FACTORS INFLUENCING THE VIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALLHOLDER SUGAR CANE PRODUCTION IN UMBUMBULU

ABSTRACT

The raising of cash crops has been regarded by many as a solution to poor productivity, land degradation, unemployment and poverty in the subsistence agricultural areas of South Africa. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of this thesis and thereby identify the requirements for viable and sustainable land management in these areas. The study was carried out in a smallholder cane growing area by a complementary use of aerial photo-interpretation, the analysis of satellite imagery, fieldwork, interviews and discussions. The results of the study show that, apart from ecological and technological factors, socio-economic factors such as government and non-government institutions, farm size and off-farm income play an important role in the viability and sustainability of land management in smallholder cane growing areas of Umbumbulu. Under the present production and marketing arrangements the minimum size of landholding required for viable and sustainable full-time cane growing at Umbumbulu is 10 hectares.