Abstract

LOKI, O.; MUDHARA, M.; PAKELA-JEZILE, Y.  and  MKHABELA, T. S.. Factors Influencing Land Reform Beneficiaries' Willingness To Pay For Extension Services In Eastern Cape And Kwazulu-natal, South Africa. S Afr. Jnl. Agric. Ext. [online]. 2019, vol.47, n.4, pp.29-45. ISSN 2413-3221.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2019/v47n4a524.

The study investigated the factors influencing land reform beneficiaries' willingness to pay for extension services. Furthermore, the study determined the extension services for which farmers were willing to pay, and the cost. The study was conducted in seven districts in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Research activities included a formal survey conducted on a sample of 111 farmers using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire through interviews and using a semi-structured interview guide for focus group discussions. The study employed Chi-square and T-test analyses to determine the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and their willingness to pay for extension services. The main findings were that 64% of land reform beneficiaries were in favour of privatisation of extension services. Furthermore, 98% of these farmers said they were willing to pay for extension services and indicated the price and type of services preferred. From the results of the probit regression analysis, it was seen thatfarmers who were likely to pay are those who are younger, with larger land sizes, and who have access to extension services. The study concluded that farmers were in favour ofprivatisation and were willing to pay for extension services, as they felt this would improve their farm returns.

Keywords : Eastern Cape; Extension services; Land reform; Socio-economic characteristics; Willingness; KwaZulu-Natal.

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