Thibane Zimi, Soni Siphelele, Phali Lerato, Mdoda Lelethu
Discipline of Agricultural Economics, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa.
Heliyon. 2023 Jan 18;9(1):e13061. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13061. eCollection 2023 Jan.
Sugarcane is an important crop on a global scale, due to its numerous dietary and commercial applications. Smallholder sugarcane production is an important sector in developing countries, especially South Africa as it enhances livelihoods and job creation. Hence, this study is carried out to understand the challenges and factors which are contributing to the decline of smallholder sugarcane production. Therefore, the paper aims to investigate challenges and factors affecting sugarcane production by smallholder farmers in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. The study employed a quantitative research design and data was collected through the use of secondary data. Descriptive statistics and a production function analysis were used for analysis. Results show that labour costs, drought stress, lack of finance, and high transaction costs are the major limiting constraints in sugarcane production. Empirical results reveal that variable input costs affect the sugarcane production of smallholder farmers. The study recommends the use of fertilizer and mechanical maintenance by smallholder farmers to enhance sugarcane productivity.
甘蔗在全球范围内都是一种重要的作物，因其在饮食和商业方面有众多用途。小农户甘蔗生产是发展中国家的一个重要部门，特别是在南非，因为它能改善生计并创造就业机会。因此，开展本研究以了解导致小农户甘蔗生产下降的挑战和因素。所以，本文旨在调查影响南非夸祖鲁 - 纳塔尔省小农户甘蔗生产的挑战和因素。该研究采用了定量研究设计，并通过使用二手数据收集资料。描述性统计和生产函数分析用于分析。结果表明，劳动力成本、干旱胁迫、资金短缺和高额交易成本是甘蔗生产的主要限制因素。实证结果显示，可变投入成本影响小农户的甘蔗生产。该研究建议小农户使用化肥并进行机械维护，以提高甘蔗产量。
