OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Conradie, Beatrice"

Browsing by Author "Conradie, Beatrice"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 43

Open Access
Agricultural change and farmworker living standards in post-apartheid South Africa
(2019) Le Roux, Leonard; Bhorat, Haroon; Conradie, Beatrice
Commercial agriculture in South Africa has been subject to accelerated regulatory and economic change in the time since the country’s democratization. This dissertation focusses on some of the interactions of these changes with the prospects of low-income farmworkers and farm dwellers through exploring two interlinked questions. The first of these asks whether consolidation in the industry has extended to growing firm size and in-turn, whether farmworkers in larger firms earn higher wages than those in small firms. An analysis of the firm-size earnings relationship using long run labour survey data is discussed in the context of current debates on agrarian policy. The second question relates to the process of rural-urban migration off commercial farms and into urban areas in the post-apartheid period. Using a panel of individuals and in so doing, controlling for unobserved individual heterogeneity and initial household fixed effects, a difference in differences approach is used to estimate the impacts of migration on various measures of individual living standards. Together these two questions attempt to characterise aspects of the changing nature of life on farms. The results suggest that there exists a significant firm-size earnings premium for farmworkers and that this may be increasing over time. In addition the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) data suggests that migration off farms has mixed implications for living standards, but is associated with significant gains in per-capita income, electricity and sanitation access.
Open Access
An updated TFP series for South African Agriculture with improvements to official data on land, labour, and machinery measurements
(2024) Yu, Jianbin; Conradie, Beatrice
The agricultural sector in South Africa has undergone significant shifts over the years, raising substantial concerns about food security and productivity. This comprehensive study analyses these trends and their implications to offer insights for policy formulation to address these challenges. The analysis uses historical data from 1947 to 2020 to examine output, inputs, productivity indices, and sector dynamics. It provides an in-depth exploration of the changes in agricultural composition and the factors influencing productivity, highlighting the need for nuanced policy interventions. In this thesis, I employ the Törnqvist-Theil aggregation techniques to measure input, output, and total factor production indices. The study delves into changes in crop production, shifts in input usage, and the impacts of labour reforms and minimum wage laws. Specifically, I examine the evolving shares of high-value horticultural crops, staple food crops, and livestock within agricultural outputs. The analysis focuses on the intricate relationship between input usage, labour, and land productivity to elucidate the declining Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth rates. The study's significance is in identifying key trends that shape South Africa's agricultural landscape and their impact on food security, utilizing official South African agricultural data from Agricultural Abstracts and Censuses. It emphasizes the urgency of revitalizing rural development strategies and investing in agricultural research and development (R&D) for long-term productivity growth. Further, the results urge policymakers to establish incentive structures that promote sustainable farming practices while ensuring the sector keeps pace with population growth. Moreover, the study augments the Abstract and Census data by incorporating datasets from the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service for land quantity, employing rainfed-equivalent cropland as a quality-adjusted measure. Furthermore, the labour quantity and cost index from the Post-Apartheid Labour Series are incorporated to bolster the study's analytical robustness and reliability. Key findings reveal a notable shift from staple crops to high-value horticultural production, affecting food accessibility and affordability for low-income households. The stability of livestock production presents nuanced issues concerning dietary components and resource usage. Labour reforms and the introduction of minimum wage laws have led to decreased labour use, indicating enhanced labour productivity. Notably, the study unveils a positive impact of the minimum wage on Total Factor Productivity (TFP). The analysis showcases an average increase of 1.67% per annum in TFP from 1947 to 2020, exhibiting minimal growth during the deregulation and the new South Africa period (0.34% per annum) from 1989 to 2003, but a subsequent rise in TFP (1.06% per annum) from 2004 to 2020 following the increase in the minimum wage. Additionally, this paper underscores concerns about declining Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth rates and their implications for food security. It emphasizes the need for effective policy strategies to bridge the gap between population growth and TFP growth rates. It also highlights the urgent requirement to improve on data quality in agriculture in South Africa. In summary, this study offers comprehensive insights into the changing dynamics of South Africa's agricultural sector between 1947 and 2020, emphasizing critical challenges and the urgent need for effective policy interventions to safeguard food security and increase productivity.
