vir huidige en potensiële eienaars (vroulik) van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village, is gebaseer op die profiele van die verbruikers en eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings, besprekings met kundiges op die gebied en relevante literatuur. Die geïdentifiseerde eienskappe is gebruik vir die ontwikkeling van 'n raamwerk om die toepaslikheid van mikro-onderneming opleidingprogramme in die groter Oos Londen area te evalueer. Die beskikbaarheid van mikro-onderneming opleiding programme in die groter Oos Londen omgewing, vir voedsel mikro-onderneming eienaars, is met behulp van 'n gestruktureerde vraelys wat tydens 'n persoonlike onderhoud met die opleidingbestuurders van die organisasies voltooi is, ondersoek. Alle regerings- en nie-regerings organisasies in die omgewing wat opleidingprogramme met die doel om persone te motiveer en in staat te stel om 'n voedsel mikro-onderneming in die informele sektor te vestig, of om 'n gevestigde voedsel mikro-onderneming meer effektief te bedryf, aanbied, is in die studie populasie ingesluit. Tien organisasies en 17 programme is deur middel van sneeubal steekproefneming geïdentifiseer en ingesluit. Die toepaslikheid van beskikbare mikro-onderneming opleidingprogramme in die groter Oos Londen omgewing is deur middel van die Evaluering Raamwerk geëvalueer. Die resultate het aangedui dat slegs een program wat ondernemingsbestuur- en voedsel voorbereidingsvaardighede gekombineer het, as toepaslik vir huidige en voornemende voedsel mikro-onderneming eienaars beskou kon word. Vyf ander programme kan as redelik toepaslik vir sekere groepe gesien word. Almal behalwe een van hierdie programme het ondernemingsbestuurvaardighede ingesluit, maar geen voedsel voorbereidingsvaardighede nie. Die oorblywende programme is as nie baie toepaslik of geensins toepaslik vir huidige en voornemende eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village geëvalueer. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat daar 'n behoefte bestaan vir die bogenoemde bewusmakingprogram. Daar word verder aanbeveel dat die program wat in hierdie navorsing ontwikkel is, as 'n basis vir die huishoudelike voedselsekuriteit module in die omvattende intervensie program gebruik word.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration in Project Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the failure of critical Food Security Community Gardens as poverty alleviation projects in Cape Town. Community garden projects have been used as poverty alleviation many years ago and as it are today. Community garden projects provide food like, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, and other natural products such as wood, flowers and herbs for poor communities. The unemployment rate in South Africa is an ongoing issue; however this has made the South African government to an emphasis on community garden projects. Although there has been a commitment by South African government to promote use of community garden projects to address food insecurity, however food security still remain a major developing problem in this country. The objectives of this study were to identify aspects that may contribute to failure of critical Food Security Community Gardens as poverty alleviation projects. To identify critical success factors related to community garden projects. To address the issue of food insecurity cape flats residents in Cape Town. To find a solution to failure of critical Food Security Community Gardens as poverty alleviation. A questionnaire was developed and used as a tool to acquire inputs to satisfy the research questions. This study was based on material that was collected from school, churches, clinics, and community residents. The findings were: identification of the project risk, horticultural skills, project leadership, and land tenure and water accessibility is critical for project success. Households sometimes spend a day without eating any vegetable. The households are not always got their vegetable from community garden projects. There is a lack of project leadership skills and effective communication. Community members are educated on garden skills, Opportunity are given to children to apply gardening skills, Community parks and gardens are used to share knowledge. The analysed data has led to recommendations that it is most important to identify critical success factors that are specifically to community garden projects in order to succeed. The results from the study could enable community members, professionals and assist government officials who are involved in addressing food insecurity in order to alleviate poverty.

Thesis (MScEng)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Food security is a national priority, according to Section 27 of the South African Constitution. It states: “Every citizen has the right to have access to sufficient food and water, and that the state must by legislation and other measures, within its available resources, avail to progressive realisation of the right to sufficient food.” Nevertheless, while food security is clearly a government priority and regardless of the country being considered as self-sufficient in respect of food production, food insecurity remains a dire South African challenge. This study presents the improvement of smallholder pig farmers to a commercial standard with funding from the government as a potential means to address poverty and food insecurity in South Africa. Commercial standard pig farms as opposed to smallholder pig farms provide increased employment, food production, biosecurity and food safety. This investigative study evaluates the economic feasibility of a smallholder commercial pig farm in the Mamre area. The Empolweni community’s pig farmers serve as the case study and as an example of a typical smallholder pig farming community. Their current operations are studied, the requirements for a conversion to a commercial standard are assessed and the profitability and sustainability of the proposed commercial model is judged. The study’s findings indicate that specific scenarios (high production performance, large pig farm unit sizes, pork price increases or feed costs reductions) a commercial smallholder pig farm can achieve economic feasibility. However, trends indicate that there is low likelihood of the required conditions to achieve economic feasibility will be able to occur. The thesis judges only the potential economic feasibility of the case study, as opposed to the economic feasibility of commercial smallholder pig farmers on a national or regional level.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voedsel sekuriteit is ‘n nasionale prioriteit en vorm deel van die Artikel 27 Grondwetlike regte in Suid-Afrika. Die Grondwet stel dat elke landsburger die reg op toegang tot voldoende voedsel en water het en dat die staat deur middel van wetgewing en ander maatreëls, binne sy beskikbare middele, progressiewe verwesenliking van die reg op voldoende voedsel moet laat geskied. Nietemin, alhoewel voedsel sekuriteit ongetwyfeld ‘n prioriteit van die regering is en ten spyte daarvan dat Suid-Afrika as selfonderhoudend ten opsigte van voedselproduksie gesien word, heers onvoldoende voedsel sekuriteit steeds. Hierdie studie stel die volgende moontlike oplossing voor: Suid-Afrikaanse kleinskaalse varkboere moet hul bedrywighede opgradeer na 'n kommersiële standaard. Verskeie redes kan gegee word waarom hierdie oplossing 'n gangbare opsie bied om armoede en voedselsekuriteit in Suid-Afrika teë te werk. Kommersiële varkboere, in teenstelling met kleinskaalse varkboere, bied verhoogde vlakke van voedselproduksie, werkskepping, biosekuriteit en veiliger voedingsbronne. Hierdie studie poog om die ekonomiese gangbaarheid van ‘n kleinskaalse kommersiële varkplaas in die Mamre omgewing te bepaal. Die Empolweni gemeenskap se varkboere dien as 'n gevallestudie van ‘n tipiese kleinskaalse varkboerdery gemeenskap. Hul huidige bedrywighede is ondersoek, die benodighede vir ‘n opgradering is bepaal en die winsgewendheid en volhoubaarheid van die kommersiële model is beoordeel. Bevindings toon dat vir spesifieke gevalle (hoë produksievlakke, groot varkplaaseenhede, varkprys verhogings en voerkoste verlagings) ‘n kommersiële kleinskaalse varkplaas ekonomiese gangbaarheid kan behaal. Alhoewel, tendense toon dat daar ‘n lae waarskynlikheid is dat die nodige kondisie om ekonomiese gangbaarheid te behaal sal kan plaasvind. Die tesis oorweeg slegs die ekonomiese gangbaarheid van die gevallestudie. Die ekonomiese gangbaarheid van kleinskaalse varkboere op ‘n nasionale of streeksvlak word dus nie ingesluit nie.

