Factors affecting productivity of small-scale sugarcane farmers in Mona and Sonkombo villages

Abstract

Sugarcane is regarded as one of the most important crops in South Africa. The sugar industry has a pivotal role to play in the socio-economic development of rural areas. Small-scale sugarcane farmers are faced with various challenges that affect their productivity. The main objective of this study was to determine the factors affecting productivity of small-scale sugarcane farmers. The study was carried out in two selected villages namely, Mona and Sonkombo of Ndwedwe Local Municipality, employing a quantitative research approach. The study systematically randomly selected 100 smallscale sugarcane farmers (50 in each village), drawn from small-scale farmers who delivered cane to Tongaat-Hulett mills. To identify the production challenges faced by small-scale sugarcane farmers in Mona and Sonkombo villages. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the farmers’ characteristics and their production challenges. The study showed that the majority (69%) of the small-scale farmers were female, and a large proportion (67%) was beyond 50 years old of age, and the study also reveals that a greater proportion of respondents (48%) had no formal education. Most of the respondents (88%) indicated that they had access to credit, 80% respondents indicated that they received extension support and about 44% of respondents owned <1ha of land with the average sugarcane production of 50t/ha. The farmers were constrained by production challenges which include crop nutrition challenges such as late and inadequate fertilizer application, about 86% respondents stated that there was late weed control practised six months later after harvesting which likely resulted to low productivity. To determine the factors influencing small-scale sugarcane productivity in Mona and Sonkombo villages, the study used a regression analysis of the amended/hybrid Cobb-Douglas Production Function. The results of the regressionanalysis reveals that age, level of education, extension support, non-farm income, landsize, access to credit and amount of urea applied were found to be positively associated with productivity whereas labour, amount of basal fertilizer and chemicals applied were negatively correlated with productivity of sugarcane. The results suggest that, in order for small-scale sugarcane farmers to realise higher yields per hectare, they have to apply theoptimum amounts of the inputs and at the right time.