a soci(tlcoba)(ic profile op fourscnc.ukzn.ac.za/doc/comm/markets/padayachee_m_socio_economic... ·...
TRANSCRIPT
A SOCI(tLCOBa)(IC PROFILE OP FOUR WaPI(BT GbaDEBIUG COWV.ITIES
In I(BMPOLI1AN D m
Menaka Padayachee
Fact Paper No. b November 1986
I n s t i t u t e f or Socia l and Economic Research
University of Eurban-Westville
Private Bag X54001
Durban
4000
ISBN 0-949947-82-2
'axaa 1suyj aqa 30 uoyasledald aqa uy asusasTees lyaqa
103 qusqa 30 pion pysads e qs1sasa-d symouos? pus 1~7~0s 103 aanayasuI
aqa 30 Laauah urn pus mepv-la1an~ uqor loeeajold oa 'd11suyj pw
.8urnay~~aauy 30 sdep pymnq pus aoq dusm uo am Buyasysss 103 squeqa
aiasuys dla~ e 'iew v sew pus 1sw v JA 'szaqionpIay3 on3 aq3 o~
'aIqsIysAe apem Xaqa asqa sapyrs aqa 103 pue appJgy12 as
slamleg aqa oa am Bu~Jnpoxauy uy aloddns pus asueasyees pu~q lyaqa 103
sl~wjn uerpuI 30 auamaiedaa aqa 30 uoTsTr\ya suoysuaaxg Islna~nayJ%\l
aqa jo daal 1n pus xapuar\g aymmng 1n qaoq 01 nod-queqa Isyaads \I
'X1qaoome paesal8old
qsleasai syqa asqa palnsua d1aq oa ssau8uy11yn pus asuayaed asoqn mled
eIsaon pue a1sp~~y12 'qaoquassea 'sa~11y3 30 a~doad aqa 03 squsq3 duw
-1xaX puy3 aqa 30 uoy~eledald aql uy aJualsyss8 lyaql
103 squeqa 30 plon py~ads e qxeasq JrmouoJg pue ~8~30s 103 aanayasul
aqa JO laluaA uypl pua msw-aa~ann uqor lOssa3Old 02 '~TTWUTJ pw
-8uynayaaaauy 30 sdep pymnq pue loq Xuem uo am Buyasyese lo3 squeqa
aaasuye Xlaa e ‘sew y ssrn pue .IWW y 1n 'saal(lonp~ay~ ona aqa o~
-aTqaTyeas apsm Xaql aaqa eapyTs aqa a03 pus a~spjjy~3 18
slamas3 aq3 03 am Suy~npolauy uy aaoddns pue ameasysea puyq lyaqa JOJ
saye~~v ueypul JO auamaasdaa aq3 JO uoyerrra suoysuaaq TelnlTnJyaL
aqa 30 Xnal 11.1 pue aapuaaw aymmnx 1n qacq oa nod-l(usq3 TeyJads y
'X~qaooms passaaSold
qJleaeaa syqa asql palnsua dpq 01 ssau8uyrryn pus aJuayaed aeoqn mlsd
8Teaou pue ~TWPJJTT~ 'l(aoquasssa 'sal~~~3 JO a~doad aqa 02 squaqa 6uwn
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Conten ts
L i s t o f T a b l e s
L i s t o f P igurea
Foreword
SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION
Aim of t h e Research
SECTION TUO: METHODOLOGY
2.1 The Study Area
2 . 2 The Sample 2 . 3 I n t e r v i e w Schedule and P a r t i c i p a n t Observa t ion
2 . 4 Fieldwork
2 .5 Data P r o c e s s i n g and S t a t i s t i c a l A n a l y s i s 2.6 Concluding Remarks
SECTION THREE: THE SOCIAL FRAMEWORK
3 .1 S o c i a l Background and Family H i s t o r y
3 .2 Some F e a t u r e s o f the Market Gardeners 3 . 3 M o b i l i t y P a t t e r n s
SECTION POUR: THE PHfSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
4 .1 F a c i l i t i e s and S e r v i c e s
E l e c t r i c i t y Domestic Water Supply
S a n i t a r y F s c i l i t i e s
4 .2 A t t i t u d e t o Roads i n t h e Area 4 . 3 A t t i t u d e t o Bus S e r v i c e s
4 . 4 A t t i t u d e t o L iv ing i n t h e Area
' I n t e g r a t i o n '
4 . 5 Perce ived Needs of t h e Community
iii
v v i
v i i
SECTION FIVE: PRODUCTION
5.1 Land Ownership 5.2 Land Tenure 5.3 Area under C u l t i v a t i o n
5.4 Cropa F r u i t V e g e t a b l e s F lowers
5.5 Nature o f C u l t i v a t i o n
SECTION SIX: LABOUR
6.1 Type of Labour 6 .2 Problems w i t h Labour 6.3 Res idency P a t t e r n 8 o f Uorkera
