Bembridge, T.J. (author / Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa) and Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1988
Published:
South Africa
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 72 Document Number: C03267
21 pages, Climate change and variability have adversely affected communities’ pastoral livelihoods in Kenya. The study aimed to investigate sustaining pastoral livelihoods in a changing climate in Loima Sub-County, Turkana County, Kenya. A total of 59 pastoralists were interviewed using a questionnaire. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software Version 22. SPSS employed descriptive statistical techniques like frequencies, percentages, cross-tabulations and proportions, means, and standard deviation. Pie charts, graphs, figures, and tables were used to present the data analysis output. Climate has been observed to vary continuously by pastoralists. Climate hazards mostly reported were livestock diseases and the frequency of droughts. The findings also indicated that livestock keepers preferred to graze their livestock on mountains/hills. Pasture and water availability and security determine the pattern of livestock movement. Pastoralists adopted various strategies to cope with climatic changes. Some of these strategies included diverse utilisation of livestock products, controlled grazing, herd diversification, and labour distribution among household members. In conclusion, climatic change and variability effects on the livelihoods of the pastoralists are evident. However, they have diversified ways of adapting and coping with these catastrophes to sustain themselves. To avert the effects of climate change, Turkana agriculture extension officers should focus on value addition to livestock products, provision of livestock insurance schemes, veterinary services, and livestock disease surveillance. Furthermore, agriculture extension needs to develop and enforce livestock policies and develop appropriate contingency plans. Among the policies recommended are- the management of grazing areas, regulations on migratory routes, and rules governing the use of water sources.
Botha, C.A.J. (author), Koch, B.H. (author), and Koch: Extension Research Consultant on behalf of the South African Institute for Agricultural Extension, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Botha: Senior Lecturer, Department of Agrarian Extension, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1990
Published:
South Africa
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 83 Document Number: C05077
James F. Evans Collection, The role of agriculture is evaluated within a developing situation. Respondents' perceptions regarding minimum subsistence earnings within a developing situation are discussed and compared with specific economic variables. Of special interest is the rapidly widening discrepancy found between actual earnings and perceptions regarding minimum subsistence earnings. It would appear that perceptions regarding minimum subsistence earnings do not change at a rate comparable to actual earnings.
Botha, C.A.J. (author), Lombard, P.P. (author), and Botha: Senior Lecturer, Department of Agrarian Extension, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Lombard: Agricultural Manager, Agriwane, Nelspruit, South Africa
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1991
Published:
South Africa
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 88 Document Number: C06033
11 pages., This paper was initiated in order to find the usage and relevance of theInformation and Communication Technologies(ICT) by the smallholder farmers of the Umzimvubu Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. A survey questionnaire was then developed to collect the relevant data from randomly selected six villages of Umzimvubu Local Municipality targeting 138 respondents. The questionnaires structure employed both closed and open-ended questions that were administered using a face to face interview, conducted on the sample population in each village. There seems to be a correlation between ICT usage and the economies of scale in agricultural development, where smallholder farmers tend to use less of highly modernized ICT, while commercial large scale farmers use more of the modernized ICT. This disparity amongst farmers is exacerbated in many areas by the differing support systems employed by the public extension services.
Koch, B.H. (author), Stevens, J.B. (author), and Stevens: Senior Extensionist, Transvaal Region, Department of Agricultural Development, South Africa; Koch: Senior Lecturer, Department of Agrarian Extension, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1990
Published:
South Africa
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 83 Document Number: C05076
James F. Evans Collection, Information needs and technical knowledge levels of peach farmers, served by extensionists of the Silverton extension ward were found to be low. Respondents generally misperceived their actual and optimum production levels, resulting in low aspirations for the greater majority of respondents and irrationally high aspirations in the case of a small minority of respondents. Full- and part-time peach farmers did not differ significantly in their information needs.
James F. Evans Collection; Based on parts of an MSc (Agric) thesis by the senior author at the University of Pretoria, Farmers who are financially successful differ from their unsuccessful counterparts in management approach and decision making. Successful farmers use records for planning, they employ cash flow budgeting and analyse costs. They also avoid overtrading and are financially realistic. Unsuccessful farmers exhibit opposite traits. Successful farmers are also better decision-makers: They gather more information, use it better, re-evaluate decisions and are able to change these if necessary. Unsuccessful farmers evaluate decisions incompletely or not at all. There is not much difference in the implementation of decisions. Extensionists should concentrate in teaching farmers a frame of mind conducive to sound management (original).