Wild foods are an integral component of the household food basket, yet their quantified contribution to food security relative to other sources in the context of HIV/AIDS, climate change and variability remains underexplored. This study was carried out in Willowvale and Lesseyton which are rural communities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Willowvale is a relatively remote, medium-rainfall coastal community, while Lesseyton is a peri-urban low rainfall inland community. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data from 78 HIV/AIDS afflicted households with 329 individuals and 87 non-afflicted households with 365 individuals in the two study sites. Households were visited quarterly over 12 months to assess food acquisition methods, dietary intake and quality, and levels of food security, and to determine strategies employed by households to cope with droughts. The wild foods investigated were wild meat, wild birds, wild fish, wild mushrooms, wild leafy vegetables and wild fruits. Diets were moderately well-balanced and limited in variety, with cereal items contributing 52 % to total calorie intake. Mid-upper arm circumference measurements showed that all respondents were adequately nourished. The bulk of the food consumed by households was purchased, with supplementation from own production, wild vegetables and wild fruits. In Willowvale, wild vegetables comprised 46 % of overall vegetable consumption for afflicted households and 32 % for non-afflicted households, while own fruit production comprised 100 % of fruit consumption. In Lesseyton, wild vegetables comprised only 6 % and 4 % of vegetable consumption for afflicted and non-afflicted households, while wild fruit comprised 63 % and 41 % for afflicted and non-afflicted households. More than 80 % of respondents from both afflicted and non-afflicted households had sufficient daily kilocalories, although the majority of afflicted households felt they were food insecure and sometimes collected wild foods as one of their multiple coping strategies. Hunting and gathering of wild foods was associated with site, household affliction status, gender, age and season. More than 80 % of respondents ate wild vegetables and said they were more drought tolerant than conventional vegetables, making them the most consumed wild food and approximately 16 % of respondents ate wild birds, making them the least consumed wild food. Approximately 14 % of respondents from afflicted households in Willowvale sold wild fish, whilst 34 % of respondents from afflicted households and 7 % from non-afflicted households sold wild fruits in Lesseyton. Strategies adopted by households to cope with droughts were different between the two study sites, and households in Willowvale used a wider range of strategies. Given the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS coupled with the drawbacks of climate change and variability on food security, wild foods represent a free and easy way for vulnerable households to obtain food.

The aim of this investigation was to assess the impact of the In-Field Rainwater Harvesting technology on household food security in the study area. The study was conducted in Nkonkobe Local Municipality of the Amathole District Municipality in central Eastern Cape Province. The areas under investigation are Guquka and Khayaletu villages of the Thyume Valley, which is located about 30 kilometres north of Alice. The method used to assess the impact of the IRWH on household food security was a pair wise comparison method. During September 2009, there were 60 (34 in Guquka and 26 in Khayaletu) households who adopted the technology in home gardens. In order to get a clear picture of the impact of the technology on food security, a decision was taken to assess both the project members and non-project members, hence the pairwise comparison method. The non-project members (also 60 households) were selected randomly from those who were interviewed during the situation analysis in 2004. Five indicators were used to assess household food security. These were household income, expenditure on food, diet diversity, energy-protein intakes, and micro-nutrient intakes (Vitamin A, C and Iron). The income and expenditure data were collected from the 120 households. However, the detailed food data were collected from selected cases from both groups at different times (seasons) of the year. A case study approach was employed in data collection. A total of 12 cases (six households per village) were selected for this investigation. These were selected mainly according to the degree of poverty. The total of six households from each village comprised three project members and three non-members i.e. one from each poverty class (non- poor, poor and ultra-poor) in both categories. The data on the kinds of food products consumed by households was gathered using the food account method (FAM). The food consumed was then analysed for nutrient adequacy. The main findings of this investigation show the IRWH technology to have a positive impact on food security and nutrition of the project members. The technology made significant contributions to the amount of energy and vitamins A and C consumed by households especially during wet seasons. Substantial contributions of garden produce were noted among the project members. However, these contributions were not enough to ensure household food security. The results indicate that there are nutritional problems in the study area. Firstly, there is protein- v energy malnutrition mainly affecting the poor and the ultra-poor households. Secondly, there is hidden hunger affecting all poverty categories, even the non-poor households. This is mainly demonstrated by poor diet quality i.e. diet that lacks essential nutrients identified

M.Tech (Logistics: Faculty of Management Sciences) Vaal University of Technology
Effective supply chain management is largely contributing to the success of many companies around the world. From publicly owned companies to sole proprietorships, supply chain management is crucial in facilitating the effectiveness of all operations. In the food processing industry, supply chain management is regarded as important capital for both inbound and outbound logistical activities. However, implementation of supply chain management initiatives presents several challenges that hinder the effectiveness of the operations of most companies. The aim of this study was to investigate supply chain management challenges facing the food processing industry in South Africa and the effects of these challenges on business performance. Through a review of literature, seven challenges are identified, namely, human resources management, technology, facilities, supplier relationship management, customer relationship management, regulatory factors, logistics and transportation. A nine-section questionnaire was then developed using adapted measurement scales and distributed to 303 supply management professionals in food processing companies in Gauteng province. Respondents were selected using the non-probability convenience sampling technique. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (Version 23.0). After testing for validity and reliability, descriptive statistics were applied in testing perceptions of respondents towards the seven supply chain management challenges and business performance. Pearson correlations were used to test for the strength and direction of associations between supply chain management challenges and business performance. Regression analysis is applied in testing whether supply chain management predicted business performance. Application of Pearson correlations revealed negative associations between all seven supply chain management challenges and business performance. This implies that business performance decreases as the intensity of the challenges increases. Regression analysis indicated that, apart from regulatory factors, six of the supply chain management challenges predict business performance. Technology emerged as the strongest predictor of business performance. The study concludes by suggesting recommendations for limiting the impact of the identified challenges on business performance.

The study was conducted in Mbozi and Ciko villages in Mbhashe Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Two irrigation projects in the area were studied. Consumers and agricultural commodity traders in Willowvale Town, Dutywa, Butterworth and East London were also interviewed. The major objective of the study is to profile and map cabbage, maize and cattle food value chains broadly, and to understand their nature, constraints and opportunities in smallholder agriculture. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used in which the first stage involved selecting the local government areas. This was followed by the selection of the district and then the respondents. A total of 168 participants were sampled in the proportion of 82 smallholder farmers, 41 consumers, 26 hawkers and 20 agricultural commodity traders. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also used during the data collection process. Value Chain mapping was done using the commodity based approach. All value chains under study indicated that they are short and commodities were transacted in unprocessed form. As cabbages and maize move from the farm to retail outlets, value addition start to take place through transportation to the market and processing in supermarkets. The cattle value chain however does not have a forward linkage beyond the two administrative boundaries of the two communities. Less than 3% of the farmers traded livestock, and this was mostly through private sales to neighbours. The farmers‘ major goal in agricultural production is assumed to be an important aspect in lengthening the value chain. As such, results of a Pearson‘s correlation exercise indicated that there is a significant relationship at 0.05% level between goals of the farmers and the village of origin. Some factors that showed significance (p=0.05) in influencing farmers‘ goals are membership of an irrigation project and household sources of income. An analysis of determinants of technical efficiency at farm level was performed using the stochastic frontier model for cabbage, maize and cattle enterprises. The results showed that rainfall adequacy, input costs, market channels and quantity sold are important determinants of cabbage production efficiency. On the other hand, maize production efficiency is positively determined by market price, area under production and rainfall adequacy. Market related variables are major drivers of the cattle value chain efficiency and these include cattle prices, market satisfaction, market channel and farm labour.

Includes bibliographical references.
This research investigates the management of green supply chains through the major implications of management control systems. Green supply chain management characteristics that define high performing buyer-supplier engagements were: sustainability, performance management, quality management, shared investment, waste reduction, and the relationship between partners. This study found that a buying firm needs to employ management control systems in ensuring the supplier outputs. Collaborative management, another important facet in effectiveness of green supply chain management, was found to define successful buyer-supplier relationships. The study also found challenges with initial investment and opportunism, that companies should safeguard themselves through substantive agreements. Mutual investment by both manufacturer and retailer into their operations enhances service to customers and managing relationships in green supply chain management.

