High transaction costs are detrimental to the efficient operation or existence of markets for inputs and outputs. The cost of information and the costs associated with the search for trade partners, distance to formal markets and contract enforcement are likely to influence the marketing of food...

This paper estimates long-run price (wage) elasticities of demand for regular farm labour in South Africa using both Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and a Two-stage Least Squares (2SLS) simultaneous-equation model for the period 1960-2002. Both models include a piecewise interactive...

This paper estimates long-run price (wage) elasticities of demand for regular farm labour in South Africa using both Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and a Two-stage Least Squares (2SLS) simultaneous-equation model for the period 1960-2002. Both models include a piecewise interactive...

With over 90% of mushroom producers having opted to participate in the industry through informal farmer groups, this paper sought to identify the key factors that unify members of informal collective initiatives. In contrast to formal organisations, which are regulated by law, informal groups...

This study analyses the importance and dimensions of risk sources and computer adoptionamong farmers in a changing economic policy and trade environment. A survey was conductedin 1996 among 112 commercial farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. The majority of respondents were infavour of a liberalized trade...

Rapid developments in information technology have exposed South African farmers to the potential benefits of using these technologies in farm decision-making. Use of computers on South African commercial farms is increasing, with three studies showing adoption rates of 48 percent (1993), 64...

This study analyses the importance and dimensions of risk sources and computer adoption among farmers in a changing economic policy and trade environment. A survey was conducted in 1996 among 112 commercial farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. The majority of respondents were in favour of a liberalized...

Small-scale (communal) farmers in South Africa have limited access to factors of production, credit and information, and markets are often constrained by inadequate property rights and high transaction costs. The objective of this research is to investigate whether agricultural cooperatives -...

The sugar industry is an important contributor to the South African (SA) economy, with average annual production estimated at 2.5 million tons of sugar. This study aims to quantify actual use of management instruments by a sample of commercial sugarcane farmers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) that are...