Contract Farming Schemes in Swaziland: Vuvulane Irrigated Farms and Mphetseni Settlement Scheme

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Periodical article

Title:	Contract Farming Schemes in Swaziland: Vuvulane Irrigated Farms and Mphetseni Settlement Scheme
Authors:	Sithole, Vincent Majozi Boeren, Clasina C.M.
Year:	1989
Periodical:	Eastern Africa Economic Review
Issue:	Special issue
Period:	August
Pages:	59-69
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Swaziland - Eswatini
Subjects:	contract farming small farms cane sugar fruits Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Development and Technology Economics and Trade
Abstract:	This paper, which is based on research conducted between 1986 and 1988, investigates the role of contract farming in Swaziland by examining samples from Vuvulane Irrigated (sugarcane) Farms (VIF) and Mphetseni Pineapple Settlement Scheme. The performance of the schemes is evaluated against their failure or success in achieving objectives of the Swaziland Government, the scheme members and the processors. Special attention is paid to marketing facilities, extension advice, credit and farm input facilities, employment, increased incomes, guaranteed supply, spread of investment, company profits, and local participation in scheme management. The monopoly of the market makes a major contribution to the relative success of the pineapple scheme. A possibility of having a similar scheme where the cooperative - not the individual farmer - has title to land, does not appear bright. The problem of land tenure associated with VIF makes it inadvisable to replicate such schemes elsewhere in the country. Bibliogr., notes, ref.