Thesis (MTech (Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011
During recent years the wine industry has become increasingly dynamic due to competition among wine organisations worldwide. In order to be competitive, many South African wine organisations have implemented and maintained a Food Safety Managements System (FSMS). The Western Cape Province is one of the typical regions of wine-manufacturing in the country. However, the impact of FSMSs on the effectiveness of work performance among wine organisations in the Western Cape is unknown. There is scant literature that focuses on this particular issue. Thus, this study investigates the effectiveness of FSMS implementation to determine whether wine organisations consolidate the fundamental requirements of the FSMSs. Nineteen (19) wine organisations situated in the Western Cape who are currently implementing FSMSs were chosen as the research sites. A group of participants (n=46) who are implementing FSMSs from these wine organisations were selected as samples. A questionnaire based on the Likert scale was used as an instrument for data collection. Statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 19 was employed to generate statistical results such as frequencies, mean, standard deviation, percentage, skewness, etc. In particular, Cronbach’s alpha was utilised to test the reliability of the key items of FSMSs. The findings of this study indicate that the majority of the wine organisations consolidate the fundamental requirements of FSMS. Certification audits, management systems, prerequisite programs, Hazard Critical Control Points (HACCP), validation and verification, emergency preparedness and quality management are used as the main activities to measure the performance of FSMS. Based on the study results, this study recommended that wine organisations should provide regular training to internal auditors and shopfloor employees in order to enhance the effectiveness of FSMSs. The significance of this study is to contribute a valuable guideline to the South African wine industry to consolidate their performances on the implementation of FSMSs.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis attempts to evaluate the influence of the Second World War on the South African food position in the years 1939 to 1948 by studying a selection of specific foodstuffs and their availability on domestic markets during the war. The food control measures which were implemented were in a unique South African wartime context where both surpluses and shortages had developed, and the effectiveness of the implementation of these controls is evaluated. In regard to the surpluses of certain foodstuffs, the effect of relevant controls on new industrial development is discussed. The impact of public opinion on the Government’s agricultural policy during the war is also assessed, and account is taken of how this impacted on the decision not to implement a formal system of rationing, despite the severe shortages of specific foodstuffs. Leading on from this, it is important to the argument to acknowledge the racially segregationist policies of South Africa, and thus a part of this story will discuss the various reasons why a conventional rationing system would not have worked in the wartime context of the Union. This research seeks to open up a new vantage point from which to view the political position of South Africa after 1939 as its legislature and war policies reflected the country’s prevailing complexities in subtle ways. It was politics which largely determined the extent of food control and the agricultural policy which was followed. In exploring this, press coverage of the food control measures is utilised, as well as the use of austerity campaigns in mass publicity. These sources present a distinctive view of public opinion in political life and thus provide an atmospheric understanding of the national mood at a major point in history. Furthermore, the coverage of food campaigns illuminates ways in which food control and the acceptance of those measures were promoted in order to encourage compliance and participation by consumers. Of equal relevance was the position of agriculture as support for the Union war effort and the imposition of food controls as a catalyst for resistance by consumers. Discussion of these themes provide further understanding of the underlying tensions which were given impetus by the stresses of war and restrictions on commodities on the home front.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis fokus daarop om ondersoek in te stel na die invloed wat die Tweede Wêreldoorlog op die Suid-Afrikaanse voedselsituasie gedurende die jare 1939 tot 1948 gehad het. Dit word gedoen deur te kyk na ’n aantal spesifieke voedselsoorte en hul beskikbaarheid op die plaaslike mark. Die voedselbeheermaatreëls wat geimplimenteer is, was uniek binne die konteks van Suid-Afrika tydens die oorlog aangesien daar beide ’n oorvloed van en ’n tekort aan sekere voedelsoorte was. Die effektiwiteit van die implementering van hierdie voedselbeheermaatreëls word gevolglik bepaal. Waar daar sekere voedselsoorte in oorvloed was, word daar ook gekyk na hoe die maatreëls van die regering nuwe industriële ontwikkelling waarin hierdie voedsel gebruik word van stapel gestuur het. Die invloed van openbare opinie op die regering se landboubeleid gedurende hierdie tyd word ook geassesseer, met klem wat geplaas word op hoe hierdie diskoers die regering genoop het om, ten spyte van ernstige voedseltekorte, van ’n formele rasioneringstelsel afstand te doen. Die Suid-Afrikaanse rassesegregasiebeleide is uiteraard ook hiermee verweef en vorm daarom deel van die argument oor waarom ’n konvensionele rasioneringstelsel waarskynlik nie in die Unie binne ’n oorlogskonteks sou werk nie. Die navorsing is daarop gerig om die politieke landskap van post-1939 Suid-Afrika vanuit ’n nuwe hoek te beskou, aangesien wetgewing en oorlogsbeleide die land se politieke kompleksiteite op subtiele maniere geaffekteer het. Politiek was ’n enorme oorweging in die ontwikkeling van voedselbeheermaatreëls en die landboubeleide wat daarna gevolg is. Dit word verder ondersoek deur te let op hoe koerante van daardie tyd die maatreëls benader het en hoe besparingsveldtogte deur die massa media versprei is. Hierdie bronne bied ’n unieke blik op die openbare opinie rakende die Suid-Afrikaanse politieke landskap en gee dus ’n indruk van die heersende nasionale gemoed gedurende hierdie belangrike tydperk. Verder belig die mediadekking oor voedselveldtogte in hoeverre die Suid-Afrikaanse publiek voedselbeheermaatreëls aanvaar en ondersteun het, sowel as die maniere waarop die publiek aangemoedig is om tot hierdie pogings by te dra. Eweveel van belang was die posisie wat landbou beklee het as ondersteunende maatreël in die Unie se oorlogspoging. Terselfdertyd het die voedselbeheermaatreëls ook ’n weerstandsbeweging onder sekere gebruikers ontketen. Deur na al hierdie temas te kyk, word dit duidelik dat die streng beperkings wat daar op sekere voedselprodukte geplaas is ook die onderliggende spanning wat daar reeds op ’n politieke front was verder op die spits gedryf het.

The Government of the Eastern Cape Province introduced the Massive Food Production programme, which is a cornerstone within the agrarian reform initiative of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP). The programme has been going on for more than seven years, however little has been documented on its impact. The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme on the livelihoods in Nkonkobe Municipality. This study did not only investigate its impact on the participants but also assessed its impact on the recipient communities. Accordingly, the specific objectives of the study were to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Programme on the asset base of participants, the general livelihood activities, and the livelihood outcomes. Among other livelihood activities, the study made an in-depth investigation on the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme on maize crop production. This is because the Massive Food Production was aimed at maize crop production. Previous studies investigated on the indicators of success that can be used to measure the impact of this programme. After the wide-ranging evaluation of views, arguments and research findings, a model to measure impact of the programme was designed. The asset base improvement was used as the proxy of impact. Nine factors were selected from the principal component analysis of the many factors that were taken to affect participation. Three other dummy variables to proximate location, participation and group turnover were added to the regression model that was developed to measure impact. The DFID Sustainable Livelihood Framework was used to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme. This approach was used in both conceptualizing the study and the selection of variables. The DFID Sustainable Livelihood Approach was selected because unlike the CARE or UNDP Sustainable Livelihood models, it was designed for such purposes. Data collection was accomplished through observation, interviewing, and focus group discussions. The researcher also made use of project annual reports on change of livelihoods, baseline survey reports, project log frame, internal reports, work plans, budgets and mid-term evaluation reports as sources of secondary data. v The research findings were analysed using several analytical procedures, including the conventional descriptive statistics, principal components analysis, and linear regression analysis. The use of the different types of analysis was driven by the research questions under investigation and the theories on which they are based, and by the available data. The study revealed that to some extent the Massive Food Production Programme has managed to improve the asset base of the farmers. However, its impact on ensuring food security is still debatable. Findings of the study revealed that most of the participants and the non-participants communities experienced food shortages in the last season 2007/8 for at most three months. The study revealed that the highest agricultural income is from livestock sales. The varying locations showed the potential of livestock production. It is recommended that development agencies consider livestock production as an agricultural strategy with immense potential for enhancing sustaining rural livelihoods

This is a one year half thesis. This research was conducted within the context of the food services sector of Higher Education Institution dining halls and in the midst of the rising global call for food resource management and food waste reduction. The main aim of this research therefore was to identify opportunities for learning and change for a more sustainable food economy, contributing to Education for Sustainable Production and Consumption, and by further implication, Education for Sustainable Development. To achieve this aim, I used Cultural Historical Activity Theory as theoretical and methodological framework; drawing on the second and the third generations of this theory. Implicated in the above research approach is the identification of expansive learning opportunities from the surfacing of ‘tensions’ and ‘contradictions’. In this case study of the Rhodes University Campus Food Services, such tensions and contradictions inhibiting a more sustainable food economy, involving food waste production were identified. To narrow the scope of the study, one dining hall formed the focus of the case, with a two phased research approach whereby one research question and three goals were developed for each phase. The former being the exploration phase and the latter being the initial stages of the expansive phase. Methods used in line with the methodological framework included ten individual interviews with food producers (staff members), nine focus group discussions with food consumers (students), observations of the dining hall activities which lasted for over a month and two ‘Change Laboratory Workshops’. Some of the findings of this research are that food wastage cannot be addressed and appropriately curtailed without an intensive consideration of all the stages of food economy. Multiple contradictions and sources of tensions embedded in the Food Services Sector constituted major causes of food waste. Additionally, the lack of substantial food waste related teaching and learning activities, the presence of disputed rules, institutional structure and traditional practices within the Food Services all exacerbated the tensions and contradictions. More so, prioritizing some of this identified contradictions and tensions hindering a more sustainable food economy and relegating some as unimportant or nonurgent is unproductive. Finally, the non-existence of facilitated deliberation, consultation, dialogue, collaboration between food producers and food consumers has been identified as an obstacle to learning and institutional change. Recommendations abound in re-orienting, re-educating, and re-informing the constituents of the food economy. Re-visiting and revising of rules and regulations guiding conduct of students and kitchen staff members in the RU dining halls, as well as revision of existing learning support materials and mediating tools in use is needed. Recognition and consideration of the concerns and interests of students and kitchen staff members are also needed. Finally, there is a need to continue to address the tensions and contradictions identified in this case study, to further the Expansive Learning Process if a more sustainable food economy at Rhodes University is to be established.