6 .4 Wages
SECTION SEVEN: MARKETING
7.1 U s t o r y o f Market ing 7.2 P a t t e r n s o f Market ing 7.3 A t t i t u d e to E x i s t i n g U a r k e t i n g ARrangernent 7.4 T r a n s p o r t
Means of T r a n s p o r t
Marke t ing Days T r a n s p o r t D i f f i c u l t i e s
SECTION BIGHT: CONCLUSION
Appendix A: A d d i t i o n a l T a b l e s
Appendix B: I n t e r v i e w Schedule
LIST OF TABLES
D i s t r i b u t i o n of Respondents by L o c a t i o n
Occupa t ions of F a t h e r s o f Marker Gardeners
Number o f Years t h e F a m i l i e s Have Been Invo lved i n Market Garden ing
M e o f Market Gardeners
Date o f A r r i v a l i n Area
Domestic Water Supply
Time Taken t o C o l l e c t Water n o t i n Dwell ing
D i s t r i b u t i o n a f S a n i t a r y F a c i l i t i e s
A t t i t u d e s t o % a d s i n t h e Area
Time Taken t o Walk t o Bus S top
P e r c e p t i o n o f Area
Tenure by Senae of S e c u r i t y o f Tenure
S i z e s of P l o t s o f Land Owned
S i z e a of P l o t a of Land Leased
Area u n d e r C u l t i v a t i o n by L o c a t i o n
D i s t r i b u t i o n of Crops Grovn by L o c a t i o n
Cropa Grovn by Loca t ion and R e l a t i v e Acreage
Nature of C u l t i v a t i o n by L o c a t i o n
Labour by Number and Sex of Employee8 i n Each Area
Median Number of Workers Employed by Area
Labour Force h~ Areas o f Recru i tment
Average Week1 y Wages
23. Average Wage Rates of Farm Labourers
2 4 . At t i t udes Towards Marketing Arrangement
2 5 . Type of Transport Ueed f o r Marketing Purposes
2 6 . Transport Costa pe r Week by Location
2 7 . Frequency of Visits to Market by Location
28. Days on which Produce is Taken t o Market
LIST OF FIGURES
Map of t he Study Area
D i s t r i b u t i o n of t he Sex of Market Gardeners
A l t e rna t i ve Source of Light and Means of Cooking
A t t i t u d e s Towards Living i n t he Area
Representa t ion of t h e Re l a t i ve Number and Var ie ty of Vegstablea Grovn i n the G i l l i t a and S tockv i l l e Areas
Representa t ion of t he Rela t ive Number and Var ie ty of Vegetables Grovn i n Dassenhoek and Notala Farm Areas
Male-Female Ratio of Labour
Residency Pa t t e rn s of Farm Employees
Representa t ion of Ex i s t i ng Mnrketing Pa t t e rn
Prefer red A l t e r n a t i v e t o M a ~ b t i n g Arr\angement ."
Anyone g i v e n a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o s t u d y a t ime s e r i e s o f t o p o g r a p h i c a l
maps of Durban W i l l q u i c k l y become aware t h a t the c i t y h a s , s i n c e t h e
1870's o r s o , been sur rounded by a r i n g of market g a r d e n s . A s t h e c i t y
has grown, t h e s e small fa rming a r e a s have been invaded by r e s i d e n t i a l
and o t h e r urban l a n d u s e s , and t h e market gardens have moved ever
outwards. Some, o f c o u r s e , have been caught i n t h e f a b r i c o f t h e c i t y
and remain w i t h i n i ts b o r d e r s today. But t h e s e a r e v e r y few i n number
and e x t r e m e l y smal l i n a r e a . For t h e most p a r t , t h e f a t e o f market
g a r d e n s h a s been t o move ou twards and t o d e c r e a s e i n o v e r a l l s i z e .
