期刊名称：The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (JSDA)
电子版ISSN：1520-5509
出版年度：2010
卷号：12
期号：5
出版社：Institute of Sustainable Development in Africa
摘要：Market off-take rate is low in the communal cattle production system of Africa, with off-take rates of between 5 and
10%, compared to 25% in the commercial sector. Pre-tested structured questionnaires were administered between June
and July 2007 to 183 smallholder farmers to determine factors that influence decision to sell cattle in the Eastern Cape
Province of South Africa in three randomly selected municipalities. The average off-take rate in the sampled
municipalities was 12%, which was much lower than that of the commercial sector (25%). Education, market distance,
body condition, and herd size were significantly associated with municipality (p<0.05). Chris Hani had the highest
number of the interviewees having reached at least primary education. Farmers in Amatole municipality sold their cattle
in markets that were far away. The body condition of cattle in Chris Hani was the best. Lack of information access
reduced cattle sales. Presence of markets that farmers like in or near their communities facilitated cattle sales.
Smallholder farmers sold more cattle as transport became more available. The probability of smallholder farmers selling
their cattle decreased as the body condition of cattle increases. As the household head changed from being male to being
female, the probability of selling cattle increased. It is, therefore, evident that an integrated approach is likely to underpin
an efficient livestock marketing system. This requires a joint effort by the government, municipalities, smallholder
farmers, producer organizations, and private sector role players. Group marketing, decentralization of cattle information
centers, and the involvement of communal farmers’ in the dissemination of information plays a critical role in improving
the decision to sell cattle amongst the smallholder farmers.
