Investigation of selected hygiene parameters of uMbumbulu small-scale farmers' organic produce (leafy salad vegetables) and subsequent identification of factors affecting farmer practices and food security.
Loading...
Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The study aimed to investigate the hygiene quality of fresh agricultural produce, irrigation
water and compost from four cooperatives (Jabulani, Nungwane, Senzakahle and
Siyazenzela) supplying the uMbumbulu Agri-Hub Non-Governmental Organisation. In
addition, the influence that socio-economic characteristics such as age, gender, level of
education and training had on the uMbumbulu farmers’ hygienic practices was investigated.
Questionnaires, key informant interviews and laboratory analysis were used to collect data.
The most probable number (MPN) method, a microbiological technique, was used to
quantify selected hygiene indicators (i.e. total and faecal coliforms including Escherichia
coli) from compost, irrigation water and leafy vegetables (spinach and lettuce) during the
months of October, November and December 2011. Microbiological analysis on lettuce and
spinach produced by the four Agri-Hub cooperatives confirmed that these vegetables were
safe to eat and unlikely to cause sickness. The irrigation water sources, vegetables and
compost faecal coliform levels met national standards with faecal coliforms of <1 000
MPN/100ml for irrigation and<200 MPN/g for the leafy salad vegetables. Compost faecal
coliform levels were <1000/g and E. coli levels of <30 MPN/g, these levels decreased over
the 3 months. Descriptive statistics such as the Chi-Square test using IBM SPSS and a
logistic regression was performed using the STATA 11 software. The sample consisted of
60% female and 40% males, most of which (73%) were above the age of 40. A total of 60%
of respondents received income from farming activities, receiving revenues of between
R150- R250 a week. The logistic regression indicated that farmers already receiving some
income from farming activities and those that had received training on hygienic farming
practices were likely to wash hands and equipment prior to entering the field compared to
those who had not. These variables influenced the hygienic practices with a probability of
26% and 32% respectively at 5% significance level. The logistic regression also showed that
respondents with primary or no formal education were less likely to wash hands and
equipment prior to entering the field compared to those who had a secondary level
education. This unlikelihood had a probability of 35% for primary education and 43% for
farmers with no formal education at significance levels of 5% and 10% respectively. This
study indicates how training, education and farming experience are important and effective
tools in implementing good hygienic practices in small-scale farming. The study’s main recommendations are that policies encourage farmer awareness on their responsibility of
producing vegetables that are of good hygienic quality, especially if such produce is to reach
the market. Furthermore policies should advocate for small-scale farmer training. This
training should not be limited to subsistence farming but should also aim at preparing
farmers towards accessing produce markets. Farmer training in hygienic practices should aid
farmers to meet the stringent market standards allowing for better access, the regular income
from such activities support farming as a livelihood and bearer of food security. It must also
be noted that farmers require support in attaining the various resources needed in order to
successfully and continually supply markets.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.
Keywords
Farms, Small--KwaZulu-Natal--Umbumbulu., Organic farming--KwaZulu-Natal--Umbumbulu., Farmers--KwaZulu-Natal--Umbumbulu., Farm produce--Quality--KwaZulu-Natal--uMbumbulu., Food security--KwaZulu-Natal--Umbumbulu., Theses--Food security.