Browsing by Author "Njokweni, Gugu"

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    Institutional and organisational arrangements for consumer-oriented community-based aquaculture in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Njokweni, Gugu; Hara, Mafaniso; Vink, Nick; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Agricultural Economics.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the organisational and institutional arrangements for sustainable consumer-oriented community-based aquaculture in Hamburg, in the Eastern Cape, and Camdeboo and Saldanha Bay, both in the Western Cape. Without these factors the development of aquaculture will be impossible or unsustainable. The investigation will help in revealing whether markets exist or can be created, the required skills and investment, and the appropriate institutional arrangements. Two major research strategies were used, namely qualitative methods and case studies. The results revealed that, in all three case studies, the products were not exported and had different target markets and marketing objectives. There was a potential market for some of the products overseas. Leading pioneering firms, such as those that have developed the technologies for aquaculture, control the value chain by setting, monitoring and enforcing the parameters under which other value chain members operate. The results further showed that, in all three case studies, the beneficiaries had some of form of schooling; some had matric, while others had lower levels of education. In some scenarios, Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) training was offered, which combines aquaculture and life skills. Furthermore, unlike with kob, farming of species such as mussel, oyster and catfish did not require such onerously high technical skills and monitoring of parameters. There is no real need for high levels of education in the farming of these three species and, in most cases, people with less than matric are trained in the various aspects of fish farming on the job. Aquaculture appears to be a very capital-intensive industry. Apart from the capital investments, operational expenses have to be incurred, even during the development phase. The absence of clear policy frameworks and legislation results in contradictory messages. Choosing the type of business ownership may depend on many factors such as financing, admin costs, tax implications, insolvency, business size and continuity. The implication of the results of this study for community-based aquaculture is that investment from the public sector and private sector is required, both in terms of capital infrastructure and operational costs. Communities should start with simpler forms of aquaculture, such as oyster and mussel farming. Kob farming, on the other hand, requires high technical skill. In all cases, the approaches initially require managerial, business and technical support and handholding for community empowerment groups. When the development is in its infancy, community-based aquaculture projects need to link and create distribution agencies that deal with marketing and distribution.