Peri-urban a g r i c u l t u r a l a r e a s of t h i s n a t u r e have r e c e i v e d a f a i r
d e g r e e o f a t t e n t i o n from s o c i o l o g i s t s and g e o g r a p h e r s , a l t h o u g h
i n t e r e s t i n them h a s p r i m a r i l y been i n c i d e n t a l t o a more g e n e r a l
i n t e r e s t i n t h e p r o c e s s o f u rban expans ion and i c e impact on
s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a s .
I n t h i s s t u d y , Ms Padayachee has devoted h e r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e remaining
market g a r d e n e r s t o t h e west of Durban and has concerned h e r s e l f wi th
t h e g a r d e n e r s themse lves . In a t v o p a r t s t u d y -- t h e one based on a
q u e s t i o n n a i r e , t h e o t h e r on c a r e f u l p a r t i c i p a t i o n and i n t e r v i e w s -- s h e
has f o c u s s e d on t h e g a r d e n e r s . t h e i r f a m i l i e s , t h e i r problems and
i n t e r e s t s , and i n s o do ing has v r i t t e n a a t u d y of c o n s i d e r a b l e va lue .
Market g a r d e n e r s , a l t h o u g h few i n number, produce a f a i r volume of t h e
food purchased i n Durban m a r k e t s , y e t t h e i r v a y s of l i f e a r e no t v e r y
wel l known. T h i s s t u d y c a s t s some l i g h t on t h e p r e s e n t f a r m e r s and
s u g g e s t s something of t h e l i v e s of those who preceeded them and about
whom e q u a l l y l i t t l e is known.
Ln both a contemporary and an h i s t o r i c a l s e n s e , t h e n , Me Padayachee 's
r e s e a r c h compl?rnents t h e b roader i n v e s t i g a t i o n s of u rban growth which
have been u n d e r t a k e n , and o f f e r s i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t , and a f e e l i n g f o r ,
t h e l i v e s o f an i m p o r t a n t , a l t h o u g h much d imin ished , group of people
whose r o l e i n t h e u rban economy has been changed n o t J u s t by urban
SECTION ONE
INTRODUCTION
There is a growing number o f s t u d i e s c o n c e r n i n g t h e n a t u r e of
communit ies s e t t l e d on t h e f r i n g e s of t h e Durban m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a . To
d a t e , t h e s e ( N o l l e r , 1978; N o l l e r and S t o p f o r t h , 1980; Schlermner and
N o l l e r , 1982) have provided t h e i r r e a d e r s w i t h an i n v a l u a b l e i n s i g h t
and u n d e r s t a n d i n g i n t o t h e s e communit ies i n re rms of t h e i r s o c l a l
compos i t ion and employment p a t t e r n s , amongst o t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . The
s t u d i e s t o g e t h e r r e v e a l t h e i n t r i c a t e mesh of i n t e r r e l a t i o n s which
e x i s t between t h o s e communit ies on t h e u rban f r i n g e and t h o s e of t h e
u r b a n i s e d c e n t r e .
The s t u d i e s have been conducted w i t h i n a c o n t e x t where t h e p r imary
concern h a s been t h e p a t t e r n of u r b a n i s a t i o n and t h e subsequen t e f f e c t s
i t h a s had on i n d i v i d u a l s and s o c i a l g r o u p s . R e s i d e n t i a l m o b i l i t y ,
hous ing e x p e r i e n c e and a s p i r a t i o n s , and t h e needs of t h e communit ies
have been a d e q u a t e l y c o v e r e d , a s well a s socio-economic c o n s i d e r a t i o n f i .
The u s e f u l n e s s o f t h e s e s t u d i e s l i e s , t h e r e f o r e , i n t h e i n s i g h t t h a t
t h e y p r o v i d e , and t h e y w i l l no doubt s e r v e a s s g u i d e t o p l a n n e r s i n
t h e f o r m u l a t i o n o f an approach which accommodates s u c h communities.
The n a t u r e of I n d i a n communi t i es , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e which have s e t t l e d
on t h e f r i n g e s o f t h e C i t y , has been somewhat n e g l e c t e d i n r e c e n t
y e a r s , and one o f t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f t h i s s t u d y i s t o c o n s t r u c t a
p r o f i l e of a number o f s e l e c t e d communit ies w i t h t h e view of widening
o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f d i f f e r e n t communit ies which t o g e t h e r occupy t h e
pe r i -u rban f r i n g e , a l b e i t s e p a r a t e l y , t o s l a r g e e x t e n t .
