SDG12 Responsible consumption and production

Assessing consumer attitudes and behaviour towards green products in Namibia

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Assessing consumer attitudes and behaviour towards green products in Namibia Mudimba, Douglas The global emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility is increasing, leading to a growing shift in consumer trends towards sustainable consumption and eco-conscious lifestyles. This study aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of consumers' intentions and behaviours regarding purchasing green products in Namibian retail supermarkets. It sought to assess consumer attitudes and behaviours towards green products in retail supermarkets in Windhoek, Namibia, specifically utilising the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Norm Activation Model (NAM) as integrated theoretical frameworks. Adopting a positivist research philosophy and a deductive approach, the study employed a quantitative research design using a survey strategy. Data were collected from a sample of 385 consumers aged 18 - 65 years in Windhoek, Namibia, using a convenience sampling technique via face-to-face mall-intercept structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling with SmartPLS 4, assessing measurement model reliability and validity. The findings indicate generally acceptable reliability and validity of the measurement model, although potential discriminant validity issues were observed between specific construct pairs, notably Personal Norms and Subjective Norms. The structural model analysis revealed that all hypothesised direct relationships were statistically significant. Awareness of Consequences positively influenced Attitude. Ascription of Responsibility positively influenced Personal Norms. Attitude positively influenced both Behavioural Intention and Purchase Behaviour. Behavioural Intention positively influenced Purchase Behaviour. Perceived Behavioural Control positively influenced both Behavioural Intention and Purchase Behaviour. Personal Norms positively influenced Behavioural Intention. Subjective Norms positively influenced Attitude, Behavioural Intention, and Purchase Behaviour. Significant mediating effects were also identified: Attitude mediated the relationship between Awareness of Consequences and Behavioural Intention, and between Awareness of Consequences and Purchase Behaviour. Personal Norms mediated the relationship between Ascription of Responsibility and Behavioural Intention. Attitude mediated the relationship between Subjective Norms and Behavioural Intention. Behavioural Intention mediated the relationships between Attitude and Purchase Behaviour, Perceived Behavioural Control and Purchase Behaviour, Personal Norms and Purchase Behaviour, and Subjective Norms and Purchase Behaviour. The model explained moderate variance in Behavioural Intention (42.8%) and Attitude (31.2%), and weaker but acceptable variance in Purchase Behaviour (26.7%) and Personal Norms (22.5%). Model fit indicators demonstrated a good fit between the integrated TPB-NAM model and the empirical data. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing valuable insights into green consumption in the under-researched Namibian context. The findings support the theoretical value of integrating TPB and NAM for understanding sustainable consumer behaviour, highlighting the interplay of cognitive, moral, and social factors. The significant influence of both normative and cognitive factors on purchase intentions and behaviour was demonstrated. The moderate R² for purchase behaviour also points to the widely acknowledged intention-behaviour gap in sustainable consumption and suggests the influence of unmeasured contextual factors. The study provides valuable insights for supermarkets on how to better understand and influence consumer behaviour towards green products, aligning with Namibia's sustainable development agenda.

