The role of the farmer's wife in farm management.
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Date
1989
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Abstract
Despite the fact that the farming profession is largely dominated
by men, the farmer's wife contributes significantly to the farm
business.
The contribution of the farmer's wife can vary from "holding the
fort" on one hand to meaningfully influencing long-term decisions
on the other.
On average, farmers spend 56,4 hours per month away from the farm
and 7,9 hours per day outside on the farm and not in the vicinity
of the homestead. The office or his house forms the only contact
point with the outside world and is the place where most of the
farm activities are arranged and co-ordinated. During the
farmer's absence, his wife has to take important decisions and
often has to see to the running of farming activities.
On average the farmer's wife spends 2,2 hours per day on farm
activities. She is mainly involved in answering the telephone,
running errands and first aid to farm labourers.
With regard to decision-making on the farm, the farmer's wife is
the sole decision-maker in the household and in the purchasing of
small items. She makes decisions jointly with her husband on
family matters and long- and short-term issues. Many aspects
cause unhappiness on the farm, of which farm labour, drought and
finance are listed as the most important reasons. The children
are also active in some activities on the farm such as answering
the telephone, running errands and caring for animals.
The farmers' wives in KaNgwane are highly involved in farm
activities and in decision-making. Although they do not
distinguish between "hard" and "soft" jobs, the farmers' wives
have a preference for cropping aspects.. These women spend an
average of 7,9 hours per day on farming activities.
Transport facilities and the poor quality of water cause a great
deal of unhappiness on the farms. These and other problems hamper
the expansion of the role of the farmer's wife on the farm and her
future development.
Both groups of farmers' wives feel a need for a special course
geared to equip them better for their role in farm management.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1989.
Keywords
Women in agriculture--South Africa., Farm management--South Africa., Theses--Agricultural economics.