Open Access
Analysis of factors influencing the technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers in northern province, Zambia
(2023) Mumba, Elijah; Conradie, Beatrice
This study investigated the efficiency of smallholder farmers in Northern Province, Zambia. The research utilized data collected in 2014/2015, which was representative of the province and gathered by the Institute for Agricultural Policy Research Institute in collaboration with the Zambia Statistical Agency and Ministry of Agriculture. To assess technical efficiency, a stochastic production function with a translog functional form was developed. The model included four characteristics related to the farms and farmers, as well as three institutional variables, all of which were found to be statistically significant. The efficiency levels observed ranged from 0.02 to 0.93, with a median value of 0.67. The findings indicated that the primary factors influencing total output were the extent of cultivated land, followed by the use of fertilizers. The empirical analysis demonstrated that access to credit, extension services, and farmer input support programs, as well as the distance between the household's residence and the farm, the gender, age, and educational level of the household head, all played vital roles in determining the technical efficiency at the farm level.
Restricted
Are hunting clubs the solution to small stock depredation?The cases of Ceres,1979 and 1980
(Taylor and Francis (Routledge), 2012) Conradie, Beatrice
In 1979 and 1980 predators were under control on sheep farms in the Ceres Karoo. At the time, a subsidised hunting club assisted landowners with predator control measures. A farmlevel analysis of data from the Ceres hunting club’s logbooks reveals that four out of five farms have experienced no predator damage whatsoever. For those reporting problems, the typical loss was in the region of one per cent of the estimated turnover. Lynx (caracal), leopards and feral dogs were responsible for most of the damage. Black-backed jackals were not a serious concern, but were also more difficult to catch. Lynx and feral dogs were controlled with ease. Death of some innocent animals was also recorded. The hunting club system thus appears to be succeeding in controlling certain predators, albeit with adverse consequences to other animals. Exploratory statistical analysis establishes that livestock losses lead to increased control efforts, which in turn leads to the death of more targeted and untargeted animals. There is even some evidence that more control efforts reduce stock losses in the following year.
Open Access
Assessing demand for green electricity products amongst upper-middle income Western Cape households a contingent valuation study
(2013) Harrison, Christopher G; Conradie, Beatrice
The study presented in this paper examines the demand for green electricity products amongst upper-middle income Western Cape households. A social cost-benefit analysis to inform electricity investment planning requires the environmental benefit of using green electricity to be expressed in monetary terms. Since existing markets trade in electricity as a homogenous good, market data is of little use in this regard, and non-market valuation approaches are required. This study seeks to answer three key questions: To what extent would upper-middle income households in the Western Cape Province be willing to purchase premium-priced green electricity products? What is the maximum amount that a typical upper-middle income Western Cape household would be willing to pay for such a green electricity product? And: What are the demographic and attitudinal characteristics of adopting households and their members? To answer these questions the contingent valuation methodology was employed, using primary data from a survey (n=464) conducted in Cape Town during April and May of 2012. This survey sought to assess WTP using a hypothetical market, and gathered data on eleven demographic and attitudinal factors selected as possible determinants of WTP on the basis of a literature review.
Open Access
Benchmarking and productivity analysis in South Africa's automotive industry
(2020) Moshikaro, Lesego; Black, Anthony; Conradie, Beatrice
Despite being the biggest beneficiary of industrial policy, South Africa's automotive industry has struggled to remain competitive relative to its peers. This is partly a result of increasing global competition, structural shifts and changing demand. At the same time, the local industry remains constrained by a slowdown in economic growth, increasing labour costs and insufficient economies of scale. By analysing the role of policy in improving competitiveness and export performance in South Africa's automotive industry, this paper provides an overview of driving forces, challenges and trends in the local industry. The study uses benchmarking data to analyse productivity improvements in the industry. It finds that South African component firms have implemented lean and world class production techniques, improving their operational competitiveness with significant improvements in quality, inventory reduction and delivery reliability to customers. Although South Africa appears to be catching-up to its competitors, it still ranks poorly among auto-producers in emerging markets. Its competitors in the Far East, South America and Eastern Europe enjoy low production costs, rising FDI inflows and proximity to end markets. Policy interventions influence competitive advantages. This therefore highlights the important role of government in developing a policy mix that aims to increase firm-level competitiveness through minimising operational costs, improving production flexibility and encouraging higher local content to foster industrial development.
