Date of Award

12-1985

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Economics

First Advisor

Dr. M. H. Ross

Second Advisor

Dr. G. K. Kripalani

Third Advisor

Dr. S. Asefa

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The intention of this study is to investigate the economic impact of increasing agricultural production in a peri-urban environment. The Rural Development Area Program (RDAP) in Swaziland is aimed at increasing rural income through improved agricultural practices. The mathematical technique of linear programming is applied to two distinct farmer categories, i.e., cattle owners and non-cattle owners, in order to ascertain information pertaining to the inability of expanding crop production in an area which offers higher renumeration in the urban sector.

Both farm categories have ample labor to expand agricultural production, but the non-cattle owners have limited access to land and are therefore seeking urban employment opportunities. The cattle owners have ample land but due to the system of land tenure and the allocation of labor, the cattle owners are also more interested in urban renumeration opportunities. Thus, an attempt to increase agricultural production in this area is having a negligible impact.

Included in

Economics Commons

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