ADOPTION OF VETERINARY SURGEON SERVICES BY SHEEP AND GOAT FARMERS IN QWAQWA / AANVAARDING VAN VEEARTSENYKUNDIGE DIENSTE DEUR SKAAP- EN BOKBOERE IN QWAQWA

Abstract

A number of technology transfer (diffusion) programmes involving amongst others veterinary surgeon services subsidised by the government, were launched in the former homelands of South Africa between 1980 and 1993. Many of these programmes were discontinued after the general election of 1994. In order to evaluate the adoption of technology in Qwaqwa, a former Sotho speaking homeland, two Logit models were fit using the conventional definition of an adopter and an adapted definition, which included potential adopters with the adopters. Where the conventional definition of adoption was estimated, livestock income per LSU, ram technology, roads and suppliers of livestock inputs are significant variables contributing to adoption. The results of the adapted model reveal that farming efficiency (weaning percentage), type of farmer (sheep as percentage of the total small ruminant herd) and ram technology, prove to be significant variables predicting adoption. It was also found that the characteristics of potential adopters gravitate more to adopters than to non-adopters. These results indicated that the adapted definition presented a more accurate prediction than the conventional definition. The results of this study indicate the policy necessary to further accelerate the diffusion of veterinary surgeon services by means of the development of a better infrastructure, the reintroduction of subsidised veterinary surgeon services at the sheering sheds as well as a better flow of information to farmers in Qwaqwa.

'n Hele aantal tegnologie-oordragingsprogramme, wat onder andere veterinêre dienste wat deur die regering gesubsideer is, insluit, is tussen 1980 en 1993 in die voormalige tuislande geloods. Verskeie van hierdie programme het ná die algemene verkiesing van 1994 doodgeloop. Ten einde die aanvaarding van tegnologie in Qwaqwa, 'n voormalige Sotho-sprekende tuisland, te evalueer, is twee logistiese modelle gepas waar daar gebruik gemaak is van die tradisionele definisie van 'n aanvaarder en 'n aangepaste definisie wat die potensiële aanvaarder by die aanvaarder-groep insluit. Die betekenisvolle veranderlikes waar die tradisionele definisie van aanvaarding geskat is, is lewendehawe-inkomste per GVE, ramtegnologie, paaie en verskaffers van lewendehawe, wat bydra tot aanvaarding. Die resultate van die aangepaste definisie dui daarop dat boerdery-effektiwiteit (speenpersentasie), tipe boer en ramtegnologie betekenisvolle veranderlikes is wat bydra tot die voorspelling van die aanvaardingsproses. Dit het verder aan die lig gekom dat die karaktertrekke van die potensiële aanvaarder meer neig na die aanvaarders as die nie-aanvaarders. Die resultate dui verder daarop dat die aangepaste definisie 'n meer akkurate voorspelling as die tradisionele definisie vir aanvaarding van die gebruik van veterinêre tegnologie gee. Die resultate van die studie dui op beleidsaspekte wat nodig is om die oordraging van veterinêre dienste te versnel deur middel van die ontwikkeling van 'n beter infrastruktuur, die herinstelling van gesubsidieerde veterinêre dienste by die skeerskure en die verbetering van die vloei van inligting na boere in Qwaqwa.