1 the ROLE of AGRICULTURE in the NCORA AREA by Gcobani
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THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE NCORA AREA By Gcobani Mkwela Submitted in accordance with the requirements of the degree of MASTER OF ART (Development studies) in the Faculty of Business and Economic Science at the NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Supervisor: Dr Noluntu Stella Dyubhele November 2013 Port Elizabeth 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Firstly, I would like to thank the GOD ALMIGHTY for granting me the strength and courage to conduct this study. I would like to thank my Supervisor, Dr Noluntu Dyubhele for her assistance, encouragement and dedicated guidance in preparation of this study. Thank you for your availability as you always made time even though you had other commitments. I also thank the staff at NMMU’s Department of Development Studies for all their assistance during the course. My family, especially my mother Sindiswa Mkwela for her unconditional support and funding throughout my studies. Pauline Visser for her sincere assistance in editing this study. Lastly and most importantly, the Centre Manager of Ncora irrigation scheme, Mr Polisi and Mr. Junqa of Qamata irrigation for providing me with the supporting documents that informed me well of this study. Port Elizabeth November 2013 Gcobani Mkwela 2 DECLARATION I declare that The Role of Agriculture in the Ncora Area is my own work, that all the resources used or quoted have been duly acknowledged by means of complete references, and that I have not previously submitted the dissertation for a degree at another university. Gcobani Mkwela Signature:…………………………………. 3 ABSTRACT Despite 19 years of democracy and public action by civil society, policy makers continue to neglect the role of agriculture in improving the quality of life in rural areas such as Ncora in the Eastern Cape. The communities in the Ncora area still experience poverty despite the fact people receive state grants. Agriculture is declining in this area without basic infrastructure. The study argues that communities in the Ncora area need assistance from government in order to increase agricultural activities. These activities are an important route through which these communities can reduce poverty. The primary objective of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the role of agriculture in reducing poverty in the Ncora rural areas. The conditions necessary to sustain agriculture in the rural areas were identified. This was mainly done to help alleviate the plight of rural areas in the Ncora area and to improve the quality of life of the rural population. The study was based on three research objectives. The first objective was to investigate the constraints to agricultural production in Ncora. The second objective was to ascertain what has been done by the Eastern Cape government in increasing agricultural activities. The third objective was to investigate the contribution of agriculture in reducing poverty in Ncora. The main finding in terms of the first research objective is that constraints to agricultural production in Ncora are structural constraints. These include inadequate infrastructure such as poor roads, lack of transport and equipment, lack of farming skills, poor quality seed, no access to markets, inadequate and unaffordable services. In terms of the second research objective, the main finding is that the government has encouraged investment in infrastructure using labour-intensive methods will eliminate service backlogs in underserviced areas such as Ncora. Secondly, it has encouraged the revival of irrigation schemes such as the Ncora irrigation scheme and is investing in human capital 4 through the empowerment of people in order to improve the quality of life of the Ncora community. Empowerment involves skills and training, education and access to basic services, expertise regarding credit, land and the growing of vegetables. The development of human capital is an important determinant of the pace of economic development. Human, social, natural, financial and physical capital are essential elements of reducing poverty. In fact, the Ncora community has lobbied Intsika Yethu Municipality for community development Community development through education and community participation in development programmes. Efforts have to be made to increase the skills that will enable them to complete development projects. These include technical skills in areas such as vegetable and crop production during the year. A key component of the success of development projects is to involve communities in the planning and decision-making processes. Community development is linked to empowerment, in other words, empowered people are able to contribute to the development of their community because they have knowledge of the economic, social and political goals of development. Therefore, empowerment enables people to participate in and have an influence on the decisions that affect their lives. The main finding in terms of the third research objective is that people in the Ncora community are using their own labour to improve food production to reduce poverty. The Ncora community has been shown