Open Access
A brief history of predators, sheep farmers and government in the Western Cape, South Africa
(2017-03) Nattrass, Nicoli; Conradie, Beatrice; Drouilly, Marine; O'Riain, M. Justin
This paper provides a brief history of the conflict between South African sheep farmers and predators (and we touch also on the debate between diverse stakeholders over how best to respond to that conflict). We focus in particular on black-backed jackals and commercial sheep farmers in the Western Cape Karoo, drawing on historical sources, colonial records, early ecological thinking and observations by farmers to paint a picture of this dynamic conflict. The paper forms part of an inter-disciplinary project about sheep farming and predators in the Karoo
Open Access
A comparison of the performance under field conditions of woolled and mutton sheep flocks in a low rainfall region of South Africa
(2013-12) Conradie, Beatrice; Landman, Abraham
This paper investigated the relative financial performance of woolled and mutton sheep and the determinants of woolled sheep ownership for 34 full-time sheep farms in Laingsburg South Africa, where rainfall is only 128 millimetres per annum. A comparison of fourteen woolled sheep flocks and eight similar sized mutton flocks revealed 1) a slightly but insignificantly higher unit production cost for wool producers, 2) a 21% but insignificantly higher net farm income per breeding ewe for woolled sheep, 3) a significantly lower tagging percentage for woolled sheep and 4) a significantly lower predation percentage for woolled sheep. The percentage of woolled sheep in the flock was a logit function of farm size, size of the irrigated (crop) area, tradition and terrain ruggedness, although the latter was not significant. Farmers in extensive grazing areas should take notice of woolled sheep’s ability to compete and the wool industry should pay attention to further improving the reproductive performance of this sheep type. The finding of woolled sheep’s apparent lower susceptibility to predators deserves further study as it could become a strong argument for why farmers ought to switch (back) to woolled sheep.
Open Access
Competition Policy and Privatisation in the South African Water Industry
(2001-03) Conradie, Beatrice; Goldin, Jacqui; Leiman, Anthony; Standish, Barry; Visser, Martine
The aim of this working paper is to investigate the optimal regulatory routes from a competition and public interest point of view for the South African water industry. The working paper presents the basic conditions of the water sector by outlining the main characteristics of water, providing an historical and international overview of water management in South Africa.
Restricted
Conservation begins after breakfast: the relative importance of opportunity cost and identity in shaping private landholder participation in conservation
(Elsevier, 2013) Conradie, Beatrice; Treurnicht, Martina; Esler, Karen; Gaertner, Mirijam
The conservation opportunity literature increasingly emphasises opportunity cost as an important determinant of willingness to engage in conservation on private land. We investigated the explanatory power of a group of opportunity cost variables in the decision to participate in a landscape-level conservation initiative on the Agulhas Plain, Cape Floristic Region. Opportunity cost variables outperformed affiliation and demographic variables when used in one model and had almost as much explanatory power as the combined model when used on their own. In the opportunity cost model, conservation was positively related to farm size and education and negatively related to share of income from farming and size of the remnant of natural vegetation on the farm. Of these relationships, that between education and participation was the most elastic: a 1% increase in education led to an almost 2% increase in the likelihood of participating in conservation. A large group of identity variables jointly explained nothing, but a subset of age, gender and Afrikaans language status had some explanatory power when used separately. We suspected this subset of demographic variables to have done nothing but proxy patterns of opportunity cost in the farming community. When re-estimated with the untransformed remnant as a share of farm size rather than an area, similar results were obtained and the negative sign on the remnant was confirmed. We concluded that understanding what opportunity cost conservation imposes on private landholders is not only important, but critical, for predicting which private land will come into and stay in conservation.