One would f i n d , by compar i son , t h a t m o b i l i t y p a t t e r n s f o r bo th b l a c k s
and I n d i a n s , though l i n k e d w i t h t h e u rban c e n t r e , a r e q u i t e d i f f e r e n t
hy v i r t u e o f t h e f a c t o r s which govern t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e h i s t o r i e s ;
w h i l s t m o b i l i t y ~nljgl!t be a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e u r b a n i s a t i o n p r o c e s s i n
G e n e r a l , u n c e r t n ~ . ? ~ y and i n s e c u r i t y which was found t o govern t h e l i v e s
o t t h e sample p , , p u l a t i o n b r i n g s t o t h e f o r e t h e o t h e r commonal i t i e s
t h a t e x i s t betwrr.n t h e two p o p u l a t i o n g roups .
The s tudy focuses on the market gardening community. Indian by o r i g i n
and t r a d i t i o n , and d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e from o t h e r commercial farming
a c t i v i t i e s i n Natal by a s p e c i f i c ' t y p e ' of land u se , the market
gardeners have, i t was found, a l s o been subjec ted t o the i n f l uences of
the u rban i s a t i on process . Any d i s c u s s i o n of the h i s t o r y of market
gardening t h e r e f o r e , o r indeed of i t s p r e sen t ope ra t i ons , would
n e c e s s a r i l y be s i t u a t e d w i th in the con t ex t o f u rban i s a t i on and
p o l i t i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , such a s t he Croup Areas Act.
The s tudy found t h a t w h i l s t bo th b l ack and Indian communities a r e
l oca t ed i n peri-urban a r e a s , t h e i r h i s t o r i c a l c i rcumstances , and
reasons fo r mob i l i t y a r e markedly d i f f e r e n t . Closer examination would
revea l t h a t w h i l s t urban expansion appears t o be a s i g n i f i c a n t
i n f l uence i n de termining p r e sen t l o c a t i o n , s e t t l emen t is determined t o
a g r e a t e r e x t e n t by f a c t o r s such a s l o c a l c o n s t r a i n t s t o s e t t l emen t
w i th in t h e C i t y ' s formal housing area6 . l
Aim of t h e Research
The primary aim of the s tudy i s t o c o n s t r u c t a p r o f i l e of the market
gardening community i n t he per i -urban me t ropo l i t an Durban a r ea .
The study s e t s ou t t o i n v e s t i g a t e :
a ) t he s o c i a l composition/characteristics of t he community;
b) 'market gardening ' a s an ' a c t i v i t y ' ;
c ) t he needs of t he community and, more s p e c i f i c a l l y , t he needs of t he
market ga rdene r s ; and
d) t he pe r cep t i ons t h a t they , t he market ga rdene r s , have of t h e i r
s o c i a l s i t u a t i o n .
Information concerning t h e s e broad a s p e c t s of t he community of market
ga rdene r s w i l l form the b a s i s of t h e s t udy upon which w i l l be b u i l t
