The Determinants of Formal Market Access for Indigenous Floral Foods among Rural Households in the Amathole District Municipality of South Africa: A Crucial Investigation for Understanding the Economic and Nutritional Dynamics of Rural Communities

Authors

  • Achoja Roland Onomu University of Fort Hare
  • Taruvinga Amon University of Fort Hare
  • Willie Tafadzwa Chinyamurindi University of Fort Hare

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12724/ajss.68.1

Keywords:

Trend, growth, marketing, experience, farmgate

Abstract

Paradoxically, indigenous foods contribute to rural household income generation, health, food, and nutrition. Even so, research must investigate their market access, especially the formal market. A cross-sectional research method was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive and inferential, including logistic regression, were used to analyse indigenous food market access determinants. There is evidence of poor market participation and sales of indigenous floral foods (IFFs), with many indigenous foods facing the risk of extinction from the market due to poor involvement by most households in their sales, especially in formal markets. The result shows that 89% of rural households consume indigenous foods, but only 14% participate in selling these foods in formal markets. Indigenous floral foods are not sold at the farm gate, but the rural households sell more IFFs in the informal market as vendors, with few sold to registered markets. The trend results show that rural households' entry into the indigenous food market may decrease despite the growth witnessed in the past decade (2000-2012). The number of people consuming indigenous foods might further reduce due to challenges in getting them to urban and export markets, which arises from difficulty accessing the formal market. Poor demand, seasonality, and other factors are some challenges indigenous food marketing faces. Socioeconomic characteristics of indigenous food farmers, awareness, general information, and policies targeting indigenous foods should be improved, adopted, and implemented. Indigenous foods-related details and other factors that affect the market penetration of IFFs should be addressed to unlock IFFs access to formal markets.

Author Biographies

Taruvinga Amon , University of Fort Hare

Professor Amon Taruvinga is an Agricultural and Environmental Economist. He is currently co-chairperson of the Agriculture and Farming Research Group and lecturer at the University of Fort Hare. He was formerly acting Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension of the University of Fort Hare.

Willie Tafadzwa Chinyamurindi, University of Fort Hare

Professor Willie Tafadzwa Chinyamurindi is a lecturer at the department of business administration at the University of Fort Hare. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from the same university. He was once the head of the department. He is an expert in human and organizational capabilities and how they contribute towards the theme of development. He has published several articles

References

Ainembabazi, J.H., Mugisha, J., 2014. The Role of Farming Experience on the Adoption of Agricultural Technologies: Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in Uganda. The Journal of Development Studies 50, 666–679. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2013.874556

Akinola, R., Pereira, L.M., Mabhaudhi, T., de Bruin, F.-M., Rusch, L., 2020. A Review of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa and the Implications for more Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems. Sustainability 12, 10–40. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083493

Alozie, Y.E., Ene- Obong, H.N., 2018. Recipe standardization, nutrient composition and sensory evaluation of waterleaf ( Talinum triangulare ) and wild spinach ( Gnetum africanum ) soup “afang” commonly consumed in South-south Nigeria. Food Chemistry 238, 65–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.12.071

Amathole District Municipality, 2016. Amathole District Municipality: COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME. Amathole District Municipality. URL http://www.cesnet.co.za/pubdocs/Amatole%20District%20Muni%20AHun300816_251/Final%20Amathole%20DM%20CMP_Part1.pdf

Amathole Forestry Co, 2017. DAFF PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE PRESENTATION: Implementation of the B-BBEE Forestry Sector Transformation Charter November 2017. Amathole Forestry Company (Pty) Ltd. URL https://static.pmg.org.za/171128AFC.pdf (accessed 7.4.23).

Aworh, C.O., 2015. Promoting food security and enhancing Nigeria’s small farmers’ income through value-added processing of lesser-known and under-utilized indigenous fruits and vegetables. Food Research International 76, 986–991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2015.06.003

Baah, S.K.T., Aguilar, R.A.C., Diaz-Bonilla, C., Fujs, T., Lakner, C., Cong Nguyen, M., Viveros, M., 2023. March 2023 global poverty update from the World Bank: the challenge of estimating poverty in the pandemic. World Banks. URL https://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/march-2023-global-poverty-update-world-bank-challenge-estimating-poverty-pandemic (accessed 10.21.23).

