African farming Articles
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Gender and sustainable livelihoods: case study of South African farm workers
This study investigates how gender affects sustainable livelihoods in terms of the impact on food and nutrition security in farm worker households. Gender variables play a crucial role in the well-being of households, especially for women and children. A case study of South African farms shows that female-headed households, although having less access to earned income, take better care of the ...
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An occupational health and safety programme for crop farm workers in the Mangaung municipal district, Free State
The occupational hygiene of South African farm workers have been largely neglected because of the emphasis specifically put on the industrial environment. The aim of the study was to compile an applicable occupational hygiene programme for Mangaung crop farm workers. Twenty-five farms were selected and a list that included the different farm activities, number of workers and work hours was ...
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Editorial: The urgent need to transform small-scale subsistence farming in Africa towards sustainable agribusiness value-chains
A recent article on 'Why African farmers fail' (http://www.southerntimesafrica.com) bemoaned the lack of progress in transforming agriculture for economic development in Africa. This Editorial outlines some of the responses to that article and discusses the problems raised.Keywords: Africa, subsistence farming, sustainable agribusiness, small-scale farming, agribusiness value chains, economic ...
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Enriching African soils key to boosting crop yields
In African countries where farmers have access and can afford to buy fertiliser, there is a profound difference in agricultural yields, a feature in Nature notes. The red soil found across much of the continent is low in organic matter and key nutrients, and intensive farming in Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to have removed 22 kilograms of nitrogen, 15 kilograms of potassium and 2.5 kilograms ...
By SciDev.Net
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Science’s role in growing diverse, nutritious food
Can science meet the demand for more diverse and nutritious food? Jan Piotrowski investigates. The riots that swept Africa in 2007 and 2008 in response to the spiralling costs of staple crops brought the effects of food shortages into sharp focus. Images of unrest circled the globe, and the consequent instability brought to the forefront of political debate a question that had long been out of ...
By SciDev.Net
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