Production and Commercialisation Potential of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables: Case Study of Capricorn District in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Aims: This study analyses the production and commercialisation potential of indigenous leafy vegetables (ILV) in the Capricorn district in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Specific objectives were to identify the socio-economic characteristics of ILVs producers in rural areas of Capricorn district, investigate constraints faced by farmers in commercialising ILVs in rural areas of Capricorn district, determine the productivity of indigenous leafy vegetables in rural areas of Capricorn district, and to assess different types of marketing channels of ILVs in rural areas of Capricorn district.
Study Design: The study used both qualitative and quantitative, cross-sectional data. The selection of ILV farmers within the study area was done using stratified random sampling procedure the strata being gender. Disproportionate random sampling procedure was used to select individual households.
Methodology: The study used Stochastic Frontier Production Function to determine the productivity and to assess the socio-economic characteristics of producers of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables. Bubble chart was also used to assess the marketing channels whilst consumer data was captured into a statistical package.
Results: ILV famer’s significant socio-economic factors and production factors that constraint them from commercialising their products were found to be the amount of labor required, cost of hiring tractor service, land devoted to ILVs, gender, age, household size, farming experience, farm size, hired labour, primary occupation and land ownership. Results indicated that the productivity of ILVs in the study area varied among farmers; some farmers had a high productivity but most farmers had a low productivity.
Conclusion: There is a great potential for commercialising ILV but there is a lot of work to be done in assisting farmers, for them to be sustainable and exploitation of these crops.