Maize is the staple food for most South Africans. This implies that any damage to the maize crop will affect food security of many South Africans. Although Eastern Cape Province is not a traditionally maize producing area, smallholder farmers in the province produce it mostly for subsistence purposes and some sell the surplus on the local market or use it to secure other good through barter trading. In South Africa, insect-resistant Bt maize/yieldgard has been used commercially for approximately 10 years now. Available impact studies on Bt maize reveal that, this technology is beneficial not only to farmers but consumers of maize products as well. Welfare gains as well as positive effects for human health are realised by both groups. Due to the costs and effectiveness associated with traditional and conventional maize stem borer control methods, Bt technology has the potential to be part of the solution. This thesis has attempted to investigate the economic viability of planting Bt maize seeds under smallholder farming conditions and identify factors as well as perceptions relating to attributes of Bt maize and to analyze the relationships between those perceptions and choices regarding use of Bt technology. Data was collected from 90 households who were selected using purposive sampling through the use of the snowball method. To collect data, a questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. Gross margin analysis revealed that Bt maize is a more profitable option as compared to conventional maize seeds. Furthermore, econometric analyses, through use of the binomial regression model revealed that perceptions could be used to distinguish between users and non-users of Bt maize seed in the Eastern Cape Province. Results of inferential analysis indicate that the statistically significant variables at 5% level are gene erosion, quality and nutrition of products and food labels for Bt maize products perceptions. On the other hand, low expenses, seed market availability and farmers’ knowledge perceptions were significant at 10%. These findings suggest that an adjustment in each one of the significant variables can significantly influence the probability of Bt maize adoption. In view of the research findings, several policy proposals are suggested to support policy formulation. Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize, yieldgard, smallholder farmers, perceptions, Flagstaff, gross margin analysis, binomial logistic regression model, Eastern Cape Province.

Maize is the most grown crop by the farmers in Jozini. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to assess the economic impact of climate change on maize production under different farming systems in Jozini Municipality in KwaZulu Natal (KZN). The study was looking at the smallholder farmers producing maize under dryland and irrigation system. A total of 100 farmers were selected for the study (40 from dry-land and 60 from irrigating farmers). Cluster and random sampling procedures were used to select the sample. Questionnaires were used for the collection of primary data, from the respondents (maize farmers). Data was analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentages), gross margin, regression analysis and the Ricardian model. Data for computing gross margins and net revenue was taken from the on-farm trials. Gross margin was used on regression analysis and the net revenue was used on the Ricardian modelThe results of the regression analysis indicated that land size, farmer’s experience to farming, level of education, use of fertiliser, use of irrigation and the yield obtained were significant and have a positive relationship with farmers gross margin. The results of the Ricardian model indicated that climate change affects both farming systems, but farmers that are producing under dryland are the most affected farmers because they rely more on climate variables especially rainfall for their production. So a change in climate variables affects maize farmers’ productivity and thus affecting farmers’ gross margin and net revenue. The study recommends that the farmers must use irrigation in order to support maize production even in the absence of rainfall. Farmers must also adapt to the short growing season so that they will be able to produce even in the presence of climate change.

This study investigates the impact of informal cross border trading on poverty reduction in Zimbabwe. In the context of this study, the term Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT), is used to describe the activities of small entrepreneurs who are involved in buying and selling across national borders. The study focuses on whether the stated activities are lifting those participating out of poverty. The research problem is examined through an assessment of the income levels, assets acquirement, expenditures patterns, food security and family relations. The hypotheses tested in the research are that, “The extent of ICBT is significant in Zimbabwe; ICBT in the Southern Africa region is mainly dominated by women; and that ICBT contributes positively to poverty reduction”. In this context, poverty reduction is said to have occurred when informal cross border trading would have resulted in an improvement in the socio-economic wellbeing of traders‟ households. The Poverty Datum Line (PDL) is used as the measure of households‟ well-being. To assess the impact of ICBT on well-being, a survey was conducted whereby in-depth interviews using the questionnaire method were used to collect primary data. Secondary information was obtained from documentary searches at institutions and also using internet searches. From this study it has been found that ICBT has both positive and negative impacts with regard to social welfare. With regard to economic welfare, based on poverty indicator measures used in the study, ICBT contributes positively to Poverty Reduction. Thus the analysis revealed that informal cross border trade plays an important role in alleviating economic hardships, reducing poverty and enhancing welfare and human development in Zimbabwe.

The problem that is researched in this study relates to the effectiveness of the extension model applied in the High Value Crop programme in improving rural livelihoods in the Eastern Cape. The extent of poverty in rural areas in the Eastern Cape motivated for the intervention of the Is‘Baya through the introduction of Integrated Village Renewal Programme (IVRP). The need to improve the quality of life of rural households through the promotion of agriculture and industry gave rise to the collaborative effort between the Is‘Baya Development Trust and Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in South Africa. The HVC programme was established to mitigate the effects of food shortage and poverty through the production of fruit trees, herbs and vegetables at household level. Evaluation of the effectiveness of this collaborative effort was carried out in four local municipalities of the OR Tambo District and these included: King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality (Zangci); Nyadeni municipality (Hluleka); Port St Johns municipality (Noqhekwana) and Ngquza Hill municipality (Hombe). An equal number of villages where Siyazondla was implemented by DRDAR were visited for the survey to relate the extension model applied with HVC. The villages visited included: OR Tambo (Mhlontlo local municipality) Xhokonxa village; Amathole (Amahlathi local municipality) Ndakana village, (Ngqushwa local municipality) Mgababa village and (Mbhashe local municipality) Mbanyana village. The broad objective of the study therefore, was to evaluate the effectiveness of the extension model applied on the HVC programme as well as to identify the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders involved in the model. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the HVC based extension model as it is currently organized and implemented in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa in relation to the erstwhile Siyazondla programme, to establish the effectiveness of the extension model in terms of skills transfer and capacity development, to determine the socio-economic impact of the extension model on the livelihood of involved households, to establish the extent to which the extension model has empowered women and youths and to study the factors that has contributed to the sustainability of the extension model. In carrying out this research and in line with the practice of Agricultural Research for Development (ARD), qualitative and quantitative methods of information gathering were applied. Group approach such as the Rural Rapid Appraisal (RRA) and the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods of data collection were used. These tools include semi-structured interviews, focus-group discussions, transect walks, seasonal calendars, key-informant interviews, resource maps and secondary data. A sample of 149 respondents was selected from eight villages in the OR Tambo and Amathole districts. The HVC model was analysed using qualitative approach, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The Is‘Baya/ARC extension model is thus said to be effective in meeting the objectives of the HVC programme due to the efficient transfer of skills and technology and its positive impact on the livelihood of the people. There was also an improvement of the income and food security status of the rural dwellers in O.R Tambo district. The regression analysis model was applied and the results of the model were significant to the highest income earned. Out of 22 explanatory variables fitted in the regression model, 12 were significant. The R² and adjusted R² are 73 percent and 68 percent respectively which shows the significance of the fitted variables in the model. The very high F value of 15.427 shows strong significance of the fitted variables to the model. The study therefore concluded that the HVC based extension model implemented by Is‘Baya and ARC was very effective in improving rural livelihoods. The study further recommended investment in infrastructure, market linkages, value adding, public-private partnerships, creation of tenure security, investigation of different funding sources, investment on agricultural research, extension of skills provided and implementation of similar model by the public sector.

