Adoption of ICT by sheep farmers in the Western Cape (Karoo and Eden): towards sustainable farming

Thesis (MScFoodSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sustainable livestock production refers to the rearing of livestock in agricultural systems that are more natural and can be sustained over a long period. Food markets, particularly sheep products, are becoming more globalized, making buyers more concerned about the origins of the food they consume. The study aimed to determine the use of Information and Computer Technologies (ICT) to encourage sheep farmers to record data. The study's main objective was to assist smallholder sheep farmers in using a Sheep Breeding Management (record-keeping application) by determining the factors that influence the adoption and willingness to use ICTs by sheep farmers in the Western Cape. This was achieved by administering structured questionnaires to farmers in the Western Cape (Eden and Karoo districts). Fifty-three farmers participated in the research study. Challenges and opportunities associated with adopting a Sheep Breeding Management application (record-keeping application) were identified. A quantitative research approach was used in the study, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. There was no association between age and district from Chi-square analysis (p = 0.67). Age plays a role in farm growth and the availability of information. Of these participants, 60.38 % were aged 55 years and above with a mean of 63.8 ±1.43. At the same time, about 39.62 % were aged below 55, with a mean of 44.3 ±1.4. Sheep farmers in Eden within the age range of 50-59 years own a significant number of sheep with an average of 132.5± 36.4 of the sheep flock. Sheep numbers are higher in the Eden district, with an average of 370.8 ± 94.3 than Karoo (180.2 ± 38.9). Age, level of familiarity, and education level are less likely to affect the willingness to adopt the record-keeping application. The majority of the farmers (60%) are into conventional sheep farming, and 23.1% using the pastoral sheep farming system. Approximately 79% of the smallholder sheep farmers interviewed in the Karoo and Eden districts (representing semi-arid environments) were willing to adopt and use the record-keeping application. The record-keeping application will help sheep farmers in the process of certification to organic or Karoo sheep farming. Twelve percent of the farmers are currently Karoo lamb certified, and 4.9% are certified organic sheep producers. The farmers emphasized that it was time costly to use pen and paper for record-keeping, and forgetfulness using individual memory leads to poor farm records. At the same time, it is expensive to purchase record-keeping applications and devices. Record-keeping is a valuable way for all sheep farmers to improve production, market and resource management and sustainability. Smallholder sheep farmers will enter the niche market of organic and Karoo meat of origin when traceability systems are in place through ICT use for record-keeping. Adopting ICTs by smallholder sheep farmers (The Sheep Breeding Management application) allows for quality control on sheep farms and better management decisions by smallholder sheep farmers.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volhoubare veeproduksie verwys na die grootmaak van vee in landbousisteme wat natuurliker is en oor 'n lang tydperk volgehou kan word. Voedselmarkte, veral skaapprodukte, word meer geglobaliseer, wat kopers meer bekommerd maak oor die oorsprong van die voedsel wat hulle verbruik. Die studie het ten doel gehad om die gebruik van inligting- en rekenaartegnologieë (IKT) te bepaal om skaapboere aan te moedig om data op te neem. Die hoofdoel van die studie was om kleinskaapboere te help om 'n skaapteeltbestuur te gebruik (rekordhouding) deur die faktore te bepaal wat die aanneming en bereidwilligheid om skaapboere in die Wes-Kaap te gebruik en IKT's te beïnvloed. Dit is bereik deur gestruktureerde vraelyste aan boere in die Wes-Kaap (distrikte Eden en Karoo) in te dien. Drie-en-vyftig boere het aan die navorsingstudie deelgeneem. Uitdagings en geleenthede verbonde aan die aanneming van 'n aansoek vir die bestuur van skaapteelt (rekordhouding) is geïdentifiseer. 'N Kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is in die studie gebruik en data is met behulp van beskrywende statistieke geanaliseer. Daar was geen verband tussen ouderdom en distrik van Chi-kwadraat-analise nie (p = 0.67). Ouderdom speel 'n rol in plaasgroei en die beskikbaarheid van inligting. Van hierdie deelnemers was 60.38%, 55 jaar en ouer met 'n gemiddeld van 63.8 ±1.43. Terselfdertyd was ongeveer 39.62% onder 55 jaar oud, met 'n gemiddelde van 44.3 ± 1.4. Skaapboere in Eden binne die ouderdomsgroep 50-59 jaar besit 'n beduidende aantal skape met gemiddeld 132.5 ± 36.4 van die skaapkudde. Die skaapgetalle is hoër in die Eden-distrik, met gemiddeld 370.8 ± 94.3 as Karoo (180.2 ± 38.9). Ouderdom, vlak van bekendheid en opleidingsvlak beïnvloed minder die bereidwilligheid om die rekordhouding-aansoek aan te neem. Die meeste boere (60%) is besig met konvensionele skaapboerdery, en 23.1% gebruik die pastorale skaapboerderystelsel. Ongeveer 79% van die kleinboer-skaapboere wat in die Karoo- en Eden-distrikte ondervra is (wat halfdroë omgewings verteenwoordig) was bereid om die rekordhouding-toepassing aan te neem en te gebruik. Die aansoek om rekordhouding sal skaapboere help in die proses van sertifisering vir organiese of Karoo- skaapboerdery. Twaalf persent van die boere is tans Karoo-lam gesertifiseer, en 4.9% is gesertifiseerde organiese skaapprodusente. Die boere het benadruk dat dit duur is om pen en papier vir rekordhouding te gebruik, en vergeetagtigheid deur individuele geheue te gebruik, lei tot swak plaasrekords. Terselfdertyd is dit duur om aantekeningtoepassings en toestelle aan te skaf. Rekordhouding is 'n waardevolle manier vir alle skaapboere om produksie, mark- en hulpbronbestuur en volhoubaarheid te verbeter. Kleinboer- skaapboere sal die nismark van organiese vleis en Karoo-vleis van oorsprong betree wanneer naspeurbaarheidstelsels bestaan deur middel van IKT-gebruik vir rekordhouding. Die aanvaarding van IKT's deur kleinskaapboere (The Sheep Breeding Management application) maak voorsiening vir gehaltebeheer op skaapboerderye en beter bestuursbesluite deur kleinveesboere.

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