Marketing Constraints Facing Emerging Small-Scale Pig Farmers in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

While many studies have identified marketing as a constraint in the agricultural sector in South Africa, few have attempted to investigate the extent to which emerging small-scale farmers are able to access high-value markets in the pig industry. The main objective of this study was to examine marketing constraints faced by emerging small-scale pig farmers in Gauteng province. The research also investigated the effects of socio-economic factors on pig farmers’ annual net incomes. Thirty three farmers constituting about 65 percent of small-scale pig farmers were randomly selected in the study area. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data which was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The major marketing constraints faced by the emerging small-scale pig farmers include: lack of finance, poor marketing information access, lack of access to the existing high-value markets, poor market infrastructure and smaller herd sizes. The results of a multiple regression function indicate that, access to quality extension service and sizes of breeding herd have a positive and significant effect on the farmers’ net incomes. Recommendations suggested include: provision of quality extension services for the farmers in order to equip them with important production and marketing skills and the supply of useful marketing information. Furthermore, the formation of farmers’ cooperatives will enable the farmers to pool and market their products together to overcome the individual small production outputs problem and to attract favourable policies and support from government.