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Application of system dynamics modelling in evaluating sustainability of low-input ruminant farming systems in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

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  • Marandure, Tawanda
  • Dzama, Kennedy
  • Bennett, James
  • Makombe, Godswill
  • Mapiye, Cletos

Abstract

As a complex and dynamic concept that requires understanding from an ecological, economic and socio-cultural perspective, sustainability of agriculture and food systems is currently being strongly promoted by many governments and rural development practitioners. However, advances in monitoring and evaluating the sustainability of low-input ruminant farming are hindered by a lack of tools that simultaneously consider the interrelationships and dynamic behaviour of the different components of the system. Here we report on the application of a system dynamics model to evaluate the sustainability of low-input ruminant farming systems. This draws on nine indicators grouped as ecological; (soil organic matter, water availability and biomass supply), economic; (livestock productivity, labour supply and household income, and social: (farmer training, credence attributes of ruminant grazing systems and gender equality) to describe system behaviour over a ten-year period. The outputs from model simulations were used to compute index values for each of the indicators and the indices were subsequently used to evaluate sustainability of low-input ruminant farming systems. Household income, gender equality and farmer training had the highest sustainability indices whereas, soil organic matter and biomass supply recorded the lowest values. Overall, the low-input ruminant farming system was found to be moderately sustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Marandure, Tawanda & Dzama, Kennedy & Bennett, James & Makombe, Godswill & Mapiye, Cletos, 2020. "Application of system dynamics modelling in evaluating sustainability of low-input ruminant farming systems in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 438(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:438:y:2020:i:c:s0304380020303641
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109294
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    1. Mapule Valencia Nkadimeng & Godswill Makombe & Obvious Mapiye & Cletos Mapiye & Isaac Oluwatayo & Kennedy Dzama & Cedric Mojapelo & Naftali Mollel & Jones Ngambi & Madimetja Human Mautjana, 2021. "A gross margin analysis for Nguni cattle farmers in Limpopo Province, South Africa," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Herrera, H & Schütz, L & Paas, W & Reidsma, P & Kopainsky, B, 2022. "Understanding resilience of farming systems: Insights from system dynamics modelling for an arable farming system in the Netherlands," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 464(C).
    3. Jaime Martínez-Valderrama & Javier Ibáñez Puerta, 2023. "System Dynamics Tools to Study Mediterranean Rangeland’s Sustainability," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, January.
    4. Datola, Giulia & Bottero, Marta & De Angelis, Elena & Romagnoli, Francesco, 2022. "Operationalising resilience: A methodological framework for assessing urban resilience through System Dynamics Model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 465(C).

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