Bahta, S., Bauer, S., 2012. Policy options for improving market participation and sales of smallholder crop producers: A case study of the Free State Province of South Africa. Afr. J. Agric. Res. 7, 3525–3533. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR11.631

Barrett, C.B., Mutambatsere, E., 2008. Agricultural Markets in Developing Countries, in: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Botha, J., Witkowski, E.T.F., Shackleton, C.M., 2004. The medicinal plant trade on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, in: Lawes, M.J., Eeley, H.A.C., Shackleton, C.M., Geach, B.G.S. (Eds.), Indigenous Forests and Woodlands in South AJi-Ica. Policy, People and Practice. University of Kwazulu-Natal Press, Scottsville, pp. 461–463.

Cloete, P.C., Idsardi, E.F., 2013. Consumption of Indigenous and Traditional Food Crops: Perceptions and Realities from South Africa. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 37, 902–914. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2013.805179

Eastern Cape Socio Economic Consultative Council (ECSECC), 2017. Amathole District Municipality socio economic review and outlook, 2017. Eastern Cape Socio Economic Consultative Council (ECSECC). URL https://www.ecsecc.org/documentrepository/informationcentre/amathole-district-municipality_74397.pdf (accessed 7.4.23).

Gans, J.S., Scott Stern, 2003. The product market and the market for “ideas”: commercialization strategies for technology entrepreneurs. Research policy 32, 333–350.

Ghosh-Jerath, S., Kapoor, R., Barman, S., Singh, G., Singh, A., Downs, S., Fanzo, J., 2021. Traditional Food Environment and Factors Affecting Indigenous Food Consumption in Munda Tribal Community of Jharkhand, India. Front. Nutr. 7, 600470. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.600470

Gumede, V., 2021. Poverty in South Africa, in: Oqubay, A., Tregenna, F., Valodia, I. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy. Oxford University Press, Cape Town, South Africa, p. 157.

Heijden, T.V.D., Vink, N., 2013. Good for whom? Supermarkets and small farmers in south africa – a critical review of current approaches to increasing access to modern markets. Agrekon 52, 68–86. https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2013.778466

Hermann, M., 2009. The impact of the European Novel Food Regulation on trade and food innovation based on traditional plant foods from developing countries. Food policy 34, 499–507.

Kasimba, S.N., 2018. Utilisation of traditional and indigenous foods and potential contribution to consumers’ nutrition and vendors’ income in Botswana. North-West University, North-West, South Africa.

Kasimba, S.N., Motswagole, B.S., Covic, N.M., Claasen, N., 2018. Household access to traditional and indigenous foods positively associated with food security and dietary diversity in Botswana. Public Health Nutr. 21, 1200–1208. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001700369X

Kaya, H.O., 2014. Indigenous knowledge of wild-food resources among children in Tanzania. Journal of Human Ecology 48, 1–8.

Mathebula, J., Molokomme, M., Jonas, S., Nhemachena, C., 2017. Estimation of household income diversification in South Africa: A case study of three provinces. S. Afr. J. Sci. 113, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2017/20160073

Msuya, T.S., Kideghesho, J.R., Mosha, T.C.E., 2010. Availability, Preference, and Consumption of Indigenous Forest Foods in the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 49, 208–227. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670241003766048

Mwema, C.M., Lagat, J.K., Mutai, B.K., 2013. Economics of harvesting and marketing selected indigenous fruits in Mwingi District, Kenya. Presented at the 4th International Conference of the African Association of Agricultural Economists, September 22-25, 2013, AgEcon Search, Hammamet, Tunisia, p. 15.

