Geography · 1997 · 14 citations · 0 references
AgricultureAgricultural EconomicsAgricultural PolicyRural DevelopmentRural EconomicsAfrican Rural StudiesAgricultural CooperativesAgricultural Household EconomicsContract FarmingLabor Use In AgricultureRural Development EconomicsAdoption Of Contract FarmingChild Labor In AgricultureChild Labour In AgricultureContract Farming EconomicsContract Farming PolicyContracting EconomicsExplanatory Case StudySmallholder Farmers
The expansion of contract farming in Africa has elicited considerable debate. This article examines the impact of a new contract farming scheme on small farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. Scheme participants and the company which established tbe project both extol the virtues of the Dakadaka irrigated sugar cane scheme and there is a keen interest among near by farmers in joining it. However, despite many positive features of tbe scheme, tbe dependence on sugar cane is a major potential problem. Company control of irrigation water and tbe employment of children at low rates of pay are further issues ofconcern.