when and how to make, grow and plant seeds, and look after the vegetables of their choice. The community of Ncora has learnt about cropping practices that are appropriate to their situation. The intention is to sell vegetables and crops to local communities and markets in order to generate income. The community has to do it for themselves or else they will wait forever. …………………………………………………………………………… 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE Acknowledgement ii Declaration iii Abstract iv Table of contents vi List of figures ix List of tables ix List of acronyms x CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Background of the study 2 1.2 The nature of the problem 3 1.3 Research aim and objectives 4 1.3.1 Primary Objective 4 1.3.2 Secondary Objective 4 1.4 Importance of the study and development relevance 5 1.5 Previous research 5 6 1.6 Research design and methodology 7 1.6.1 Secondary research 8 1.7 Structure of the research Project 9 CHAPTER 2: THEORIES OUTLINING THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN RURAL AREAS 2.1 Introduction 10 2.2 The importance of Agriculture 11 2.3 Modernisation theory 11 2.3.1 Rostow’s stages of economic development 12 2.3.1.1 Traditional or subsistence society 13 2.3.1.2 Pre-conditions for take-off 13 2.3.1.3 The take-off period 13 2.3.1.4 Drive to maturity 14 2.3.1.5 High mass consumption 14 2.3.2 Placing South Africa in the context of the stages of economic development 15 2.3.3 Criticism of Modernisation theory 16 2.4 Dependency theory 17 2.4.1 Criticism of Dependency theory 19 2.5 The Basic needs approach 19 2.5.1 Criticism of basic needs approach 20 2.6 Conclusions 22 7 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction 24 3.2 Nature of the research 25 3.3 Justification for the approaches 26 3.4 Method of analysis 27 3.5 Conclusions 27 CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN NCORA 4.1 Introduction 29 4.2 Constraints to agricultural development 30 4.2.1 Lack of infrastructure 30 4.2.2 Insufficient access to markets 31 4.2.3 Lack of access to land 32 4.2.4 Inadequate education and social services 32 4.3 Overview of Agriculture in the Ncora Area 32 4.4 Irrigation 34 4.4.1 Ncora Irrigation scheme 34 4.4.1.1 Climate 35 4.4.1.2 Challenges at Ncora Irrigation scheme 36 4.5 Farming Activities in the Ncora Area 36 4.5.1 The state of Smallholder Schemes in South Africa 37 4.6 Important factors in Agriculture 38 8 4.6.1 Crop production 38 4.6.2 Livestock production 39 4.6.3 Marketing 40 4.6.4 Weaknesses and strengths of the Ncora Area 40 4.6.5 Gender imbalances in Agriculture in Ncora 42 4.6.6 Farmer training and skills development 43 4.6.7 Rehabilitation attempts at Ncora and Qamata 44 4.7 The contribution of agriculture to GDP in South Africa and the Eastern Cape 45 4.7.1 Contribution of agriculture to GDP in South Africa 45 4.7.2 Contribution of agriculture to GDP in the Eastern Cape 46 4.8 Lessons learnt from developing countries 47 4.9 Conclusion 49 CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS, AREAS OF FURTHER RESEARCH AND RESEARCH LIMITATIONS 5.1 Introduction 51 5.2 Summary of the findings 51 5.3 Conclusion 52 5.3.1 Conclusions on the constraints to agricultural activities in Ncora 52 5.3.2 Conclusions on development practitioners addressing the needs of the rural area of Ncora 53 5.3.3 Conclusions on role of agriculture in reducing poverty 54 9 5.4 Recommendations 58 5.4.1 Improving local economic development strategies for the rural poor 58 5.4.2 Adequate investments in infrastructure 60 5.4.3 Enabling environments for grassroots initiatives of communities 60 5.4.4 Improving the human capital of rural communities 61 5.5 Further research areas on this topic 61 5.6 Limitations of the study 62 6. Bibliography 63 10 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 Rostow’s stages of development theory 13 Figure 4.1 Map of Ncora 33 Figure 4.5 Gross Value Added (GVA) for Eastern Cape sectors 46 LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1 Estimated rainfall at Ncora 35 Table 4.2 Reasons given for the failure of initiatives in the past 41 Table 4.3 Business opportunities at Ncora irrigation scheme 42 Table 4.4 Contribution of Agriculture to the economy 45 11 LIST OF ACRONYMS ANC African National Congress CHDM Chris Hani District Municipality EC Eastern Cape ECDA Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture GDP Gross Domestic Product GGP Gross Geographical Product GVA Gross Value Added HSRC Human Sciences Research Council IYSDM Intsika Yethu Sub district Municipality IDP Integrated Development Plan LDC Least Developed Countries LED Local Economic Development MDGs Millennium Development Goals MLL Minimum living level NMMU Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University NGO Non Governmental Organisations RDP Reconstruction and Development Programme SA South Africa Stats SA Statistics South Africa UFH University of Fort Hare UN United Nations USA United States of America UDHR United Declaration of Human Rights PGDP Provincial Growth and Development Plan 12 CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGS 1.0 INTRODUCTION All over the world, agricultural activities are important in reducing poverty in rural areas (Kabeer 2003:93; Nieuwoudt & Groenewald, 2003:22).