https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/14517 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:26:37 GMT 2026-08-03T11:26:37Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32817 The impact of Government Policy on the performance of agricultural extension services in the Groundnut value chain in Kasungu and Mzimba districts of Malawi Nyasulu, Alifeyo Mjuma; Kamara, Richard Douglas; Kamara Although extension services play a crucial role in agricultural commercialisation and diversification, the capacity of extension workers to support value chain-based and market-oriented production remains underexplored, particularly for crops such as groundnuts. This study assessed the effectiveness of extension services within the groundnut value chain in Kasungu and Mzimba districts, focusing on extension workers' capacity, the impact of extension support, and the challenges encountered. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining farmer surveys with key informant interviews conducted with extension staff. Findings revealed that while extension workers actively support production practices, they often lack the capacity to assist in the more advanced stages of the value chain, such as value addition, processing and marketing. As a result, farmers reported improved productivity due to production-focused extension support, but noted limited impact beyond the harvest phase. The study also found that, despite policies advocating for the pluralistic provision of extension services, government officers are the predominant source of agricultural information, with minimal involvement from NGOs or private-sector actors. This limits farmers’ access to an adequate and diversified extension service. The study, therefore, concludes that although extension services have contributed to increased groundnut productivity, there is a critical need to enhance support in post-harvest handling, value addition, and market access. It provides valuable insights for public policymakers, development partners, and various stakeholders to spearhead the reorientation of extension services from a production-centric model to a holistic value chain approach, including capacity building for extension workers and improved stakeholder coordination across the production-to-consumption continuum. Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32817 2026-05-31T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31763 Perspectives on Responsive and Responsible local governance and administration: Responsive local governance and administration: the case of the Sekhukhune District Municipality. Ngoepe-Ntsoane, Mokgadi South African municipalities have moral and legal obligations to involve local communities in determining, prioritising, and realising their socio-economic development needs. This chapter explores the importance of local structures’ participation and involvement to improve service delivery for development enhancement. The focus of this study is centred on the involvement and participation of non-governmental organisations, traditional leaders, local municipalities, and business sectors in the Sekhukhune District Municipality. The aim is to explore the importance of participation and involvement of these structures in improving service delivery at the local level. Phenomenological and descriptive methods were used embracing purposive non-probability and non-statistical sampling procedures. An Atlas TI software program was used for data analysis. This paper postulates that a lack of resources and coordination among the local structures compromises development while service delivery is collapsing. It is envisaged that more resources need to be mobilised whilst the local structures are well coordinated and are at the centre of their own development. This chapter addresses the policy gaps by local government resulting from a lack of involvement and inclusivity of local structures on development initiatives through participatory democracy. Conversely, the chapter makes a meaningful contribution to the body of knowledge on the realisation of the importance of participation and involvement of the local structures in development as the cornerstone of local democracy. Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31763 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31762 Motives of water and sanitation entrepreneurs in South Africa Ngoepe-Ntsoane, Mokgadi The study aims to understand what motivates water and sanitation social entrepreneurs(SEs) in South Africa as they navigate the complex business environment of collaborating with municipalities in undertaking public service delivery. In an attempt to achieve higher sustainability in their SE business models, SE processes become risky and inevitably involve higher complexity as SE businessmodel designers seek to also understand their business impact on the whole ecosystem. Any impact on any of the water and sanitation subsystems can stress or compromise the stability of the whole system.As such, in-depth face-to-face semi-structured interview was conducted with purposively selected social entrepreneurs in South Africa‘s Gauteng and Western Cape provinces. The study finds that SEs are motivated by compassion, religious, problem solving motives as well as the desire for self-sufficiency for sustainable business operation so as to make impact at scale. The overall mission is to change human living environments and provide sustainable alternative public services. N/A Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31762 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31120 Ubuntu and asset building: decolonising and practicalising cattle ownership in rural South Africa Mafukata, Mavhungu Abel This is a qualitative paper built on literature review. Some literature allege that subsistence communal cattle farmers were unwilling to participate in mainstream marketing as a matter of choice, alternatively lack of capital and skills. My doctoral thesis similarly found but one factor stood out to the contrary. It found that the majority of the participants instead kept animals for other people without owning such animals. This impacted on lack of decision regarding market participation. Various strategies and policy tools have been adopted in most African communities to empower poor individuals to own cattle, but these strategies have achieved mixed results. My lecture here this evening extracted lack of ownership as needing attention to redress the problem. This lecture builds on the assertion that African indigenous instruments and tools can address the problem. This paper adopted the Girinka approach which was used in Rwanda to transfer cattle to empower poor households to own cattle as the framework. This Girinka produced good results and empowered many households on cattle ownership. Poor households managed to build asset base which enabled them to build wealth. This lecture uses Ubuntu as an instrument which could be used to transfer cattle from the fortunate to the less fortunate households to empower the poor to own cattle and build sustainable wealth. Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31120 2023-04-26T00:00:00Z