This study examines the extent to which the Siyazondla food programme, which is a woman based project, empowers women with agricultural skills and knowledge to alleviate poverty and improve their quality of lives in Ducats North area in East London. The investigation is based on the argument that when a woman is empowered, poverty will be reduced and the quality of life will improve. Through the use of qualitative research methodology, all women who are the main beneficiaries of the Siyazondla programme in Ducats North village were interviewed. Findings seem to indicate that although women in the project manage to produce good crops to feed their families, they are still not sufficiently empowered with skills and education to improve their quality of lives. This was found to be exacerbated by the fact that the officials assigned for the programme are to a greater extent inefficient and lack relevant knowledge to support beneficiaries. Most importantly, it was revealed that there is lack of monitoring and evaluation of the programme by government and this was considered to be the major constraint to successful implementation of the programme and in ensuring that poverty is alleviated in the area. It is on the basis of these findings that the study recommends that in order to yield positive results and ensure that women in the programme are empowered, there is a need to change the deeply embedded patriarchal perceptions and discriminatory practices and attitudes that seem to undervalue women‟s work. This will require greater awareness of women‟s contribution to agriculture, and the recognition of the role played by women in food security and poverty alleviation, coupled with a strong commitment from the government to empower rural women in agriculture.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017
A consumable seed bank, market and food theatre that challenges the relationships between formal and informal and creates a solution to the need for food and encourages a healthier lifestyle through digesting architecture and walking urbanism in Johannesburg’s in between space. From the watershed above the river of gold, the Braamfontein Spruit flows towards the suburbs. Natural meanders and formal canals move with the winding bends of avenues, through golf courses and out into bird sanctuaries and parks to join the Jukskei river on its journey. This 50 km of between unbuilt space is the landscape in which this exploration takes place. At the beginning and end of this connection sits Dale Lace Park, divided by Barry Hertzog and united by the topography and spruit. The three-part theoretical essay focuses on natural processes and their relationship to people and architecture. By creating a compact theory for walking in public space, we can begin to understand how people react to space both positive and negative. This metaphor can be analysed through DNA and gene editing to create the desired space. Identifying DNA is achieved through a process called electrophoresis. Current moves through the gel in which DNA is injected. Certain strands move faster while others move slower. Is this not the same as the movement of people through public space? As we move up the plant through the stem, it becomes clear that the plant’s core is its roots. The permanence of this and the temporary nature of the leaves can link to the above and below ground of programmatic design. The second part focuses on nutrition and food in architecture. Modernism and its functional programmatic approach to design are used to emphasise the importance of functional planting in architecture. And as the plant escapes the soil, the light causes the adapting nature and evolution of the plant in its circle of life. Life and light and the purity of life will be used to analysis light and research space in buildings along with adapting to seasonal change. This third and final part will explore the combination of planting and people in space and architecture’s role in the human and social interaction. The deconstructed landscape will be explored. Through Architecture, the thesis aims to unearth the importance of seedling cultivation for consumption in an urban farm and research centre. Akin to the market it is a space of engagement and public identity.
GR2017

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics) -- University of Limpopo, 2019
Studies have indicated that sorghum hectares in South Africa have been decreasing over the past decades. This has resulted in a huge importation of the grain sorghum by the country. This study was undertaken due to sorghum production variability in South Africa. The objectives of this study were to estimate elasticity of sorghum production to changes in price and non-price factors, as well as estimating the short-run and long-run sorghum price elasticity. The study used time series data spanning from 1998 to 2016. This data was obtained from the abstracts of agricultural statistics and verified by South African Grain Information Services. Variance Error Correction Model (VECM) was employed to address both objectives. A number of diagnostic tests were performed to ensure that the study does not produce spurious regression results. This study estimated sorghum supply elasticity using two dependent variables being the area and yield response functions as model one and two respectively. The results have shown that area response function was found to be a robust model as most of the variables were significant, responsive and elastic. Maize price as a competing crop of sorghum negatively influenced the area allocation; however, the remaining variables positively influenced the area allocation in the long-run. In this model, all variables were statistically significant at 10% and 1% in the short and long-run respectively. In the yield function, most of the variables were insignificant, not responsive and inelastic, therefore, this model was found not to be robust and hence not adopted. Thus, it was concluded that sorghum output in South Africa is less sensitive to changes in price and nonprice factors. The findings further indicated that error correction term for area was -1.55 and -1.30 for yield response function. This indicated that the two models were able to revert to equilibrium. Therefore, it was concluded that the area response function was more robust, while the yield response function was not. Furthermore, it was concluded that sorghum production was more responsive to area allocation than yield function. Based on the findings, the study recommends that amongst other methods to enhance sorghum output, producers could use improved varieties or hybrids, as this action would result in allocation of more land to sorghum production, following price change.

This research report serves to explore how women living in Tembisa, the second largest township in Johannesburg, South Africa, create and maintain highly flexible and mobile personal networks, to maximize their access to financial and social capital in order to improve individual and household resilience to food insecurity. What are the strategies that are adopted, created and manipulated in the daily lives of the food insecure in an attempt to attain a semblance of food security for themselves, their households and their communities?

Information on the present situation of household food insecurity in South Africa is fragmented. There is no comprehensive study comparing different indicators of household food security. Better information on the household food security situation in South Africa would permit relevant policy formulation and better decision-making on the allocation of limited resources. The availability of a national dataset, the first South African National Food Consumption Survey data (1999) , provided the opportunity to investigate some of the issues raised above, and to contribute to knowledge on the measurement of household food security. The aim of this study was to use the data from the 1999 National Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) to : • Determine and compare the prevalence of household food insecurity using different indicators of household food security ; • Determine the overlap of households identified as food insecure by the different indicators (i.e. how many of the same households are identified as food insecure); and to • Investigate whether there was any correlation between the indicators selected . The indicators of household food security selected were: household income, household hunger experienced, and using the index child: energy and vitamin A intake (from 24 Hour Recall (24HR) and Quantified Food Frequency data), dietary diversity (from 24HR data) and anthropometric indicators stunting and underweight. The cut offs to determine food insecure household were those used in the NFCS and the cut off for dietary diversity was exploratory. The main results of the study were as follows : • The prevalence estimates of household food insecurity ranged from 10% (underweight indicator) to 70% (low income indicator). Rural areas consistently had a higher prevalence of household food insecurity than urban areas . The Free State and Northern Cape provinces had higher levels of household food insecurity, with the Western Cape and Gauteng the lower levels of household food insecurity . • Quantified Food Frequency (QFF) data yielded lower prevalence of household food insecurity estimates than 24 hour recall (24HR) data. Household food insecurity as determined by low vitamin A intakes was higher than that determined by low energy intakes for both the 24HR and QFF data . • There was little overlap with the indicators (9-52%), indicating that the same households were not being identified by the different indicators. Low dietary diversity, low income, 24HR low vitamin A intake and hunger had higher overlaps with the other indicators. Only 12 of 2826 households (0.4%) were classified by all nine indicators as food insecure. • The dataset revealed a number of statistically significant correlations. Overall , low dietary diversity, low income, 24HR low energy intake and hunger had the stronger correlations with the other indicators. Food security is a complex, multi-dimensional concept, and from the findings of this study there was clearly no single best indicator of household food insecurity status. Overall , the five better performing indicators (higher overlaps and correlations) were : low income, 24 hour recall low energy intake, 24 hour recall low vitamin A intake, low dietary diversity and hunger; this merits their use over the other selected indicators in this study. The indicator selected should be appropriate for the purpose it is being used for, e.g. estimating prevalence of food insecurity versus monitoring the long term impact of an intervention. There are other important criteria in the selection of an indicator. Income data on a national scale has the advantage of being available annually in South Africa, and this saves time and money. The 24HR vitamin A intake and 24HR energy intake indicators has as its main draw back the skill and time needed to collect and analyse the information, which increases cost and decreases sustainability. Dietary diversity and hunger have the advantage of being simple to understand, and quicker and easier to administer and analyse. It is suggested that a national food security monitoring system in South Africa uses more than one indicator, namely : 1) household income from already existing national data, 2) the potential for including a hunger questionnaire in the census should be explored, and 3) when further researched and validated, dietary diversity could also be used in national surveys.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

A Research Report submitted in partial fulfillment of the Degree of Master of Commerce in Economics in the School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand 2018
The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and food security at the local municipal level in South Africa. This analysis is based on a cross sectional framework for 2016 and a panel framework over the period 2000 – 2016. Furthermore, the study utilized geospatial analysis. There is currently little to no literature deciphering the relationship between foreign direct investment and food security, in terms of the South African context. The contribution of this paper is to bridge the gap. The results show the importance of an equitable distribution of foreign direct investment, across various local municipalities in South Africa, as a means to alleviating hunger and food insecurity. More specifically, the paper has managed to highlight the fact that municipalities that receive a sufficient amount of foreign direct investment experience lower levels of hunger in comparison to the local municipalities that receive little to no foreign direct investment.
MT 2019

