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Barriers and Incentives to Potential Adoption of Biofuels Crops by Smallholder Farmers in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Cheteni, Priviledge
  • Mushunje, Abbyssinia
  • Taruvinga, Amon

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to identify barriers and incentives that influence the potential adoption of biofuel crops by smallholder farmers. The study utilized a semi-structured questionnaire to record responses from 129 smallholder farmers that were identified through a snowballing sampling technique. The respondents were from the Oliver Tambo and Chris Hani District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A Heckman two-step model was applied to analyze the data. Results obtained show that variables; arable land, incentives offered, challenges faced, labour source, were statistically significant to awareness of farmers to biofuel crops. Adoption of biofuel crops was statistical related to gender, qualification, membership to an association and knowledge on biofuel. It is recommended that smallholder farmers should be made aware of the proposed biofuel crops in order for them to adopt. Furthermore, for the biofuel industry to succeed, farmers in the semi-arid regions need to be educated on land improvement and notified of the expected returns if they are to participate in the production of biofuel crops.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheteni, Priviledge & Mushunje, Abbyssinia & Taruvinga, Amon, 2014. "Barriers and Incentives to Potential Adoption of Biofuels Crops by Smallholder Farmers in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa," MPRA Paper 59029, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:59029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Cheteni, Priviledge, 2017. "Sustainability development: Biofuels in agriculture," MPRA Paper 80969, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 24 Jun 2017.
    4. Priviledge Cheteni & Yohane Khamfula & Gisele Mah, 2020. "Exploring Food Security and Household Dietary Diversity in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, March.
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    6. Ransford Teng-viel Karbo & Lynn J. Frewer & Francisco J. Areal & Albert Boaitey & Glyn Jones & Guy Garrod, 2025. "Investigating Farmers’ Intention to Adopt Renewable Energy Technology for Farming: Determinants of Decision Making in Northern Ghana," Agricultural & Rural Studies, SCC Press, vol. 3(1), February.

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    JEL classification:

    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • Q1 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture
    • Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

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