IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v14y2024i12p2348-d1548957.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the Feasibility of Sorghum Farming in South Africa Using Garrett’s Ranking Technique

Author

Listed:
  • Zamaswazi Nkosi

    (Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa)

  • Nyankomo Marwa

    (Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa)

  • Olawale Olufemi Akinrinde

    (Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa)

Abstract

The potential for sorghum to be the driver of economic development in Sub-Saharan economies, including South Africa, is enormous. However, there has been a notable decline in the production, use, and consumption of sorghum due to the changes in preferences and lifestyle of its consumers in Southern Africa. While existing and extant studies have studied the benefits and impacts of sorghum on the African economy, there is an inadequate understanding of the feasibility of sorghum farming in South Africa using Garrett’s ranking technique. As a result, this study explores the feasibility of sorghum farming in the Nyoni area of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Hence, a survey was conducted with a sample size of 150 respondents that were purposively selected. An interview schedule was also used to collect primary data, and the data were analyzed using Garrett’s ranking technique. The results of this study indicated that edaphic factors, climatic factors, volatile markets, information transfers, education, drought resistance variety, access to credit, and technological advancement were critical in making sorghum farming feasible in the Nyoni area of KwaZulu Natal. Therefore, this study recommends that there is an overarching need to explore the feasibility of sorghum farming, starting at a smaller scale until a more stable state of marketability and potential profitability has been established.

Suggested Citation

  • Zamaswazi Nkosi & Nyankomo Marwa & Olawale Olufemi Akinrinde, 2024. "Exploring the Feasibility of Sorghum Farming in South Africa Using Garrett’s Ranking Technique," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:12:p:2348-:d:1548957
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2348/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2348/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph P. Musara & Lovemore Musemwa & Munyaradzi Mutenje & Abbyssinia Mushunje & Charles Pfukwa, 2018. "Market participation and marketing channel preferences by small scale sorghum farmers in semi-arid Zimbabwe," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(1), pages 64-77, January.
    2. Deribe, Yared & Kassa, Etaferahu, 2020. "Value Creation and Sorghum-Based Products: What Synergetic Actions are Needed?," MPRA Paper 110587, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 09 Feb 2020.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Eunice Adu Donkor & Elena Garnevska & Muhammad Imran Siddique & Emmanuel Donkor, 2021. "Determinants of Rice Farmer Participation in the Direct Marketing Channel in Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Iuliana Vijulie & Ana-Irina Lequeux-Dincă & Mihaela Preda & Alina Mareci & Elena Matei, 2022. "Could Lavender Farming Go from a Niche Crop to a Suitable Solution for Romanian Small Farms?," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-31, April.
    3. Chauhan, Sonalee & Varma, Poornima & Singh, Sukhpal, 2024. "What drives smallholder market participation and channel choice decision? Insights from paddy markets in India," IAAE 2024 Conference, August 2-7, 2024, New Delhi, India 344325, International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE).
    4. Sugeng Widodo & Joko Triastono & Dewi Sahara & Arlyna Budi Pustika & Kristamtini & Heni Purwaningsih & Forita Dyah Arianti & Raden Heru Praptana & Anggi Sahru Romdon & Sutardi & Setyorini Widyayanti &, 2023. "Economic Value, Farmers Perception, and Strategic Development of Sorghum in Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-22, February.
    5. Francisco Benitez‐Altuna & Valentina C. Materia & Jos Bijman & Daniel Gaitán‐Cremaschi & Jacques Trienekens, 2024. "Farmer–buyer relationships and sustainable agricultural practices in the food supply chain: The case of vegetables in Chile," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(1), pages 3-30, January.
    6. Njanji, M. & Parwada, C., 2023. "Evaluation of Farm Technical Efficiency Among Smallholder Cotton Farmers in Zimbabwe," International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research, Malwa International Journals Publication, vol. 9(4), August.
    7. Ghirmai Tesfamariam Teame & Medhanie Petros Yacob, 2023. "Smallholder Vegetable Farmers' Choice of Agricultural Marketing Channels in Maekel Region, Eritrea," Business and Economic Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 13(4), pages 142-157, December.
    8. Dube-Takaza, Tryphina & Maumbe, Blessing M. & Parwada, Cosmas, 2022. "Vertical Coordination to Smallholder Small Grain Growers in Zimbabwe: Benefits of Contract Farming and Policy Implications," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 13(04), December.
    9. Vosloo, Jodie, 2021. "A profitability and risk assessment of market strategies for potato producers in South Africa," Research Theses 334757, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:12:p:2348-:d:1548957. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.