The full text of this thesis/dissertation is not available online. Please contact us if you need access. Read the abstract in the section 00front of this document.
Thesis (DPhil (Consumer Science))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
Consumer Science
unrestricted

Masters of Art research report prepared for the Department of Development Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, March 2017
The current food system is contributing to the food insecurity of the urban poor. Local food systems and other food system alternatives benefit the urban poor in all four spheres in which the corporate food regime disadvantages them: accessibility, empowerment, sustainability and health. This research maps the overlap of poverty and types of agriculture in the City of Johannesburg to locate potential for urban farms to serve and benefit the urban poor. There are many areas where potential for food system alternatives is high, especially where smaller scale farms are growing vegetables in areas where there are many and mostly poor households concentrated over space. By engaging with farmers, from study areas in the City which meet at least some of these conditions, the research not only confirms that the potential identified in these areas is being realised and exceeded but suggests that the potential has been underestimated for all of the other areas of the municipality in which urban agriculture coexists with the urban poor. The combinations and variations of food system alternatives chosen by farmers, in the foodstuffs produced, nature of production and modes and channels of distribution, are evidence of the reciprocal influence of structure and their own agency. By reframing urban agriculture to recognize the diverse opportunities for farmers to do things differently, we can see that many are choosing to do so, and are thus making sustainably produced, healthy fresh produce locally available to the urban poor in ways that are accessible and empowering.
XL2018

An intervention on food security is sustainable when it begins to address issues of development that are the priority to the beneficiaries rather than those of the benefactor. Food security in this study is regarded as the priority that is interwoven in social, economical and ecological aspect of development. Therefore, it can only be solved through processes of sustainable development. This study is concerned about the current approaches and processes of food security programmes that do not capture the elements of sustainable development. Therefore, the aim of the study was to establish how the elements of sustainable development are practiced in the programmes of food security in South Africa. Most importantly how the programme goes beyond food and market availability to social change. In order to achieve this aim, a qualitative research process was applied using a case study. The study examined one of the food security programmes in uMsinga area. north of KwaZulu Natal. This programme is funded by the National Development Agency (NDA) and administered by the Non-Governmental Organisation called uMsinga Peace and Development Committee (MPDC). The study found that the programme still reflects the common and the short-sighted understanding of food security. It still emphasises the market-led methods of food security which have undermined the environment and social development of the community. Hence the programme comes short in ensuring sustainable food security in the area of uMsinga where years of factions fights has destroyed the social fabric of the community. The study recommended a deliberate intervention strategy of community building for uMsinga community. This calls for a strategy where a process of community conscientization becomes one of the main objectives of the programme. It is through community building that those available resources such as financial, natural, human, infrastructure and institutions call be identified within the community. Conscientization process can be able to equip tlte community with skills and knowledge of how to access and control those resources to satisfy both short term and long- term needs.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

‘Karoo lamb’ is a product with specific regional qualities that are based on, among other factors, the natural environment present in the region of origin. Together with the specific product qualities, regional image factors create a unique identity for a product, as is the case of ‘Karoo lamb’, in this way bringing about added value. Consumers will only consume food products that fulfil their specific requirements and have become more demanding about what they want. As food markets have become more globalised, consumers have become more concerned about the origin of the food they eat, with decreased confidence in the quality and safety of foods produced outside their local region or country. Traceability systems address these concerns, and the importance of establishing a link between a product, producer and place of production has therefore gained momentum as a trend. The overall goal of the research was to explore the role and contribution of traceability as a system relating to a product of origin, specifically ‘Karoo lamb’, and the influence it has on consumers’ decision-making processes when selecting and purchasing ‘Karoo lamb’. Consumer decision making is a complex and dynamic process that can be explained according to a consumer decision model that specifies its various stages. The research was conducted in three phases. During the first phase a quantitative research approach was followed to investigate and describe the audit processes that have been implemented by different retailers in South Africa regarding the traceability of lamb meat. In the second phase, focus group sessions, a recognised qualitative research technique, were conducted to identify the product attributes that were critical to consumers’ preferences and choices regarding the product, ‘Karoo lamb’. In the third phase the attributes, namely price, safety, quality, traceability and origin, were identified as significant factors influencing consumer choice and used in a conjoint questionnaire. A quantitative approach was followed in phase three and a questionnaire was used to measure the importance individual consumers attach to the different levels of the various product attributes. The utility values were based on the survey participants’ evaluation of the complete product. Price is often known to be one of the most important and determining factors in the consumer’s decision-making process. A higher price can sometimes symbolise better quality or safety of the product for the consumers. The results from the conjoint questionnaire have shown that price, as an extrinsic attribute, was found to be the most important factor in a consumer’s decision-making process at 30.4% when purchasing lamb. Safety at 23.1% was the second most important attribute after price. This is not surprising given the legacy of BSE and e-coli outbreaks that were given much publicity in the press. The third attribute affecting the purchasing decision was quality at 17.0%. The fourth attribute of traceability affected the purchasing decision at 15.7% and the importance of the fifth attribute, region of origin, was 13.8%. According to the participants, the origin attribute had the lowest rating of importance of all five attributes selected for the conjoint questionnaire. As the conjoint experiment was conducted electronically, the participants of the conjoint questionnaire were solicited with the assistance of a marketing research firm, Consulta Research (Pty) Ltd., based in Centurion in the Gauteng province of South Africa, and were part of the consumer panel of consenting survey participants for the company. In total 352 completed questionnaires were used in the data analysis. The buying and/or consuming of mutton or lamb were the only criteria that needed to be met for participation in the conjoint questionnaire. In conclusion it can be said that there is a lack of certification and guarantee in South Africa that the product that is marketed as ‘Karoo lamb’ truly originates from the Karoo, and consumers can easily be misled as to the true origin of the lamb being sold. Traceability can be an important tool to help to establish the authenticity of food products and to check that claims made by producers are true. AFRIKAANS : Karoo lamsvleis is ‘n streeksgebonde produk wat gebaseer is op die natuurlike omgewing in die gebied van oorsprong. Tesame met die spesifieke produk gebaseerde kwaliteite word ‘n unieke produk identiteit geskep deur die streeks faktore soos gesien met Karoo lam en hiermee bring dit toegevoegde waarde mee. Verbruikers sal slegs voedselprodukte aankoop en eet wat hul spesieke aanvraag benodigdhede vervul. Omdat voedselmarkte wêreldwyd meer en meer impak maak op verbruikers begin hulle konsentreer op die herkoms van produkte. Verbruikers het verminderde vertroue in die kwaliteit en veiligheid van produkte wat geproduseer word buite streeks- en landsgrense. Naspoorbaarheid sisteme spreek hierdie probleme aan en die belangrikheid om ‘n skakel tussen produk, produsent en plek van produksie te vind het veld gewen as tendens. Die primêre doel van hierdie navorsingsstudie was om die rol en bydrae van naspoorbaarheid as ‘n sisteem ten opsigte van produk oorsprong en spesifiek Karoo lamsvleis te ondersoek, asook die invloed daarvan op verbruiker besluitnemings tydens die keuse en aankoop van Karoo lamsvleis. Omrede die verbruikers besluitnemingsproses kompleks en dinamies is kan dit verduidelik word met ‘n verbruikers besluitnemings model wat die verskillende fases van die proses beskryf. Die studieprojek is uitgevoer in drie fases. Met die eerste fase is ‘n kwantitatiewe benadering gevolg om ondersoek in te stel en te beskryf hoe en watter ouditprosesse geïmplimenteer is deur groothandelaars ten opsigte van die naspeurbaarheid van lamsvleis in Suid Afrika. Tydens fase twee is fokus groep besprekings, ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsings tegniek, geloods om die produk kenmerke wat verbruikers besluitneming ten opsigte van die produk lamsvleis beïnvloed te bepaal. Die kenmerke prys, veiligheid, kwaliteit, naspeurbaarheid en oorsprong is geïdentifiseer en gebruik in fase drie, die voorkeurkeuse ontleding. ‘n Kwantitatiewe benadering is gevolg in fase drie om die belangrikheid te bepaal wat verbruikers heg aan die verskillende kenmerke en die vlakke van die onderskeie produk kenmerke. Prys is bekend as een van die mees belangrikste en invloedryke faktore in die verbruikers besluitnemings proses. ‘n Hoër prys simboliseer soms beter kwaliteit en veiligheid aan ‘n verbruiker. Die resultate van die voorkeurkeuse ontleding het getoon dat prys met 30.4% as ‘n uiterlike kenmerk, die belangrikste invloed het op verbruikers besluitneming. Veiligheid met 23.1% was die tweede belangrikste kenmerk na prys. Bogenoemde was nie ‘n verrassing nie aangesien die pers wêreldwyd al baie aandag gegee het aan die uitbreking van die e-coli epidemies. Kwaliteit was die derde belangrikste kenmerk wat verbruikers besluitneming bëinvloed het met 17.0%. Naspeurbaarheid as kenmerk het die besluitnemings proses bëinvloed met 15.7% en oorsprong in die vyfde plek met 13.8%. Daar is gevind dat oorsprong as kenmerk verbruikers se besluitneming die minste beïnvloed het. Die deelnemers aan die elektroniese voorkeurkeuse ontledingsopname is verkry vanaf die databasis van die bemarking navorsings maatskappy Consulta Research (Pty) Ltd, wat geleë is in Centurion, in die Gauteng provinsie van Suid Afrika. ‘n Totaal van 352 voltooide vraelyste is gebruik vir die data analise. Die aankoop en verbruik van lam en skaap vleis was die enigste kriterium wat gebruik is in die werwingsproses van die deelnemers. Samevattend kan genoem word dat daar ‘n gebrek bestaan in Suid Afrika in die sertifisering en waarborg van die produk Karoo lamsvleis wat bemark word as afkomstig van die Karoo. Sodoende kan verbruikers maklik mislei word oor die ware oorsprong van die produk. Naspeurbaarheid kan ‘n baie belangrike instrument wees om die geloofwaardigheid van voedsel te bepaal en te verseker dat die aannames ten opsigte van oorsprong wat produsente maak die waarheid weerspieël. Copyright
Dissertation (MConsumer Science)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Consumer Science
unrestricted