1. See Schlenmer and Moller (1982) f o r a more comprehensive review of per i -urban communities and p lanning needs.
'Lln~ua~ qluaalauyu
aql jo ~aalenb IseT aqa oa qseq salep Lloasyq asoqn uoyaeIndod
ueqxn-ylad aqa 30 loasas XeInsyaled syqa 30 ssyasylaaseleqs aql
pus suoylelldse aqa 'spaau aql 'aae~s aql oauy paup% aq lq%ym saqSlsuy
~nj%uyueao awos qsyqn woij dpn~s aql uy uolssnssyp pus uoy~elo~dxa
jo JsaFqns aq~ aq 11yn suoylelapysuos laqlo pus asaqL .jIasly
d~yununuos aql lnoqe papnIsuos aq ues leqn qse TIyn dpnls aqa 'LI~eurd
-8uyaqTTan jo asuas xyaql aseaisu! 01 lsyxa qsyqn saylyunaxoddo aq] jo
suoyldaxad xyaqa 40 30 spooqlTany1 luaeaJd Jyaqa jo papnTsuos aq ues
leqn pup !s~auapleS la~lew se suoyaelado 1TaqI 'asyn3aqlo lo d~anyaea3s
laqlya 'paasajje seq syqa noq jo 30 'LIyTyqom lyaqa paasajja aaeq
4574~ sansa~oxd aql jo pres aq ue.: leqn qlyn pauzasuos aq 061s TTyn 21
'sasadsold alrtlnq 3Taql az~asxad daq~ noq pue 'sea~e asaq] ur pa~eso~
aq ol ah!?., slauap~e4 IPylew aql 'nuq pus 'dqn jo Su~pueas3apun am06
SECTION TWO
METHODOLOGY
2.1 The Study Area
The a r e a s s e l e c t e d f o r s tudy l i e in land from Lurban, i n the h i l l y
region west of the metropol i tan a r e a , and along the Western freeway
between Durban and Pie termar i tzburg (Figure 1). The a r e a s , Motala Farm,
Dassenhoek, ~ i l l i t s l and C l i f f d a l e were s e l ec t ed p r imar i l y f o r t h e i r
peri-urban l o c a t i o n and market gardening a c t i v i t i e s . I n i t i a l l y , the
researcher was l ed t o be l ieve t ha t two of the a r e a s , no t a l a Earn and
Dassenhoek, contained a g r e a t number of market gardeners . However,
pre l iminary v i s i t s t o t he a r e a s revealed t h a t they were h a s t i l y
dec l i n ing ae a r eae which af forded t h e i r i nhab i t an t s the oppor tuni ty t o
cont inue market gardening a c t i v i t i e s . The gardeners i n each of these
two a r e a s were, neve r the l ea s , included in t he sample s i n c e t he
researcher was concerned with the t a sk of a sce r t a in ing and
understanding t he pas t and present p l i g h t of market gardeners i n these
a r ea s which have, u n t i l r e c e n t l y , supportcd many more gardeners than
they p re sen t ly do. Furthermore, t h e i r i n s e c u r i t y and unce r t a in ty br ings
t o l i g h t an ongoing process of r e se t t l emen t , s i nce Motala Farm and
Dassenhoek a r e a s have r ecen t ly been declared f o r r e s i d e n t i a l develop=
ment. G i l l i t s and C l i f f d a l e , on t he o the r hand, a r e predominantly
market gardening communities. Pre l iminary v i s i t s t o the a r e a s , a s well
a s i n i t i a l d i s cus s ions with the i n h a b i t a n t s , revealed t h a t a s
communities, both areas had a t t a i n e d some degree of s e c u r i t y , a l though
G i l l i t s had only r ecen t ly (1982) been declared an ' a g r i c u l t u r a l ' a r ea .
I t would t he re fo re prove t o be a usefu l exe rc i s e t o compare and
c o n t r a s t the G i l l i t s a r e a wi th C l i f f d a l e , an e a r l y a g r i c u l t u r a l
se t t lement which d a t e s back t o the 1930's and which has, s i n c e t he
e a r l y 60'8, received a s s i s t a n c e from the Department o f Agr icul ture .
I. Also r e f e r r ed t o a s S tockv i l l e .
ea2v Lpnas aq~ jo den : I ainsrd
2.2 The Sample
It was dec ided t h a t , i n o r d e r t o ga in informat ion concern ing both t he
economics of market gardening and t he s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t he
market gardening community, t h e market gardener h imsel t would be the
s u b j e c t of a f a i r l y d e t a i l e d and comprehensive survey. The s t udy
covered 100% of t he market gardeners i n each of t h e f o u r a r e a s and i n
t o t a l , 62 ga rdene r s were covered i n t he survey. ( A l l but two of the
market ga rdene r s were r e s i d e n t i n the a r e a s t hey were ga rden ing ) . Table
L p r e s e n t s a breakdown o f t h e respondents i n terms of l o c a t i o n .
Location n %
G i l l i t s ( S t o c k v i l l e ) 35 56
C l i f f d a l e 19 31
Dassenhoek 5 8
Motala Farm 3 5
Tota l 62 100
2.3 I n t e rv i ew Schedule and P a r t i c i p a n t Observation
Since such wide ranging t o p i c s were t o be covered i n the s t udy , t h e
methods most s u i t e d t o ga the r i ng t h e s e t ypes of d e t a i l e d informat ion
were:
a ) an i n t e rv i ew schedule - t o c o l l e c t . b a s e d a t a ; and
b) t he p a r t i c i p a n t obse rva t i on method - t o f a c i l i t a t e an assessment of
t he needs and pe r cep t i ons t he market ga rdene r s had of t h e i r s o c i a l
r e a l i t y .