Open Access
A cost benefit analysis of a technology bundle aimed at improving the resilience of urban households in Rocklands, Mitchell's Plain
(2013-10) Odendaal, Rehana; Morar, Jeeten; Conradie, Beatrice
This paper documents and evaluates the early progress with a project which aims to increase the resilience of poor urban households with a complete technology package consisting of a permaculture food garden and multiple renewable-energy retrofits. The project is PBO facilitated and incorporates substantial training. Beneficiary households are objectively poor, but not destitute. After six months there were still some glitches with the retrofitting, but the gardens were all thriving and were yielding some produce and substantial pride for their owners. Retrofitting accounts for 39% of project costs, the gardens for 27%, and overheads (including training) for the remaining 34%. We have estimated the unit cost of expansion to be R6 435 for the basic model and R16 381 for an unsubsidised advanced model (in 2013 prices). This initiative has been expensive, perhaps unnecessarily so, but is also successful against great odds, not least of which is the exceptionally difficult growing conditions which characterise the Cape Flats. We identified appropriate support, flexible design and on-going monitoring as important issues going forward, but we nonetheless think that the project is one of the most successful of its kind and that it could be replicated on a larger scale at modest additional cost.
Open Access
A cost benefit analysis of a technology bundle aimed at improving the resilience of urban households in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain
(2013) Odendaal, Rehana; Morar, Jeeten; Conradie, Beatrice
This paper documents and evaluates the early progress with a project which aims to increase the resilience of poor urban households with a complete technology package consisting of a permaculture food garden and multiple renewable-energy retrofits. The project is PBO facilitated and incorporates substantial training. Beneficiary households are objectively poor, but not destitute. After six months there were still some glitches with the retrofitting, but the gardens were all thriving and were yielding some produce and substantial pride for their owners. Retrofitting accounts for 39% of project costs, the gardens for 27%, and overheads (including training) for the remaining 34%. We have estimated the unit cost of expansion to be R6 435 for the basic model and R16 381 for an unsubsidised advanced model (in 2013 prices). This initiative has been expensive, perhaps unnecessarily so, but is also successful against great odds, not least of which is the exceptionally difficult growing conditions which characterise the Cape Flats. We identified appropriate support, flexible design and on-going monitoring as important issues going forward, but we nonetheless think that the project is one of the most successful of its kind and that it could be replicated on a larger scale at modest additional cost.
Open Access
A critical review of South Africa's carbon tax policy paper: recommendations for the implementation of an offset mechanism
(2013) Newham, Melissa; Conradie, Beatrice
The South African government has emphasised the need for 'developing country' solutions to climate change that simultaneously pursue GHG reductions and socioeconomic development. To encourage the transition to a low-carbon economy the National Treasury has proposed a carbon tax and offset mechanism to be introduced in 2015. The practical delivery of the offset scheme remains uncertain. This paper investigates which features and governance structure would be desirable for such a mechanism in South Africa. Primary research is conducted into the South African voluntary carbon registry; Credible Carbon. The questions asked by this paper are: Should firms be allowed to offset emissions? What is the ideal way to implement offsets in South Africa? This paper concludes that Credible Carbon provides a good model for carbon trading that can be scaled up to meet demand under the new regulations. However, government needs to ensure that projects continue to deliver acceptable social benefits and that carbon auditors are well-trained and accountable.