Njume, C., Goduka, N.I., George, G., 2014. Indigenous leafy vegetables (imifino, morogo, muhuro) in South Africa: A rich and unexplored source of nutrients and antioxidants. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 13, 1933–1942. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB2013.13320

Odhav, B., Beekrum, S., Akula, U., Baijnath, H., 2007. Preliminary assessment of nutritional value of traditional leafy vegetables in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 20, 430–435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2006.04.015

Oladele, O.I., 2011. Contribution of Indigenous Vegetables and Fruits to Poverty Alleviation in Oyo State, Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology 34, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2011.11906362

Onomu, A.R., 2023a. Pitfalls and potential pathways to commercialization of indigenous food crops, fruits, and vegetables in Africa. 5005 13, 25–38. https://doi.org/10.55493/5005.v13i1.4716

Onomu, A.R., 2023b. Smallholder’s Market Participation, Characteristics, Tractor Use Implication and Determinants in Nigeria. jda 57, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1353/jda.2023.a908644

Onomu, A.R., 2022. Challenges and potential pathways to commercialisation of indigenous Food crops, fruits, and vegetables in Africa. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development 4, 749–763.

Onomu, A.R., Taruvinga, A., Chinyamurindi, W.T., 2023. Potential and transformation of indigenous floral foods in Africa: What research tells over the past two decades (2000-2022). Advances in Agriculture Accepted.

Perret, S., Anseeuw, W., Mathebula, N., 2005. Poverty and livelihoods in rural South Africa: Investigating diversity and dynamics of livelihoods. Case studies in Limpopo. Kellogg’s Foundation and University of Pretoria. URL https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/Legacy/sitefiles/file/48/2052/200501.pdf (accessed 10.21.23).

Rampa, F., Lammers, E., Linnemann, A., Schoustra, S., de Winter, D., 2020. African indigenous foods: Opportunities for improved food and nutrition security. Food and Business Knowledge Platform. URL African indigenous foods: Opportunities for improved FNS (knowledge4food.net (accessed 6.20.21).

Reardon, T., Berdegué, J., Barrett, C.B., Stamoulis, K., 2007. Household income diversification into rural nonfarm activities." Transforming the rural nonfarm economy: opportunities and threats in the developing world. International Food Policy Research Institute, NW, Washington.

Schönfeldt, H.C., Hall, N., Pretorius, B., 2018. The important role of food composition in policies and programmes for better public health: A South African case study. Food chemistry 238, 94–100.

Shiferaw, B., Hellin, J., Muricho, G., 2011. Improving market access and agricultural productivity growth in Africa: what role for producer organizations and collective action institutions? Food Security 3, 475–489.

South Africa Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (SADAFF), 2014. The national policy on food and nutrition security for the republic of South Africa (No 37915, Government Gazette, 22 August 2014). Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. URL https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/37915gon637.pdf (accessed 4.5.23).

Stats SA, 2017. Poverty Trends in South Africa: An examination of absolute poverty between 2006 and 2015. Statistics South Africa. URL https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/Report-03-10-06/Report-03-10-062015.pdf

Street, R.A., Prinsloo, G., 2013. Commercially important medicinal plants of South Africa: a review. Journal of chemistry 1, 1–16.

United Nations Global Compact, 2023. Strong markets and strong societies go hand in hand. UN Global Compact of Social Sustainability Research Team. URL https://unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/our-work/social/poverty (accessed 10.21.23).

Van Crowder, L., Lindley, W.I., Bruening, Th.H., Doron, N., 2007. Agricultural education for sustainable rural development: Challenges for developing countries in the 21 st century. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension 5, 71–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/13892249885300201

van Tilburg, A., van Schalkwyk, H.D., 2012. Strategies to improve smallholders’ market access, in: Unlocking Markets to Smallholders: Lessons from South Africa. Wageningen Academic publishers, Wageningen, the Netherlands, pp. 35–58.

Weinberger, K., Pichop, G.N., 2009. Marketing of African Indigenous Vegetables along Urban and Peri-Urban Supply Chains in Sub-Saharan Africa, in: Shackleton, C.M., Pasquini, M.W., Drescher, A.W. (Eds.), African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture. Earthscan, London Sterling, Va, p. 298.

Wilson, M.L., VanBuren, R., 2022. Leveraging millets for developing climate resilient agriculture. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 75.

Downloads

Published

2024-05-15