Determinants of challenges of smallholder and emerging sheep and goat farmers in Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality, Free State Province

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Determinants of challenges of smallholder and emerging sheep and goat farmers in Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality, Free State Province Kgomongwe, Mmakhuduga Neriath Developing countries rely heavily on smallholder and emerging farmers to ensure food security but despite this, farmers face many challenges that hinder them from producing efficiently, forcing them to focus on home consumption over market-driven farming, to ensure a sustainable and self-reliant farming practice. Smallholder farmers remain with challenges in securing capital to purchase agricultural inputs, pay for transport to sell agricultural outputs, and to invest in agricultural machinery. Sometimes farmers find themselves in difficult situations where they are forced to get credit from illegal moneylenders, at high interest rates or sell their produce at a reduced price to receive cash, and they still need to cover their expenditure for survival. Amongst others, farming resources, land as well as comprehensive agricultural support restrict smallholder and emerging farmers' access to valuable markets. The aim of this study was to identify and analyse the determinants of challenges of smallholder and emerging sheep and goat farmers in the study area by highlighting key factors in order to create an enabling environment for the farmers to improve livestock management, production, income and valuable markets. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 145 participants from a pool sampling frame of 251 participants. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data by interviewing 145 selected smallholder farmers. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 28.0, was used to analyse the data. Descriptive statistics and the probit regression model were used to analyse the determinants of the managerial, production, marketing and financial challenges for smallholder and emerging sheep and goat farmers. The results of the study show that only 19% of the participants had business plans and the absence of business plans impacted on farm and livestock management negatively. The probit results indicated that the age of the respondents, off-farm activities and access to market information had a positive and significant association with managerial challenges. This implies that the older a farm owner gets the more they will likely experience managerial challenges. It is recommended that youth and women must be encouraged to engage in sheep and goat farming for better management and that farmers must focus their attention on livestock farming instead of off-farm income-generating activities. The Department of Agriculture and municipalities should initiate extension programme that focus on farm and livestock management as well as access to market information. Furthermore, the results indicate that 89% of farmers aspire to increase production, however challenges such as size of land (29%), distance to the market (21%) and no access to the market (17%) are some of the factors that hinder farmers from achieving their goal of increasing scale of production. The results also indicate that 42% of farmers do not receive veterinary services while about 63.4% do not access feed in times of drought. Additionally, the results indicate that age, size of household, level of education, role of respondent, farm management records, cost per trip to the market, total number of sheep sold in 2019 have a positive and significant association with production challenges, with all other factors held constant. This implies that the older a farm owner gets the more likely they will experience production challenges. To manage production challenges, farmers need the support of younger people i.e., youth in the farm and must hire farm managers and utilise farm management records effectively. The more a farmer spends on trips to the market, they are more likely they will experience marketing challenges. An increasing size of household negatively impacts on farmers’ finances and time as a farmer will dedicate the two to the family instead of on farm production. Farmer must not sell sheep in high numbers so that they do not compromise the breeding herd. The study’s results indicate that only 28% of participants have received financial support from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), while 17.12% of participants applied for loans and about 8% of loan applications were rejected. The results revealed that access to financial support impacts negatively on the farm and livestock business. Furthermore, the probit results indicated that gender, age, level of education, engage in off-farm income generating activity, have farm business plan, access to agricultural information, size of land, cost per single trip to the market, total number of sheep sold have a positive and significant association with financial challenges. It is therefore recommended that farmers be encouraged to have business plan, sell more sheep, and focus on the farm instead of off-farm income generating activities for better financial management. DARD and municipalities should initiate funding programmes that focus on farm, sheep, and goat livestock as well as production. The results also show that 59% of respondents indicated that there are other markets closer to the farm than where they are currently selling livestock and 63% of farmers have access to market information. Distance to the market, being unable to supply required quantities and not having contracts with markets are amongst the reasons for farmers not being able to supply other markets closer to their farm. The results indicate that from the challenges experienced, of respondents have a challenge with the size of land (15%), lack of transport (12%) and lack of finance (3%). Therefore, the results suggests that amongst others, farmers who are involved in day-to-day operations of the farm and have access to market information have a negative and significant association with marketing challenges, with all other factors held constant. The results indicate that the respondents have identified markets that are closer to their farms than where they are currently selling; however, majority of the respondents are selling their produce at the local market and around the community to avoid spending a lot of money per trip to the market. The findings also show that access to market information can improve farmers’ marketing challenge if used effectively. Text in English

Exploring the potential contribution of organic community food gardens for sustainability: the perspective of cultivators and consumers

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Exploring the potential contribution of organic community food gardens for sustainability: the perspective of cultivators and consumers Boshoff, Harriët Maria The exponential rise in global organic food product sales indicates a transformative shift in consumer preferences towards healthier, more sustainable, and environmentally conscious food choices. This qualitative study, grounded in an interpretivist paradigm, explored community food gardens’ potential contribution to sustainability based on cultivators of such gardens and consumers’ position on organic food products’ consumption in general. The research aimed to mitigate consumer barriers and enhance environmental, social, and economic sustainability for cultivators. Findings revealed South African consumers associated the term ‘organic’ with health and environmental benefits but stressed the need for accessible, affordable, and trustworthy organic food products. Consumers’ views on organic community gardens support sustainability, local engagement, and combating food scarcity. Cultivators emphasised fresh, nutritious produce and proposed educational programmes to overcome identified barriers. A holistic approach can optimise marketing opportunities, integrating word-of-mouth, online presence, education, and accessibility. The study recommends comprehensive consumer education, curricular integration, non-governmental organisation-led initiatives, transparent cultivator practices, supportive government policies, engagement with certification bodies, and targeted awareness campaigns to enhance consumer purchase intent and sustain local organic community gardens.