Thesis (M. Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020
Food security is a broad concept especially as far as rural food security in countries is concerned. In essence, it is a phenomenon with the goal of ensuring that all individuals have at all times, an adequate level of food and which they will be able to utilize to meet their increasing consumption demand. Studies have shown that like other countries, South Africa is food secure at the national level but very food insecure at the household level. It is also shown that food insecurity is not fuelled by a lack of food but a lack of food insecurity tackling strategies. The aim of the study is to examine the determinants of food security among rural households in Magong, North West Province, South Africa where the main prevalent economic activity is farming supported with other formal and informal types of employment. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents that were interviewed. The first stage involved selecting districts and the second stage was the selection of municipalities. Farm and non-farming households were selected. Structured questionnaire were administered to 108 households. The third stage involved a selection Magong village using purposive sampling based on high concentration of both farming and non-farming activities were selected, which in our case is Magong. The fourth stage involved the selection of respondents based on simple random sampling proportionate to size. The study employed logit model for as data analysis. Of the variables modelled, only income and land size had a significant influence on food security. As far as age is concerned, it was evident that the youth participation in agriculture lacks. This is because most young people are still after white collar jobs. Some were still in the academic world awaiting their certificates which they hope to use a ticket to their first job. The participation in agriculture increases steadily between ages 31 and 50 which could be because the persons in this age brackets were looking for ways to store their wealth as they approach their retirement age. Some of the respondents have inherited the farms from family members and are therefore “forced” to keep the family business running for the sake of sustainability. With regards to the marital status, there is a high number of single/ never married respondents compared to the other groups. This could be people co-habiting and choosing not to marry as a result of the economic conditions making marriage costs unaffordable. Divorce was at its lowest amongst the respondents.v In terms of the gender of the respondents, there was a high participation of women in agriculture. This may be a result of women-based agricultural programmes implemented in the past in the study area. All the variables had a positive relationship with food security. Age had a positive effect of food security, with a positive parameter (β=0.013) which indicated that contrary to what other researchers found, an increase in age when all other factors are held constant, resulted in an increase in food security. The marital status of the household head also positively affected food security. This indicated that compared to their unmarried counterparts, married household heads were food secure (β=0.049). The findings also indicated that married couples and people living with partner had a higher chance of being food secure than those who were single, divorced or widowed. According to the results, male headship of households increases food security by 0.398. It was found that the larger the household size, the more food secure it is. This may be because as the number of members in the household increase, they find more ways of making money and combating food insecurity. A unit increase in household size increases food security by .093 while an increase in land size, increases food security by 0.394. This is expected because as the land size increases, there are chances that the productivity will also increase. From the results of the survey household income had a positive effect on food security. Income is very important as it determines the household’s affordability and its ability to meet its needs

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019
Food insecurity is prevalent in less developing countries and it remains a major issue in South African households, especially among those living in rural areas. Therefore, the study examined the factors influencing food security among small-scale maize farmers in Polokwane Local Municipality. The aim of the study was to assess the factors influencing food security among small-scale maize farmers. The objectives of the study were to: identify and describe the socio-economic characteristics, determine the household food security status, examine factors influencing food security of small-scale maize farmers, and identify the constraints faced by the small-scale maize farmers in ensuring food security. Primary data was collected from a sample size of 150 farmers through wellstructured questionnaires, while HFIAS was used to determine the food security status and Logistic Regression model was employed to analyze the data. The descriptive statistics showed that 56.7% of the participants were females, whereas 43.3% were males. It was further indicated that the average age of youth was 34.2%; whilst 65.8% was average age of adults and 69.3% of the farmers have attended school while 30.7% have never attended school. The HFIAS results showed that 53% of households were food secure and 47% were food insecure which include 16.0% mildly, 21.3% moderately and 9.3% severely food insecure. The logistic regression results revealed that among twelve variables included, only six variables including age of the farmer, educational level, household size, household income, farm size and access to credit were found to have significant relationship to food security status of the farmers. The study therefore recommends that there must be provision of agricultural information that will motivate adults to continue farming. Training of farmers on improving food security should be provided through workshops as well as family planning programmes to reduce family size. Furthermore, there must be expansion of off-farm income generating activities as well as increase in farm size and enhancement in access to credit institutions such as MAFISA, Land bank and Commercial banks that will assist in improving the food security status of the respondents
NSFAS (National Students Financial Aid Scheme) and NRF (National Research Foundation)

The main objective of this study is to examine the potential contribution of households’ involvement in mopane worm activities (harvesting, commercialisation and consumption) to households’ food security in the Mopani District of the Limpopo Province. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from a stratified sample of 120 households, 60 of which are mopane worm harvesters. The Binary Logit Model was used to determine households’ socio-economic factors affecting participation in mopane worm harvesting. The results revealed that gender of the household head, age of the respondent, households’ size and the level of income per month increases the probability of households participating in mopane worm harvesting whilst distance to the market and food expenditure as well as religion (belonging to the Zion Christian Church) decreased the probability of being mopane worm harvester. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) model was used to identify households’ socio-economic factors that determine the rate of commercialisation of mopane worms within harvesting households. 53 percent of the households commercialized their harvest. The model identified that gender, harvesting experience and income from mopane worm sales are the main factors determining commercialisation within harvesting households. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to determine household food security status. The result revealed that about 20 percent of the harvesters were food secure, while 80 percent where food insecure. In addition, about 12 percent of the non-harvesters were food secured. An OLS model was also used to examine the impact of mopane worms in the food security status of the households in the Limpopo Province. The results revealed that age, education level of a household head, level of income, income from mopane worm sales and frequency of consuming mopane worm/day improve the food security status of households whilst households’ size and the distance to the market worsens the food security status of the households. The study found that about 48 to 60 percent of the households to be adopting less pervasive strategies like asking neighbours/family relatives for help, borrowing money for food and selling mopane worms for cash to protect their food consumption and over 70 percent adopted strategies like reducing food intake, portion size and eating less preferred food were adopted to modify their food consumption. The findings indicated that policy priorities should be focused on the promotion of harvesters associations for collective marketing and creating an enabling environment for sustainable harvesting and commercialisation.
M. Sc. Agric. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2013.

