Browsing by Author "Ngarava, Saul"

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    Effectiveness of commodity pricing along the pork value chain in Zimbabwe : a case of Mashonaland Central Province
    (University of Fort Hare, 2016) Ngarava, Saul
    The main objective of this study was to give a reflection of the pricing strategies, articulate organizational attitudes; feelings and behaviour regarding these strategies and how they all influence value creation within agribusinesses in the Zimbabwean pork industry. The research hypothesis is that the particular pricing objectives, strategies and policies utilised have an indirect influence on how organizations create value. Specifically, the research sought to determine influence of marketing in value creation, establish influence of price in marketing mix, ascertain pricing strategies, determine influence of attitudes, feelings and behaviours and measure pricing efficiency. Utilising interview-administered-questionnaires, the study sought responses from strata of producers, abattoirs and retailers in Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe totalling a sample size of 226 respondents. The study utilised a cross sectional survey research design and quantitative research methods. The study utilised correlation analysis, ANOVA analysis, MANOVA analysis, multiple regression analysis and marketing margin analysis in establishing correlations, mean differences, influences and efficiencies in pricing. The study found out that marketing is not an influential value creating activity within the pork industry at p < 0.05. Price was also not the most influential marketing mix component within the industry. Most industry players were utilising formula prices, pursuing profit oriented pricing objectives through a one price policy, aiming for a low penetration price level policy, with no discount policy and managing a profit to cost ratio of between 0 percent and 4 percent. The most significant feeling was of being indifferent to a price change as it is offset by changes in units sold. Attitudes of industry players disregarding pricing mechanisms as long as it covers costs of production as well as substitute products determining prices were significant in influencing pricing objectives. Pricing within the industry was inefficient. The study recommends leveraging on the most influential industry value creating activity, which is production and processing, to take advantage of the myopic pricing objectives, lack of discount policy and avoiding substitutes. Also recommended is leveraging on the most influential industry marketing mix component, which is the product, to take advantage of lack of premium pricing, inefficient pricing and avoiding substitutes. Evading the low profit to cost ratio in the industry through utilising price flexibility policies and vertically integrating were also recommended.
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    Factors Influencing the Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers towards Adoption of Digital Technologies in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
    (MDPI, 2023-07-25) Bontsa, Nasiphi Vusokazi; Mushunje, Abbyssinia; Ngarava, Saul
    The objective of the study was to determine the factors that influence the perceptions of smallholder farmers towards the adoption of digital technologies. A purposively selected sample of 250 smallholder farmers who were cross-sectionally surveyed from Port St Johns and Ingquza Hill Local Municipalities in South Africa was used in the study. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Attention, Desire, and Action (AIDA) model were used to analyse the data. The results showed that digital technologies were perceived to be expensive, cause a digital divide, and discouraged the use of Indigenous Knowledge even though they increased production. Positive perception towards digital technologies was associated with cattle rearing, with extreme negative perception for sheep and goat rearing. Educational level, employment status, monthly income, household size, being part of a cooperative (1% level), age, and source of income (10% level) were significant factors affecting smallholder farmers’ perceptions of digital technologies. In conclusion, there are economic, social justice, and traditional perceptions towards digital technologies by smallholder farmers, with socio-economic factors affecting the perceptions. The study recommends providing low-cost digital technologies that promote Indigenous Knowledge, which should target the youth and young farmers with less education in small households who are full-time farmers with moderate-to-high incomes and are part of farmer groups/organisations.