Effects of Rhus lancea and Celtis africana on short-term intake rate, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites and rumen bacteria in Nguni goats as a model for feeding captive wildlife herbivores in zoological gardens

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Effects of Rhus lancea and Celtis africana on short-term intake rate, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites and rumen bacteria in Nguni goats as a model for feeding captive wildlife herbivores in zoological gardens Phiri, France The study assessed Rhus lancea and Celtis africana as browse species for concentrate selectors in captivity, using indigenous Nguni male goats as a model. The first experiment involved ten indigenous Nguni male goats, each weighing 16 ± 1.7 kg (mean ± SD) in the wet season and 15 ± 1.6 kg (mean ± SD) in the dry season. To assess the short-term intake rate of the browse by the goats, a cafeteria method was employed. Rhus lancea (RL) and Celtis africana (CA) branches were offered separately and in combination in a 1:1 ratio. The goats’ preferences were R. lancea > RL:CA > C. africana in the wet and dry seasons. In the second experiment, apparent total tract digestibility was estimated using twenty mature male Nguni goats weighing 16 ± 1.7 kg (mean ± SD) in a 2 x 4 (season x diet) randomized factorial experiment. All goats received Eragrostis curvula hay as a basal diet and one of four supplementary forages, namely, i) R. lancea, ii) C. africana, iii) a combination of the two browse species in a ratio 1:1 (RL:CA), and iv) a control diet made up of Medicago sativa, butternut squash, apples, spinach, and concentrates. Goats on R. lancea, C. africana, and RL:CA diets had higher crude protein digestibility (p <0.05) in the wet season than in the dry season. In the third experiment, twenty indigenous male Nguni goats were individually housed and fed either C. africana or R. lancea browse diets to evaluate the impact on the rumen bacteria composition during both dry and wet seasons in a randomized block design study. The goats had an average weight of 15 ± 1.6 kg (mean ± SD). The results showed an abundance of phyla Bacteroidetes over Firmicutes (F/B) (0.85:1) ratio (p <0.05) in the dry season than in the wet season. In the fourth experiment, feed intake, live weight changes, urinalysis, and blood metabolites were compared over 30 days in twenty goats weighing 15 ± 1.6 kg (mean ± SD). There were season and diet interactions (p <0.05) on final weight, average daily gain, and dry matter intake. The goats on the control diet had higher serum glucose levels (p <0.05) than those on R. lancea, C. africana, and RL:CA during the dry season. The results suggested R. lancea, C. africana, and RL:CA can help meet the nutrient requirements and support the growth of goats, which was supported by serum metabolite profiles and rumen bacterial efficiency during both dry and wet seasons. However, to achieve optimal growth and ensure balanced serum, and rumen bacterial efficiency throughout the year, it is recommended to supplement with other dietary items.; Dinyakišišo di lekodišišitše Rhus lancea le Celtis africana