Artha Journal of Social Sciences

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

2024-03-21T05:16:53+00:00

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.

Critical Appraisal of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission on Gukurahundi

2024-04-24T02:30:02+00:00

This paper explores two emerging optimistic perspectives regarding the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) and its efforts to address the Gukurahundi crisis in Zimbabwe. One perspective suggests the potential for victim-centred discussions to resolve Gukurahundi, focusing on filling the epistemic gap in victims’ accounts. It terms this the ‘plugging the epistemic gap’ argument. The second perspective acknowledges imperfect progress, contrasting with past neglect, labelled the ‘half a loaf is better than nothing’ argument. While the paper supports both optimistic views, it offers additional clarifications, advocating for a cautious approach. It addresses three main aspects: (i) technical challenges in framing the NPRC’s outcomes around forgiveness, (ii) reconciling victims’ justice with NPRC’s institutional goals, and (iii) a detailed clarification and nuance of the ‘plugging the epistemic gap’ argument, stressing the urgency of addressing specific gap at stake. Additionally, the paper critically evaluates the NPRC’s victim-centred approach, revealing a discrepancy between its claim of prioritizing ‘victims’ justice’ and its actual focus on ‘survivors’ justice’, underscoring the significance of this distinction.

Determinants of Drought Risk Reduction Adoption Decisions: A Case Study of Gwembe Rural Communities-Zambia

2024-02-03T08:18:11+00:00

Like any other natural hazards, the frequency and intensity of drought events are increasingly being understood within the context of global climate variability. The subsequent growing emphasis on disaster risk management entails adopting risk reduction initiatives for resilience building. The study aimed to establish perceived determinants of household adoption decisions of drought risk reduction strategies in Gwembe rural. An interpretative paradigm underpinned this study, with a qualitative approach confined to a case study. The study engaged 140 participants selected through purposive and convenience sampling and subjected to open-ended, in-depth interviews. The study utilised thematic data analysis with the aid of Nvivo Pro 12. Findings showed that determinants of drought risk reduction adoption decisions were predominantly socio-economic, environmental and institutional based. It was concluded that some interconnectedness existed between perceived determinants of adoption decisions and constraints faced in adopting risk reduction initiatives. Additionally, low adoption and high levels of no adoption tendencies affected the progression of resilience building to future drought events. A project planning approach incorporating strategies for addressing significant constraints and adopting risk reduction was recommended.

The Role of Governments, International Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations on Xenophobia in South Africa

2024-05-03T07:35:09+00:00

This literary study argues that South Africa’s three government tiers have failed the majority of the country’s citizens in their efforts to provide adequate security and combat xenophobia. The study upon which this article is based focused on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and some international organisations (IOs) collaborating with governments to address xenophobia, particularly in South Africa. The study aimed to critically analyse and discuss the government’s, IOs’ and NGOs’ role in combating xenophobia in South Africa. The study utilised a qualitative approach with a historical design. Data were collected from secondary sources, which included books, journals and the Internet and were discussed in themes after performing textual analysis. The available published, reviewed articles were utilised to debate, argue and discuss governments’, IOs’ and NGOs’ role in xenophobia in some African countries. The results revealed that governments, NGOs, IOs and other stakeholders have provided support to ensure economic and social stability, but xenophobia persists in South Africa and several other African countries. One of the government's roles in preventing xenophobia is the provision of adequate security where xenophobic violence occurs. The study explained governments’, IOs’ and NGOs’ role in addressing xenophobia in South Africa and other African countries with a focus on issues relevant to addressing xenophobia in South Africa. The study was anticipated to inform government programmes and IOs’ and NGOs’ efforts to alleviate poverty among local citizens in South Africa and prevent hostility towards foreign nationals.

Editorial

2024-06-18T09:49:40+00:00