What works for poor farmers? Insights from South Africa’s national policy evaluations

Abstract

Background: Growing numbers of developing countries are investing in National Evaluation Systems (NESs). A key question is whether these have the potential to bring about meaningful policy change, and if so, what evaluation approaches are appropriate to support reflection and learning throughout the change process.Objectives: We describe the efforts of commissioned external evaluators in developing an evaluation approach to help critically assess the efficacy of some of the most important policies and programmes aimed at supporting South African farmers from the past two decades.Method: We present the diagnostic evaluation approach we developed. The approach guides evaluation end users through a series of logical steps to help make sense of an existing evidence base in relation to the root problems addressed, and the specific needs of the target populations. No additional evaluation data were collected. Groups who participated include government representatives, academics and representatives from non-governmental organisations and national associations supporting emerging farmers.Results: Our main evaluation findings relate to a lack of policy coherence in important key areas, most notably extension and advisory services, and microfinance and grants. This was characterised by; (1) an absence of common understanding of policies and objectives; (2) overly ambitious objectives often not directly linked to the policy frameworks; (3) lack of logical connections between target groups and interventions and (4) inadequate identification, selection, targeting and retention of beneficiaries.Conclusion: The diagnostic evaluation allowed for uniquely cross-cutting and interactive engagement with a complex evidence base. The evaluation process shed light on new evaluation review methods that might work to support a NES.

Productivity and constraints of small-scale crop farming in the summer rainfall region of South Africa

“…According to the NDP, agriculture is poised to prosper and continue to contribute meaningfully to the country's rural poor by ensuring food and nutrition security. However, a closer look at recent policy initiatives by Chapman et al (2021) paints a picture of ineffective policy interventions that result in fruitless expenditures. This reality is unpalatable given the governmental investments to increase productivity, enhance sustainable agricultural resource use and facilitate economic growth and development of small-scale farmers.…”

“…This reality is unpalatable given the governmental investments to increase productivity, enhance sustainable agricultural resource use and facilitate economic growth and development of small-scale farmers. Chapman et al (2021) further highlight that opposing voices to the current status quo of policy processes and implementations lack the “empirical evidence base needed to lend weight to their convictions”. Furthermore, Okunlola et al (2016) stated that although government policies have recently shown cognisance of emerging knowledge about small-scale farming such as the diverse nature of this sector, this awareness does not translate into practical programmes of support that take these differences into account in meaningful ways.…”

What future for small-scale farming in South Africa?

“…Additionally, the assumption that small-scale farmers are a homogeneous group (Okunlola et al, 2016;Chapman et al, 2021) has contributed to the failure of governmental support programs on to deliver improvements in farming and livelihoods.…”

“…However, to date, empirical data to support policy decisions regarding small-scale farming in South Africa is lacking and sorely needed. Chapman et al (2021) noted that debates on governmental policies and interventions for small-scale farming in South Africa lack the necessary evidence base. With this thesis, I contribute to the much-needed empirical evidence base for these important debates by critically and systematically unpacking the complex, variable, and interlinked relationships between the biophysical and socioeconomic environments that influence the productivity of small-scale farming systems and the contribution of these systems to rural livelihoods in South Africa.…”

“…This reality is unpalatable given the governmental investments to increase productivity, enhance sustainable agricultural resource use and facilitate economic growth and development of small-scale farmers. Chapman et al (2021) further highlight that opposing voices to the current status quo of policy processes and implementations lack the "empirical evidence base needed to lend weight to their convictions".…”