Browsing by Author "Genis, Amelia"

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    The changing nature of large-scale commercial farming & implications for agrarian reform: evidence from Limpopo, Western Cape and Northern Cape
    (PLAAS, University of the Western Cape, 2012) Genis, Amelia
    The privileged position of white commercial farmers in South Africa came to an end by the early 1990s, when political and policy changes removed the certainty provided by controlled marketing, protective tariffs and weak legislation regulating resource use and labour relations on farms and transformed agriculture into a sector that is highly sensitive to events on world markets. Despite their dwindling numbers and disarticulation from political power commercial farmers represent a dominant group in the countryside, retaining a near monopoly of resources and considerable power. Yet, the dynamics of change in the sector are not properly understood or well-researched. This paper presents data from a recent survey of 141 commercial farmers in the Limpopo, Western and Northern Cape Provinces that shows that they consider input costs, climate, labour matters, uncertainty about government policies and producer prices as the major pressures bearing down upon them. The adoption of farming methods which are less labour-intensive and the extension of labour legislation and minimum wages to farm workers, together have led to the decline of on-farm employment. Declining profit margins have resulted in a ‘shake-out’ in which only the most competitive enterprises can survive, leading to increased concentration in agricultural landholding and production. These processes imply that new entrants to agriculture with limited capital face daunting challenges, which policy needs to address. The paper explores these wider implications.
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    The changing nature of large-scale commercial farming & implications for agrarian reform: Evidence from Limpopo, Western Cape and Northern Cape
    (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape, 2012-12) Genis, Amelia
    The privileged position of white commercial farmers in South Africa came to an end by the early 1990s, when political and policy changes removed the certainty provided by controlled marketing, protective tariffs and weak legislation regulating resource use and labour relations on farms and transformed agriculture into a sector that is highly sensitive to events on world markets. Despite their dwindling numbers and disarticulation from political power commercial farmers represent a dominant group in the countryside, retaining a near monopoly of resources and considerable power. Yet, the dynamics of change in the sector are not properly understood or well-researched. This paper presents data from a recent survey of 141 commercial farmers in the Limpopo, Western and Northern Cape Provinces that shows that they consider input costs, climate, labour matters, uncertainty about government policies and producer prices as the major pressures bearing down upon them. The adoption of farming methods which are less labour-intensive and the extension of labour legislation and minimum wages to farm workers, together have led to the decline of on-farm employment. Declining profit margins have resulted in a ‘shake-out’ in which only the most competitive enterprises can survive, leading to increased concentration in agricultural landholding and production. These processes imply that new entrants to agriculture with limited capital face daunting challenges, which policy needs to address. The paper explores these wider implications.
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    Oranges and labourers: The potential for job creation in the citrus sub-sector of South Africa
    (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape, 2018-06) Genis, Amelia
    Rural employment is a key policy issue in South Africa, yet the National Development Plan (NDP) of 2012 suggests that one million jobs can be created in agricultural production, processing and related activities. The plan suggests that more jobs can be created by increased investment in water and irrigation infrastructure, linking small scale farmers with markets, creating tenure security for farmers in communal areas, innovative financing and joint ventures. In the plan, a matrix depicting “agricultural growth and employment potential” shows that citrus, nuts, subtropical and deciduous fruit and vegetables demonstrate potential for both high growth and labour intensity. This Working Paper focuses on the potential for job creation in the citrus sub-sector, which is believed to be one of the biggest employers in agriculture as well as one of the sub-sectors with the biggest potential for job creation due to the dynamic nature of its expansion. Ongoing research shows that jobs can indeed be created through the expansion of orchards in the large-scale commercial sector and by establishing orchards on land designated for production by new black farmers, as well as in citrus nurseries, packing sheds and in processing. However, expansion of production is constrained by the availability of water, access to capital to buy land and establish orchards and the struggle to enhance market access in a global environment of proliferating non-tariff barriers and competitive trade negotiations. Furthermore, the recent introduction of a National Minimum Wage (NMW) at a higher level than the sectoral determination for agriculture may lead to efforts to rationalise the present workforce, rather than creating jobs, whereas accumulation strategies of commercial farmers are often aimed at mechanisation, reorganisation and casualisation in order to employ fewer workers.
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    The potential of agriculture and land reform to generate jobs
    (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape, 2018) Cousins, Ben; Genis, Amelia; Clarke, Jeanette
    Extremely high levels of unemployment contribute to poverty and inequality, and are one of South Africa’s most intractable problems. Can the agricultural sector help to address the problem? And how can land reform be undertaken in a manner that creates more jobs? The farming sector, together with forestry and fisheries, currently contributes around 2% to GDP and around 5% to total employment, with a total of 840 000 workers. The contribution of agriculture to GDP is in fact somewhat greater than 2%, given the contributions of input (‘upstream’) suppliers and agro-processing (‘downstream’) industries. Around 30 000 medium- to large-scale commercial farmers supply the bulk of produce to formal markets, and employ most farm workers.
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    Subtropical fruit production by small-scale farmers in South Africa and employment-intensive land reform
    (GTAC, 2020-03-31) Genis, Amelia
    The subtropical fruit and nut sub-sectors of South Africa are among the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the country. Growth in these sub-sectors is driven by export demand and high prices, which in turn drive innovation and productivity. Together with citrus fruit, deciduous fruit and table grapes, subtropical fruit and nuts are considered ‘winners’ in terms of job creation and growth potential by the National Development Plan (NDP). While most of the fruit volume and monetary value are produced by large-scale white commercial farmers, significant numbers of small-scale black farmers are growing subtropical fruit and nuts for a variety of purposes and value chains, most often for household food security and local informal markets. Many small-scale black commercial farmers also sell in tight value chains. Research shows that smallholder farmers are differentiated by the focus and scale of production, assets owned, access to markets, capital and other livelihood strategies. Opportunities to expand the production of subtropical fruit and nuts by smallholder farmers do exist and are supported by their proven farming and marketing skills as well as organisational capabilities among them, a relatively well-functioning extension support system in some areas, a strong demand for subtropical fruit and macadamia nuts and the involvement of the industry bodies for subtropical fruit and nuts. Constraints, such as access to land and water rights, access to capital for orchard expansion or the establishment of new orchards, inputs and infrastructure development, access to markets and infrastructure challenges may hamper the realisation of these opportunities.