Open Access
A critical review of South Africa’s Carbon Tax Policy Paper: recommendations for the implementation of an Offset Mechanism
(2013-12) Newham, Melissa; Conradie, Beatrice
The South African government has emphasised the need for ‘developing country’ solutions to climate change that simultaneously pursue GHG reductions and socioeconomic development. To encourage the transition to a low-carbon economy the National Treasury has proposed a carbon tax and offset mechanism to be introduced in 2015. The practical delivery of the offset scheme remains uncertain. This paper investigates which features and governance structure would be desirable for such a mechanism in South Africa. Primary research is conducted into the South African voluntary carbon registry; Credible Carbon. The questions asked by this paper are: Should firms be allowed to offset emissions? What is the ideal way to implement offsets in South Africa? This paper concludes that Credible Carbon provides a good model for carbon trading that can be scaled up to meet demand under the new regulations. However, government needs to ensure that projects continue to deliver acceptable social benefits and that carbon auditors are well-trained and accountable.
Open Access
A critical review of South Africa’s carbon tax policy paper: recommendations for the implementation of an offset mechanism
(2013) Newham, Melissa; Conradie, Beatrice
The South African government has emphasised the need for ‘developing country’ solutions to climate change that simultaneously pursue GHG reductions and socioeconomic development. To encourage the transition to a low-carbon economy the National Treasury has proposed a carbon tax and offset mechanism to be introduced in 2015. The practical delivery of the offset scheme remains uncertain. This paper investigates which features and governance structure would be desirable for such a mechanism in South Africa. Primary research is conducted into the South African voluntary carbon registry; Credible Carbon. The questions asked by this paper are: Should firms be allowed to offset emissions? What is the ideal way to implement offsets in South Africa? This paper concludes that Credible Carbon provides a good model for carbon trading that can be scaled up to meet demand under the new regulations. However, government needs to ensure that projects continue to deliver acceptable social benefits and that carbon auditors are well-trained and accountable.
Restricted
Determinants of electricity demand for newly electrified low-income African households
(Elsevier, 2008) Louw, Kate; Howells, Mark; Dekenah, Marcus; Conradie, Beatrice
Access to clean, affordable and appropriate energy is an important enabler of development. Energy allows households to meet their most basic subsistence needs; it is a central feature of all the millennium development goals (MDGs) and, while a lack of access to energy may not be a cause of poverty, addressing the energy needs of the impoverished lets them access services which in turn address the causes of poverty. While much is known about the factors affecting the decisions made when choosing between fuel types within a household, few quantitative studies have been carried out in South Africa to determine the extent to which these factors affect energy choice decisions. It is assumed that the factors traditionally included in economic demand such as price and income of the household affect choice; tastes and preferences as well as external factors such as distance to fuel suppliers are expected to influence preferences. This study follows two typical low-income rural sites in South Africa, Antioch and Garagapola, where the Electricity Basic Services Support Tariff (EBSST) was piloted in 2002. The EBSST is set at 50 kWh/ month per household for low domestic consumers; this is worth approximately R201 (7US$3). This subsidy is a lifeline tariff, where households receive the set amount of units per month, free of charge irrespective of whether more units are purchased. These data (collected in 2001 and 2002), recently collated with detailed electricity consumption data, allow us to determine the drivers of electricity consumption within these households. The sample analysed is taken from the initial phase of the study, when no FBE had been introduced to the households. This enabled the study presented here to make use of the well-populated datasets to assess what affects the electricity use decision in these households. This paper attempts to assess which factors affected the decision-making process for electricity consumption within these households. A brief history of the electricity industry and the electrification is provided and the theoretical background for the electricity consumption model is provided. It was found that income, woodfuel usage, iron ownership and credit obtained were significant in determining consumption levels within these households. Price and cross-price elasticities were difficult to assess due to lack of data within the sample. The results have many possible implications for policy, including the effect that easily obtained credit has for low-income households.
Restricted
An economic framework for energy transitions
(Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016-02-19) Howells, Mark; Louw, Kate; Conradie, Beatrice; Käck, Emila; Jonsson, Sandra
There is special interest in the patterns of fuel use among low-income rural communities and their transition from one form of energy use pattern to another. Understanding energy transitions will help in developing energy policies for the poor and promoting new energy markets that will improve their household budgets. Energy suppliers, such as utilities, would be better able to work in low-income communities for their mutual benefit. Households could benefit from more convenient and healthier forms of energy. This paper develops a simple micro-economic framework describing aspects of energy supply and use in lowincome settings. We assume that consumer utility is the driver of transitions, subject to fuel-appliance availability and budget constraints. We explore the hypothesis that reductions in “market failure” often help to encourage energy transitions.
