Land and market access among urban farmers in Sobantu and Mpophomeni : implications on household food security.

Abstract

Land access is a crucial requirement for crop production among smallholder farmers, as limited access is a challenge that often prevents them from producing sufficient yields to participate in lucrative markets. For emerging smallholder farmers, there is limited space when it comes to accessing agricultural opportunities in South Africa. This means that when it comes to supporting structures, fewer systems support these farmers, causing them to be unable to take advantage of various opportunities that the South African government has been instituting. The first objective examined the factors influencing farmers’ access to land and the associated challenges. The study’s second objective looked at the impact of land and market access on the household food security of urban farmers in Sobantu and Mpophomeni. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing purposive sampling to select urban farmers in Sobantu and Mpophomeni. Questionnaires, focus group discussions and photography were used for data collection. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression model were used to analyse the first objective. Binary logistic regression helps identify factors affecting land access and the associated challenges. The second objective employed descriptive analysis, PESTEL analysis for focus group discussions and Tobit regression analysis in conjunction with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) to evaluate urban farmers' food security in Sobantu and Mpophomeni. The study revealed that limited access to land and markets significantly impacts urban farmers' food security, as insufficient land results in inadequate crop yields needed for a consistent supply to lucrative markets. Additionally, factors such as education, total household income, household size, and marital and land access significantly influence food security status. Urban farmers experience challenges due to limited funding opportunities, preventing them from producing high value crops necessary for accessing formal markets. The study suggests that the key stakeholders, such as policy makers and private sectors such as NGOs, need to invest in platforms and programmes that will provide education to the farmers through workshops, training and seminars so that farmers are aware of alternative and additional planting methods, market information and gain knowledge on the impact of farmers group on their livelihoods. The alternative methods that the study recommends are rooftop farming, container gardening, vertical farming, and hydroponics farming.