Landbou-en landelike ontwikkeling in die QwaQwa-gebied: 'n geografiese ondersoek

[摘要] English: The contribution of agricultural to rural development is widely acceptedby developmental specialists. In South Africa, an estimated 16 millionpeople are living in poverty, with its incidence highest in rural areas. TheMinistry for Agriculture and Land Affairs (South Africa, 1998) is of theopinion that agriculture can play an important role in the development ofrural areas through the establishment of small and medium scale emergingfarmers, and through the creation of opportunities to rai se theirproduction. In this way, it is thought, the creation of additionalemployment opportunities and the improvement 10 household foodsecurity will follow. Under the previous government black farmers were denied the right toown and farm land in so-called white areas. In accordance with its policyof separate development, agricultural development amongst black peoplewas limited to what was known as black homelands. In line with thispolicy, 114 black farmers were. settled on farms in Qwaqwa beginning in1989. Agriqwa, a non-profit government corporation, was founded withthe task of establishing these emerging, or beginner farmers. Officialinformation sources (South Africa, 1998) also refer to emerging farmersas small or medium scale farmers with limited access to land and capital.This same source states that these farmers have received inadequateresearch and extension support from the previous government. The mainaim of the proj ect in Qwaqwa was the establishment of an economicallyviable agricultural sector, with a core of prosperous emerging farmers. Itwas also envisaged that this would create several entrepreneurialpossibilities with job opportunities in an agricultural related sector.After the election of a new, democratic government in 1994, officialpolicies regarding the previous homelands changed dramatically. Agriqwa was dissolved and replaced with Agri-Eco, a private company under thedirect supervision of the then Minister of Agriculture of the Free State.The enormous financial burden brought about by the Reconstruction andDevelopment Programme of the newly elected government, inevitably ledto a si gni ficant reduction in state subsidies. It was not long befo re therestructuring and rationalisation of Agri-Eco meant the end of financialand agricultural assistance to the emerging farmers in Qwaqwa. Thepremise was that emerging farmers should compete independently In afree market environment. With this step, emerging farmers were suddenlyexposed to a competitive free market environment of which they hadlittle, or no experience. This transformation, the loss of expert managerialsupport, plus the downgrading and suspension of other well-provensupport systems, resulted In these farmers expcrrcncmg seriousmanagerial problems. The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate the problems experiencedby emerging farmers in order to formulate workable solutions andstrategies for future development projects in the field of agriculture. Abrief synopsis of the chapters in the study is as follows:�?The problem formulation and aim of the study are set out in Chapter 1.�?Chapter 2 is concerned with an historical perspective of sustainableagricultural development.�?Chapter 3 provides a geographical and agricultural overview of thestudy area.�?Chapters 4, 5 and 6 investigate the management profiles of emergingfarmers with a specific focus on:>- the educational and personal profiles of emerging farmers, theirperceptions of human resources and the management thereof(Chapter 4);~ perceptions among emergmg farmers regarding natural resources aswell as the management and utilisation thereof (Chapter 5);~ administrative and financial matters (Chapter 6).�?Chapter 7 focuses on the evaluation of research data, the testing of thehypothesis and the formulation of a specific development strategy foremerging farmers in Qwaqwa.With regard to human resources, the study has established that theunacceptable conduct and poor quality of work rendered by farm workersnegatively effect labour relations between farmers and workers. The studyalso identifies the low educational level of farm labourers, poor workingconditions and insufficient training as primary factors contributing tolabour problems. On the positive side, the study identifies several aspectsin employment that are to the advantage of the industry and that should bekept. These refer to food and residence security, a reliable cash incomeand grazing rights.The study identifies a singular ignorance among emergmg farmers withregard to the utilisation of natural resources. This includes the use of alternative production methods, which are inexpensive, and which, inturn, originate on the farm, and have a minor negative impact on thenatural environment. Within an environmental and sustainableperspective, this study makes certain recommendations concerning theintroduction of alternative farming methods.The study also finds that a number of farmers are experiencing seriousfinancial problems. The refusal of commercial banks and agricultural cooperativesto grant production loans for planting purposes, underlines theextent of the financial difficulties experienced by emerging farmers in thearea. This has also pushed a number of crop farmers into financial crisis. Against this background it is recommended that farming units with acombination of farming activities should be included lil futuredevelopment proj ects. Value adding activities seem to be a popular and profitable practiceamong emerging farmers. They seem to be an asset. The optimal use ofexisting infrastructure, labour, by-products and waste products fromfarming activities, are some of the important considerations in favour ofvalue adding activities. The study reveals that emerging farmers, despite certain drawbackspertaining to training and education, possess the will and the ingenuity tomake a success of agriculture in the area. The study further finds that thesuccess of present and future projects will be largely determined by basicsupport structures in training and agricultural extension work, fromgovernment and developmental agencies.

[发布机构] University of the Free State