Open Access
The Effect of Predator Culling on Livestock Losses: Caracal Control in Cooper Hunting Club, 1976 - 1981
(2013) Bailey, Alex; Conradie, Beatrice
This paper investigates the effectiveness of predator culling as a means of reducing livestock losses using hunting club data for Cooper (outside Mossel Bay) for the period 1976 to 1981. Results showed that caracal (Caracal caracal) culling increased subsequent livestock losses when compared to farms where fewer caracals were culled. When controlling for lagged rainfall, remoteness and a proxy for other unobserved farm characteristics, a logit model indicated the marginal effect of culling to be a 17.5% increase in the likelihood of livestock losses during the next year. The corresponding negative binomial model estimated the effect of an additional caracal culled to be a 0.373 unit increase in the number of sheep lost. A lagged rainfall variable was negative and significant in both models. According to the logit results, the marginal millimetre of rain reduced subsequent losses by 1.1%. For the negative binomial model, the marginal effect of rainfall was reduced losses by 0.047 of a sheep, which was about a 5% increase in losses. The average number of livestock lost was 0.94 sheep per farm per year. Distance travelled, used to proxy remoteness, was positive in the negative binomial model and non-significant in the logit model. Lagged livestock losses were not significant in either model. This result is important because it provides support for stricter predator control regulations by showing that livestock farmers are inadvertently harming their own interests through inappropriate culling, a practice which continues to this day.
Open Access
The effect of predator culling on livestock losses: Ceres, South Africa, 1979 - 1987
(2013) Conradie, Beatrice; Piesse, Jenifer
Caracals (Caracal caracal) and leopards (Panthera pardus) are perennial problems for sheep farmers on the southern fringe of the arid Karoo. In the past, farmers responded to the conflict with blanket culling of predators, a strategy which ecologists understand to be harmful. This paper investigated the ability of blanket predator culling to reduce livestock losses. It found the probability of livestock losses to be a function of the number of caracals, leopards, vagrant dogs (Canis familiaris) and other wildlife culled during the previous year, as well as the previous year’s trapper effort, the farm’s remoteness and three years’ worth of rainfall. Other unobserved farm characteristics did not systematically affect losses. Culling an additional caracal or leopard was estimated to increase future livestock losses by 5.7% and 27.2% respectively, while culling a vagrant dog was estimated to reduce the likelihood of future losses by 9.5%. Both trapper effort and remoteness increased the probability of livestock losses. The current and previous years’ rainfall decreased the likelihood of future losses, while rainfall from two years prior was positively correlated with future losses. These results are important because they describe general culling effectiveness under a variety of management conditions over a period long enough to allow for adjustment to culling.
Open Access
An estimate of the recreational value of the Agulhas Plain, South Africa, with special reference to the value of plant biodiversity
(University of Pretoria, 2013) Conradie, Beatrice; Garcia, Maria
The Agulhas Plain is a remarkable recreational site which combines the attraction of a pristine marine environment with exceptional plant biodiversity, rural tranquility and the novelty of being at the southernmost tip of Africa. The resource is a public good to which the market cannot assign a full value. This paper presents an estimated recreational value based on individual travel cost models and a sample of 370 visitors surveyed in 2010. Trip demands were estimated with zero truncated negative binomial models to account for over-dispersion. The study established a recreational value of R2.167 billion in 2010 prices for the site as a whole. By partitioning the sample into visitors who indicated having been attracted or not to the area by its nature and biodiversity, a net biodiversity value of R2 866 per trip was calculated. Allocated between marine and terrestrial resources based on the proportion of activities related to each type of resource, the value of plant biodiversity was estimated to be R2 268 per hectare in 2010to 2010 prices.

Browsing by Author "Conradie, Beatrice"

Results Per Page

Sort Options