Factors Affecting the Perceptions of Small-Scale Organic Farmers in South Africa: An OLS Approach

Celestine Ohi Akharume,Gabriel Adewunmi Eyinade

doi:10.22610/jebs.v10i2.2213

Abstract

Much investments have been tailored towards organic farming by several stakeholders in recent years. Reasons for these are poverty mitigation, income generation as well as food security and good dietary diets. Unfortunately, there are no significant improvements in those areas where organic farming has been funded and encouraged. The study aims at identifying factors affecting the perceptions of small-scale organic farmers using ordinary least square regression model (OLS). One hundred and sixty structure questionnaires were administered on 160 small-scale organic farmers in Amathole District Municipality to gather data for the study. The results revealed that gender and educational level are the major factors affecting the perceptions of small-scale organic farmers in South Africa. Nevertheless, to open the prospective of smallscale organic farmers, the study suggested that these farmers should have greater access to extension services and support. This will go a long way in assisting the farmers to diversify and improve their production, thus enhancing livelihoods and creating markets for organic foods.

Highlights

The persistent of floods, recurrent droughts, land grabbing, water shortage, and soil degradation are some of the teeming challenges confronting agriculture in developing countries (Fasona & Ogunkunle, 2018)
A study conducted by Kafle (2011) while investigating factors that affect the adoption of organic vegetable farming in Chitwan District of Nepal, the results reveal that farm size, farmers’ involvement in organic farming related trainings and visits and compatibility of organic farming to their situations were among the factors affecting adoption of organic farming among farmers
This result supports the findings of Adesopeet al. (2012) who reported that only two out the nine socio-economic variables correlated significantly with the adoption of organic farming practices in River State, Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

The persistent of floods, recurrent droughts, land grabbing, water shortage, and soil degradation are some of the teeming challenges confronting agriculture in developing countries (Fasona & Ogunkunle, 2018). Agriculture has been known to be the backbone for rural development and poverty mitigation, the twin challenges of food insecurity and environmental degradation remains a global phenomenon (Cole, Bailey, & New, 2014). To combat these environmental challenges, organic farming is required. It is essential to encourage the adoption of sustainable organic agriculture in the country which is proficient of providing lasting solutions to the existing agricultural difficulties and aid to attain optimum productivity of nutritional and quality food (Madhavan et al, 2012). The negative effect of this is on the environs through soil erosion, soil adulteration and bioaccumulation resulting in food poison and environmental degradation (Hardy, 2014)

Methods

Results

Conclusion