Abstract
Livestock value chains globally are increasingly dualistic, with integrated market-leaders co-existing with comparatively disadvantaged small producers who, nevertheless, support rural livelihoods and food access, and can also contribute to more resilient supply chains. The South African broiler value chain provides a highly illustrative case study. The purpose of this study is to identify potential leverage points for policy intervention to support small and emerging producers in the South African broiler value chain, and to discuss the strengths and limitations of system dynamics approaches to promote inclusive food value chains. This study develops a causal loop diagram (CLD) based on semi-structured stakeholder interviews and policy documents. The main challenges, key variables and causal relationships between them are systematically identified. Variables are coded, generalised and graphically represented, and entry points for intervention and their links to existing policies are mapped. The challenges faced by smallholders in the context of our study can be characterised, using a CLD, as a set of interlinked and reinforcing dynamics which perpetuate existing disadvantages and reinforce duality in the value chain. Key policy entry points have been identified that could be targeted by a coordinated policy package, including: Direct support for infrastructure investment and input access through grants, subsidies or other policies; credit and liquidity provision for day-to-day expenses; creation of aggregation mechanisms for both inputs and outputs; regulations or initiatives that directly target the relationship of farmers with the commercial segment to improve access to day-old-chicks and, finally, training in business and technical skills. Although most of these interventions have been addressed at some point, implementation has been fragmented, failing to fully consider their complementary nature, thus undermining effectiveness. Existing approaches to consensus building and stakeholder participation in system dynamics research can present challenges when it comes to engaging with complex policy processes and issues of conflict of interest that are relevant in the context of smallholder promotion and equitable food systems, but there are promising avenues for addressing. Despite some methodological challenges, we find that there is considerable scope for system dynamics approaches to inform policy for smallholder promotion, even in contexts characterised by complex policy processes.
Highlights
In recent years, the role of smallholder farmers has increasingly been recognised as crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and to addressing the increasing environmental and socio-demographic pressures on food systems (Abraham and Pingali, 2017). policy focus on smallholder support declined following the structural adjustment policies in the 1980s, many African governments have in recent years renewed their efforts to promote smallholders and local food systems (Dionne and Horowitz, 2016).In South Africa, despite policy efforts, multiple challenges persist when it comes to the promotion and support of small farmers (von Loeper et al, 2018)
In South Africa, small farmers generally belong to historically disadvantaged communities, and their promotion within strategic agricultural sectors is considered a key component of national development strategies (DAFF, 2014a)
A transformative policy agenda informed by the present analysis would target key leverage points in the system through complementary policy interventions, with the aim of interrupting the selfreinforcing dynamics that exacerbate duality in the value chain
Summary
The role of smallholder farmers has increasingly been recognised as crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and to addressing the increasing environmental and socio-demographic pressures on food systems (Abraham and Pingali, 2017). policy focus on smallholder support declined following the structural adjustment policies in the 1980s, many African governments have in recent years renewed their efforts to promote smallholders and local food systems (Dionne and Horowitz, 2016).In South Africa, despite policy efforts, multiple challenges persist when it comes to the promotion and support of small farmers (von Loeper et al, 2018). THE DUALISTIC BROILER VALUE CHAIN IN SOUTH AFRICA, RELEVANCE AND THE ROLE OF SMALL AND EMERGING PRODUCERS. In South Africa, small farmers generally belong to historically disadvantaged communities, and their promotion within strategic agricultural sectors is considered a key component of national development strategies (DAFF, 2014a). Improved market access for smallholders is identified as a key element in the National Policy on Food and Nutrition Security (DSD DAFF, 2013) and the integrated maize-soy-poultry value chain, in particular, is a priority sector (DAFF, 2014b). In South Africa, the sector is highly industrialised, but dualistic This dualism, deeply rooted in historical inequalities, is mirrored across other livestock sectors (Queenan et al, 2020) A small number of vertically integrated firms dominate broiler production, providing practically all domestic supply to mainstream, formal channels (Ncube, 2018). Supermarkets and fast food retailers are very powerful players in the industry, and drive production standards to a large extent (Heijden and van der Vink, 2013; DAFF, 2017a; Ncube, 2018)
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