bjalo ka mehuta ya diphoofolo tša go fula matlakala a mehlare go tšeo di kgethago phulo di lotilwe, ka go šomiša dipudi tša pholo tša Nguni bjalo ka mohlala. Tekolo ya mathomo e akareditše dipudi tša dipholo tša Nguni tše 10, fao ye nngwe le ye nngwe e bego e na le boima bja 16 ± 1.7 kg (ka bonyane ± SD) ka go sehla sa dipula le tša 15 ± 1.6 kg (ka bonyane ± SD) ka go sehla sa komelelo. Go sekaseka kelo ya phulo ya lebaka le lekopana ya go fula ga matlakala ga dipudi, mokgwa wa khafetheria o šomišitšwe. Dithabe tša Rhus lancea (RL) le tša Celtis africana (CA) di filwe dipudi ka go arogana le ka go kopanywa ka kelo ya 1:1. Dipudi di ratile R. lancea > RL:CA > C. africana ka go dihla tša pula le tša komelelo, ka go latelana. Ka go teko ya bobedi, go ile gwa akanywa kgonagalo ya palomoka ya tshepedišo ya tšhilego ka go šomiša dipudi tše 20 tša dipholo tša Nguni tša boima bja 16 ± 1.7 kg (ka bonyane ± SD) ka go tekanyo ya 2 x 4 (sehla x dijo) ya tekolo ya dintlha ya sewelo. Dipudi ka moka di hweditše furu ya Eragrostis curvula bjalo ka dijo tša motheo le e tee ya difuru tše nne tša tlaleletšo, e lego, i) R. lancea, ii) C. africana, iii) motswako wa mehuta ye mebedi ya go fulwa ka kelo ya 1:1 (RL:CA), le iv) dijo tše laotšwego tše di bopilwego ke Medicago sativa, sekwaše sa pathanate, diapole, sepeniše, le metswoko. Dipudi tše di bego di eja dijo tša R. lancea, C. africana, le RL:CA di bile le khurute ya godimo ya tšhilego ya diphrotheine (p <0.05) ka go sehla sa dipula go feta ka go sehla sa komelelo. Ka go teko ya boraro, dipudi tša setlogo tše 20 tša Nguni di ile tša hlahlelwa di nnoši tša fiwa dijo tša go fulwa tša C. africana goba R. lancea go sekaseka seabe sa sebopego sa dipaktheria tša diphoofolo tša megodu ka nakong ya dihla tša komelelo le tša dipula ka go dinyakišišo tša tlhamo ya sewelo ya lekala. Dipudi di bile le palogare ya boima bja 15 ± 1.6 kg (ka bonyane ± SD). Dipoelo di laeditše bontši bja phyla Bacteroidetes godimo ga Firmicutes (F/B) (0.85:1) kelo (p <0.05) ka go sehla sa komelelo go feta ka go sehla sa dipula. Ka go teko ya bone, go ja dijo, diphetogo tša boima bja go phela, tshekatsheko ya moroto, le tlhamego ya madi di ile tša bapetšwa mo matšatšing a 30 ka go dipudi tše 20 tša dipholo tša Nguni tša boima bja 15 ± 1.6 kg (ka bonyane ± SD). Go bile le ditsenogare ka go dihla le ka go dijo (p <0.05) go boima bja mafelelo, go nona ga kakaretšo ya letšatši ka letšatši, le go ja dijo tše omilego. Dipudi tše di bego di le go dijo tše di laotšwego di bile le maemo a godimo a tlelukhose ya seramo (p <0.05) go feta dijo tša R. lancea, C. africana, le tša RL:CA ka nakong ya sehla sa komelelo. Dipoelo di šišintše gore R. lancea, C. africana, le RL:CA di ka thuša go fihlelela dinyakwa tša phepo le go thuša ka kgolo ya dipudi, e lego seo se thekgilwego ke diphrofaele tša tlhamego ya seramo le go šoma gabotse dipaketheria tša diphoofolo tša megodu ka go dihla tša komelelo le tša dipula ka bobedi. Le ge go le bjale, go fihlelela kgolo ye kgolo le go netefatša gore go ba le seramo ye e lekanetšego le go šoma gabotse ga dipaktheria tša diphoofolo tša megodu ngwaga ka moka, go šišinywa gore go tlaleletšwe ka