Abstract
Abstract : Cattle farmers in Mzongwana are facing a scarcity of resources that prevent them from commercially operating their cattle and contributing to LED. The aim of this survey was to identify specific interventions for livestock farmers in Mzongwana that will enable them to operate commercially viable operations and contribute to LED. LED aims to eradicate poverty in rural localities and improve the quality of the lives of people. Rural areas are characterised by high levels of poverty, traditional agriculture and low-income levels. Recent studies (from Limpopo and the Eastern Cape provinces) revealed that a scarcity of resources, among other constraints, affecting livestock farmers jeopardises commercialisation and productivity. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire with a few embedded qualitative questions. The unit of analysis was cattle farmers in Mzongwana villages. A questionnaire was used for telephonic and face-to-face interviews with 34 cattle farmers, and descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. The findings revealed that the major constraints affecting Mzongwana livestock farmers include stock theft, a dearth of bulls for breeding, and a dearth of water infrastructure. Other contributing factors include insufficient cattle equipment to perform various cattle functions, such as scaling, loading, separating, clamping and sorting. It emerged that a need exists for training and skills capacity building related to cattle breeding. It is recommended that when the local municipality annually revises its LED strategy, these major constraints affecting Mzongwana livestock farmers be addressed and an action plan be developed for the commercialisation of the livestock farmers.
M.Com. (Local Economic Development)