This dissertation discusses the concepts of Food Security and Food Sovereignty and the introduction of biotechnology into the international agricultural sector. It specifically focuses on the effects of the introduction of Genetically Modified seeds and Intellectual Property Rights. By discussing the effects of biotechnology and the concurrent implementation of neoliberal market-oriented economic policies, this dissertation aims to highlight international Food Regime developments during the last half century. In South Africa, the case study, these developments have bifurcated the national agricultural sector and strengthened the relationship between Agricultural Trans National Corporations and subsequent governments. This has led to the promotion of large-scale commercial farmers in the formal market sector, at the expense of the food sovereignty of smallscale traditional farmers in the informal market sector. A substantial portion of this discussion concerns the role and behaviour of the United States, as the dominant economic power post World War II. Strategic agricultural support given to individual nations during the Cold War, shaped the contemporary international Food Regime. In addition, the United States' Food Aid program (an attempt to resolve its overproduction) and its promotion of neo-liberal policies through supranational institutions have created an environment in which Agricultural Trans-national Corporations have emerged, consolidated and become increasingly influential. By embracing biotechnologies and lobbying governments to assist in their introduction and protection, these Agricultural Trans National Corporations have substantially altered the relationship between farmers and their crops. This dissertation analyses the South African agricultural sector in the light of the international Food Regime, taking into account its domestic legacy. A legacy characterized by: Centuries of discriminatory policies; a close relationship between the governments of the United States and South Africa; neoliberal friendly economic policies; the adoption and promotion of biotechnologies; Intellectual Property Right legislation; and a heavily bifurcated agricultural sector in which small-scale traditional farmers are effectively losing their Food Sovereignty.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.

This study has assessed the welfare shocks and household food Insecurity in Ephraim Mogale and Greater Tubatse municipalities of Sekhukhune district, Limpopo Province in South Africa. The study identified shocks affecting livelihood at household level and also analysed the food insecurity status of households. The study is restricted only to two local municipalities out of five municipalities in Sekhukhune district. Structured questionnaire was administered for data collection. A total of 200 households were involved in the study with 100 households selected from each municipality. Within each municipality several villages were selected for survey through stratified random sampling selection. Data was collected between 10th July and 22nd September 2014. All response from the questionnaires was tabulated and processed with the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) programme. Three analytical tools were used to achieve the objectives of the study such as, Descriptive statistics, Household Food Insecurity Assessment Scale (HFIAS) and Linear regression model. Majority of households experience different form of shocks in their households. Increase in food prices, high level of livestock disease, drought, death of a household member and chronic illness such as Diabetes, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis are the most important shocks experienced. Approximately 22.2% of households were characterized as being food secure, 32.2% as mildly food insecure, 34.2% as moderately food insecure while 11.4% are severely food insecure. The main determinants of food security from the sample survey were education, unskilled wage labour, grants, pension and disability funds whereby high-level of livestock diseases, illness or accidental loss, death of a household member tends to expose households to higher risk of food insecurity. Policy recommendations are made on promoting education in the rural areas. High priority should be given to industrialization in the district which will in turn boost the rate of employment and also add to the economic growth. Policy measures should be made in supporting people and organizations on how to respond to shocks and stresses experienced in their communities.
Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Agriculture)

MRDV
Institute for Rural Development
Subsistence agriculture is regarded as a primary strategy adopted by the rural households for increasing their access to food for their families. Food system options for rural households are mainly through own production and purchase from markets. In some cases people require more than what they produce hence they access food through donations and gifts. The main objective of this study was to determine the contribution of subsistence farming to household food system. The specific objectives were to characterize the rural household food system, analyse the contribution by subsistence farming to rural household food system and to suggest possible strategies that can be used to enhance rural household food system. This study was guided by mixed methods in which quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to collect and analyse data that was collected from the households around various aspects of the household food system. Systematic sampling was applied to select the research respondents. A questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. To achieve the overall aim and objectives of the study, data was entered into Microsoft Excel and transferred to Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) vision 24.0. Various tools of SPSS were used to interpreted and make sense of the data collected. Furthermore, descriptive statistics were computed to understand variables constituting the data. Furthermore, Chi square test was performed, with the latter applied to achieve objective two and to analyze the association between subsistence farming and variables related to household food system. Discourse analysis was used to sort, categorize, combine and then interpret results for the qualitative data collected. Subsistence farming in the study area is characterised by low level of production. The main sources of food for households are markets, subsistence production and transfers from other households or public programmes. The main findings indicate that subsistence farmers spent most of their money on market food rather than on own production. The Chi square test P-value results indicate that there is relationship significant (P<0.1) relationship between subsistence farming and quality of harvest and there is insignificant (p=0.123) relationship between subsistence farming income used for household food consumption. Therefore, subsistence farmers’ households should be provided with resources required for farming to increase productivity in the study area. Furthermore, the attributes and dynamics of subsistence agriculture need to be understood by all households in the subsistence farming sector to advance the sector as a possible solution to food system and food security in the study area.
NRF

Urban agriculture is a strategy poor urban, informal settlement residents adopt to reduce poverty and improve food security and child nutrition. It is widely asserted in the literature and development circles that household vegetable gardens can provide a significant percentage of recommended dietary allowances of macro- and micro-nutrients in the diets of pre-school children. These children are vulnerable in terms of food access and nutrition. The first five years of a child’s life are crucial to psychological well-being. This study set out to determine the impact of home gardens on access to food, dietary diversity and nutrient intake of pre-school children in an informal settlement in Eatonside, in the Vaal Region, Johannesburg, South Africa. The home gardening project was undertaken in five phases, namely the planning phase; a baseline survey (including quantitative food intake frequencies, 24-hour recall, individual dietary diversity questionnaires and anthropometric measurements); a training programme on home gardens; planting and tending the gardens and evaluating the impact of home gardens on access to food, dietary diversity and nutrient intake of pre-school children. Children aged two to five years (n=40) were selected to participate in the study. The sample population consisted of 22 boys and 18 girls. The children were categorised into three groups at the start of the project: children of 24-35 months (four boys and one girl), 36-47 months (four boys and five girls) and 48-60 months (14 boys and 12 girls). All but 10 per cent of the children’s consumption of foods in the food groups increased. At the start of the project, low consumption rates were observed for white tubers and roots, vitamin A-rich fruit, other fruit and fish. After the gardening project, the number of children consuming vegetables increased considerably. There was an increase in the intake of food groups over the period of the project. The number of children consuming vitamin A-rich increased the most, with all children (45 per cent improvement) consuming vitamin A-rich vegetables at the end of the project, compared with just over half at the start of the project. The consumption of vegetables increased with 78 per cent of the children consuming beans and 33 per cent beetroot. Most children (95 per cent) consumed cabbage, carrots and spinach post-home gardening. Seventy eight percent of children consumed beans by the end of the project, but only a third of the children had consumed beetroot during the post-project survey period. Intakes of all nutrients considered in the study improved by the end of the project, except for energy and calcium, which dropped marginally, but both remained at around 50 per cent below requirements. Twenty five percent of boys (24-35 months) were underweight and below the 50th percentile at the pre- and post-project stages. The same boys were severely stunted (on average -4.41 standard deviations below the third percentile). Of the boys aged 36-47 months, 25 per cent were stunted pre-project, but by the end of the project, this number had decreased to 50 per cent. Twenty one per cent of the older boys (48-60 months) were within their normal height for age. Twenty five per cent of girls were underweight (36-47 months). A slight change was observed in the 36-47 month group, where the mean changed from -0.14 standard deviations (below 50th percentile) pre-project to -0.5 (below 50th percentile) post-project. All girls aged 24-35 months were below -2 standard deviations pre-project. After the home gardening project, the figure dropped to 50 per cent. For girls aged 36-47 months, 25 per cent were below -3 standard deviations after the project, compared with 20 per cent pre-project. Height-for- age for girls aged 36-47 months dropped by 10 per cent below -2 standard deviation post-home gardening. Girls from 24 to 35 months were severely stunted [-3.02 (below 3rd percentile) pre- and -2.31 (below 5th percentile) post-project]. Stunting was observed in 36-47 months girls who had means of -2.39 (below 3rd percentile) and 1.86 (below 25th percentile) both pre-and post-gardening respectively and were at risk of malnutrition. The older girls were well nourished with means of height-for-age at -0.88 (below 50th percentile) pre-project and -0.92 (below 50th percentile) post-project. Home-gardening improved food access, dietary diversity, energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat, fibre, vitamin A and iron intakes, but did not make a significant impact on the malnutrition of the children in the project or ensure adequate intakes. Home gardens had a positive impact on height-for-age scores; but had no significant impact on mean weight-for-age and height-for-weight z-scores of the pre-school children. Increases in carbohydrate and fat intakes were shown to have the only significant impact on the children’s nutritional status and only with regard to improving height-for-age scores. The results show that the gardens did not have the expected impact on children’s nutrition, but confirm that increases in incomes from gardening are likely to have a greater impact through savings from consuming produce grown and selling produce to buy energy-dense foods for the children. This needs to be considered in nutrition interventions.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.