Factors affecting the level of commercialization among households owning cattle. A case study of Makhado Municipality of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

This study analyzed the factors affecting the level of commercialization among households owning cattle. The study was conducted at the Makhado Local Municipality of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study sampled 150 households owning cattle from five villages within the municipality. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire that was administered face-to-face to the respondents. For empirical reasons, the study used two analytical techniques, namely; Household Comecialisation Index and Multinomial Logistic Regression Model. Empirical results reveal that eight variables were significant in affecting the level of commercialization among households owning cattle. These variables are the marital status of household head, the age of the household head, source of income, the occupation of household, access to market information, distance to the nearest market, membership to farmer organization, and land size. Based on the findings of the study, several policy recommendations were proposed, namely; Encouragement of youth participation in agriculture in general and in cattle production in particular, promotion of gender equality in decision-making, households’ farmer organization, encouragement of market-orientation in cattle production, and establishment of cattle input support programs (e.g., feed, water and disease control).