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Smallholder farming styles and development policy in South Africa: The case of Dzindi Irrigation Scheme

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  • van Averbeke, W.
  • Mohamed, S.S.

Abstract

Diversity among smallholders farming 1.28ha plots at Dzindi Irrigation Scheme in the Thulamela Local Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa is investigated by applying farming style theory. Farming styles refer to specific farming strategies, which are conscious responses of farmers to the prevailing ecological and socio-economic conditions. The specific objectives of the study were to identify and characterize styles of farming in the Dzindi community of smallholders, to provide an understanding of the different styles from a smallholder perspective, and to interpret the meaning of the findings for smallholder development policy. Data collection involved both quantitative and qualitative methods. Three main farming styles were identified, and in each of these farmers employed particular strategies, which were congruent with their farming objectives, and which represent different degrees of exposure to risk evidenced by the crop selection, the amount of land they planted, the service providers they used with specific reference to land preparation, the social networks they maintained, especially with regard to marketing produce, the labour they hired and the farming requisites they purchased and utilized. The findings suggested that the response by farmers in the different styles to contemporary agricultural and related policy aimed at their empowerment and commercialization in unlikely to be uniform, and this is expected to dilute the impact of policy measures in support of specific development trajectories.

Suggested Citation

  • van Averbeke, W. & Mohamed, S.S., 2006. "Smallholder farming styles and development policy in South Africa: The case of Dzindi Irrigation Scheme," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 45(2), pages 1-22, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:agreko:31712
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.31712
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    1. Ireri, Dave Mwagi, 2017. "Determination Of Willingness To Pay For Irrigation Water Institutions Among Smallholder Farming Households In Mbeere South, Kenya," Research Theses 276429, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    2. Pienaar, L. & Fintel, D. von, 2015. "Hunger in the former apartheid homelands: Determinants of convergence one century after the 1913 land act," International Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (IJAGST), SvedbergOpen, vol. 53(4), March.
    3. Malan, Naudé, 2015. "Urban farmers and urban agriculture in Johannesburg: Responding to the food resilience strategy," International Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (IJAGST), SvedbergOpen, vol. 54(2), September.
    4. Beatriz E. Murillo-López & Antonio J. Castro & Alexander Feijoo-Martínez, 2022. "Nature’s Contributions to People Shape Sense of Place in the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-22, March.
    5. Nieuwoudt, S. & Henning, J.I.F. & Jordaan, H., 2015. "Pr - Exploring Entrepreneurial Competencies Of Smallholder Producers: The Case Of Eksteenskuil Raisin Producers," 20th Congress, Quebec, Canada, 2015 345761, International Farm Management Association.
    6. Pienaar, Louw & Traub, Lulama, 2015. "Understanding the smallholder farmer in South Africa: Towards a sustainable livelihoods classification," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212633, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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