Gender disparities in poverty among smallholder livestock farmers in South Africa

M Maziya,R.J Kajombo,N.A Gumede,P Tirivanhu

doi:10.17159/2413-3221/2020/v48n2a535

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper analyses gender disparities in poverty and the determinants of poverty among smallholder communal livestock farmers across five provinces in South Africa. A combination of multi-stage and stratified sampling techniques were used to select 591 farmers across the provinces. The Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty indices were used to determine the extent and severity of poverty among smallholder livestock farmers. The results of the FGT analysis revealed that poverty is prevalent among smallholder livestock farmers but more pronounced among female-headed households. A binary logit regression was used to determine the predictors of poverty among communal livestock owners. Factors such as level of education, gender of household head, access to markets and extension services reduce the probability of a household becoming poor. Conversely, factors such as household size and access to credit had a negative effect on household well-being. These results highlight the importance of strengthening institutions (extension, livestock farmer organisations and markets) to improve smallholder livestock systems. Further, the study recommends that agricultural extension services should integrate gender mainstreaming in interventions that target smallholder communal livestock farmers, and that rural development projects should focus on interventions that aim at diversifying farm income. Keywords: Binary logit, FGT poverty ind

Highlights

Poverty reduction and ensuring household food security are important policy goals in developing countries, in sub-Saharan Africa (Sinyolo, Mudhara & Wale, 2014) where more than half (58.9%) of the population live in poverty (Alkire & Housseini, 2014)
The objective of this paper is to provide a gendered analysis of poverty among smallholder livestock farmers in five provinces in South Africa and to ascertain the determinants of poverty among smallholder livestock farmers
This study aimed to investigate the gender differences in household poverty and the determinants of poverty among smallholder livestock farmers

Summary

Introduction

Poverty reduction and ensuring household food security are important policy goals in developing countries, in sub-Saharan Africa (Sinyolo, Mudhara & Wale, 2014) where more than half (58.9%) of the population live in poverty (Alkire & Housseini, 2014). Bourguignon (2004) ascertained that a 1% decrease in poverty can be achieved via a certain growth rate, or by a certain decrease in inequality. Poverty reduction will require sustained economic growth by developing countries (Perry & Rich, 2007). This has led to the much-used phrase of ‘pro-poor growth’, defined as ‘growth that is good for the poor’. The complexities include the need for action at many levels, ranging from national-level policies that promote economic growth and equity, down to infrastructure development and technological innovations targeted at the priorities of the rural farmer

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion