Establishing viable and sustainable rural economic development programmes in a competitive global economy : analysis of marula commercialisation in South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The historical significance of the socio-political changes in South Africa since 1994 cannot be disputed.The challenge is to place the redress agenda within a macro-framework geared to promotecompetitiveness that positions South Africa as a credible and valued player within the continent andglobally. Of concern here is the plight of the rural poor and the neglect of rural space, viewed as centralin redressing imbalances and competitiveness. This study posits that the marginalisation of the ruralpoor results from the deliberate, structural and systemic exclusion evident in previous regimes andperpetuated by the reigning neoliberal policies and the rural development paradigm. It provides an indepthanalysis of the rural poor's spiral of deprivation. The spiral is viewed to perpetuate 'dependentsurvivalism with reliance on unsustainable hand-outs and oppressive paternalistic relationshipsbetween those with, and those without resources. The argument is that the emergence of the povertyeradication agenda has not focused attention and effort on the treatment of the causes of poverty.The study objective is to offer alternative approaches for addressing these structural constraints,enabling rural household participation in viable and sustainable rural economic developmentprogrammes. To this end transdisciplinary methods premised on the view of the household as thenucleus of sustainable development are used. The study challenges the general economic theory thatlimits a household to only a source of labour and capital, with emphasis on household consumption. Itshifts focus from the consumptive 'dependent survivalism mode to households as owners of productiveassets, producers and suppliers, termed the 'productive perspective. To achieve this, an inclusive andsustainable development conceptual framework is proposed with an alternative rural development policyperspective. The framework emphasises the deployment of capital assets and rural economicdevelopment strategies based on the theory of value chains.The comparative analysis of marula commercialisation case studies is used to conceptualise theframework and formulate alternative approaches. Primary research focused on the Distell/MirmaAmarula Cream processing plant in Phalaborwa and the Marula Natural Products initiative atThulamahashe, Bushbuckridge, South Africa. The findings demonstrated that marula supplyinghouseholds are value chain actors with an objective function to maximise benefits and participate in themainstream economy, but are structurally constrained. The profiles of the marula suppliers indicate thatthe majority are women who as heads of households bear the brunt of unpaid labour and the burden ofcare. The case study exposed the failure of the local and global economic systems to afford them theirdeserved opportunities and benefits as value chain actors. The study thus proposes a sustainablebenefit-maximising system that is rooted in the value chain-based re-organisation of production,emphasising mainstreaming through institutional and systems change. The role of the state is emphasised as central in creating an enabling environment with regulatory frameworks that ensuresustainable resource use and sharing in value created. The study calls for the courage to turn the2008/9 global financial crisis into an inclusive and sustainable development agenda.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University