dijo tše dingwe.; Lolu cwaningo beluhlola ukusebenza koMhlakotshane/iFolishi (iRhus lancea and Celtic africana) njengezimila zokondla izilwane ezivalelwe ndawonye, kusetshenziswa izimbuzi ezingamaduna ezingamaNguni. Ucwaningo lokuqala lwenziwe ngezimbuzi ezingamaduna eziyishumi ezingamaNguni, imbuzi ngayinye inesisindo esingu-16 ± 1.7 kg (okusho ± SD) ngesikhathi semvula kanti zingu-15 ± 1.6 kg (okusho ± SD) ngesikhathi sesomiso. Ukuze kuhlolwe ukudla isikhathi esifushane kwezimbuzi zinqampuna amahlamvu, kusetshenziswe uhlelo lokudla ndawonye. Izimbuzi ziye zaphakelwa amahlamvu eRhus lancea (RL) naweCeltis africana (CA) ngokuhlukana zaphinda zanikezwa wona esehlanganisiwe esilinganisweni sika-1:1. Lapha kuvele ukuthi imbuzi ithanda iR. lancea > RL:CA > C. africana ngesikhathi sezimvula kanye nangesesomiso. Ocwaningweni lwesibili, bekubhekwa ukugayeka kokudla ngesilinganiso sezimbuzi ezingamaduna esezikhulile ezingamashumi amabili zamaNguni ezinesisindo esingu-16 ± 1.7 kg (okusho ± SD) ngokuka-2 x 4 (isikhathi sonyaka x indlela yokudla) ukuhlola ngokuxuba izimo. Zonke izimbuzi ziphakelwe umsingizane njengokudla okuyisisekelo kanye nefolishi elilodwa, kulawa amane, i) iR. lancea , ii) iC. africana , iii) inhlanganisela yamafolishi amabili ngokwesilinganiso sika-1:1 (RL:CA), kanye iv) nokuphaka ngokulawula iMedicago sativa, izintanga zamathanga, ama-aphula, isipinashi, nezingxube. Izimbuzi ezidle iR . lancea , iC. africana, neRL:CA zinamandla kakhulu okugaya amaphrotheni aluhlaza (p <0.05) ngesikhathi sezimvula uma kuqhathaniswa nesikhathi sesomiso. Ucwaningo lwesithathu, kuye kwavalelwa izimbuzi ezingamashumi amabili ezingamaduna ezingamaNguni zahlaliswa ngayinye zase ziphakelwa iC. africana noma iR. lancea ukuze kuhlolwe umthelela ekwakhekeni kwamagciwane erumen ngesikhathi sezimvula nesesomiso ngokokuhleleka kocwaningo. Izimbuzi bezinesilinganiso sesisindo sika-15 ± 1.6 kg (okusho ± SD). Imiphumela ikhombise inala yephyla Bacteroidetes ngaphezu kweFirmicutes (F/B) (0.85:1) isilinganiso (p <0.05) ngesikhathi sesomiso uma kuqhathaniswa nesikhathi semvula. Ucwaningo lwesine, kuye kwaqhathaniswa ukudla okudliwayo, ukushintsha kwesisindo, ukuhlaziya umchamo, kanye nokusebenza kwegazi ezinsukwini ezingama-30 ezimbuzini zamaNguni ezingamaduna ezingamashumi amabili ezinesisindo esingu-15 ± 1.6 kg (okusho ± SD). Lapha kube nokusebenzisana phakathi kwendlela yokudla nesikhathi sonyaka (p <0.05) esisindweni sokugcina, umthamo odliwa ngosuku, kanye nokudla ngesikhathi sesomiso. Izimbuzi ezidla ngokulawulwa zinoshukela (iserum) ophezulu (p <0.05) kunalezo ezidla iR. lancea, iC. africana, kanye neRL:CA ngesikhathi sesomiso. Imiphumela iphakamisa ukuthi iR. lancea, iC. africana, kanye neRL:CA kungasiza ukuhlangabezana nezidingo zomsoco futhi kulekelele ekukhuleni kwezimbuzi, okwasekelwa nangamaphrofayili eserum metabolite kanye namagciwane erumen ikakhulu ngesikhathi sesomiso nesezimvula. Kodwa-ke, ukuze izimbuzi zikhule kahle futhi kuqinisekiswe neserum elinganayo, kanjalo namagciwane erumen akahle unyaka wonke, kunconywa ukuthi izimbuzi zinikezwe nezinye izinhlobo zokudla. Text in English with summaries in Northern Sotho and Zulu