I . Percentages quoted throughout t he Fact Paper a r e rounded f i g u r e s and do not a lways , t h e r e f o r e , add up t o e x a c t l y 100%.
The i n t e r v i e w s c h e d u l e ( S e e Appendix R, page 71 ) was d e s i g n e d s u c h t h a t
e a c h o f t h e s e c t i o n s , o f wh ich t h e r e were f i v e , c o n s i s t e d o f r e l e v a n t
q u e s t i o n s a n d , a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e , a number o f f i x e d , p r r - coded
r e s p o n s e s , s o a s t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e r e c o r d i n g o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s '
answers . Uhere q u e s t i o n s were s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s i g n e d t o i l l i c i t
r e s p o n s e s c o n c e r n i n g t h e a t t i t u d e s and p e r c e p t i o n s of t h e r e s p o n d e n t s ,
a d e q u a t e s p a c e s were a l l o w e d f o r t h e r e c o r d i n g o f s u c h r e s p o n s e s t o
open-ended q u e s t i o n s . Aga in , where q u e s t i o n s were i n c l u d e d t o e n c o u r a g e
t h e r e s p o n d e n t t o c o m e n t o n c e r t a l n a s p e c t s o f p r o d u c t i o n o r
m a r k e t i n g , a d e q u a t e s p a c e was a l l o w e d f o r s u c h comments.
2.4 F i e l d w o r k
The i n t e r v i e w s c h e d u l e was s u b j e c t e d t o a p i l o t - t e s t and r e f i n e d b e f o r e
b e i n g used f o r t h e f u l l s u r v e y which began i n F e b r u a r y 1983. I n i t i a l
v i s i t s t o e a c h of t h e f o u r a r e a s e n s u r e d t h a t t h e r e s e a r c h e r , who
u n d e r t o o k t h e f i e l d w o r k i n t h e e a r l y s t a g e s , was w e l l r e c e i v e d by t h e
n a r k e t g a r d e n e r s . However, s i n c e e a c h o f t h e i n t e r v i e w s l a s t e d an
, ~ v e r a g e o f 45 m i n u t e s , i t was d e c i d e d t h a t t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f two
f i e l d w o r k e r s would be r e q u i r e d s o a s t o e n s u r e t h a t a g r e a t e r number o f
s c h e d u l e s were comple ted e a c h day .
Befo re g o i n g i n t o t h e f i e l d , t h e f i e l d w o r k e r s were f u l l y t r a i n e d i n
~ d m i n i s t e r i n g t h e s c h e d u l e , w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e c a r e b e i n g t a k e n t o p o i n t
, u t t h e s e n s i t i v i t y o f c e r t a i n q u e s t i o n s a s w e l l a s l i k e l y a r e a s o f
f i e l d w o r k e r b i a s . I n a d d i t i o n , d i s c u s s i o n s were h e l d a t t h e end o f e a c h
l a y ' s work s o t h a t t h e r e s e a r c h e r m i g h t a s c e r t a i n p rob lem a r e a s and
l e a l w i t h t h e s e a c c o r d i n g l y a s t h e y a r o s e . N e i t h e r t h e f i e l d w o r k e r s n o r
t h e r e s e a r c h e r e n c o u n t e r e d a n y r e f u s a l s , and where r e s p o n d e n t s were n o t
a v a i l a b l e , a c a l l - b a c k time was a r r a n g e d . I n most c a s e s f i e l d w o r k was
c a r r i e d o u t l i t e r a l l y i n t h e f i e l d , s i n c e one o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
f e a t u r e s o f I n d i a n m a r k e t g a r d e n i n g is t h a t t h e y , t h e m a r k e t g a r d e n e r s ,
a r e a c t i v e l y i n , i o l v e d i n t h e i r g a r d e n i n g a c t i v i t i e s and more o f t e n t h a n
n o t , t h e p l o t s l f l - I d s a r e w i t h i n w a l k i n g d i s t a n c e f rom t h e i r homes.
2.5 Data Process ing and S t a t i s L i c a l Analys is
F ie ldvork was completed by t he end of April 1983, with a d d i t i o n a l
v i s i t s being made, e s p e c i a l l y t o t he G i l l i t s and C l i f f d a l e a r e a s , f o r
c a l l backs. Once t he schedules had been checked by the r e s e a r c h e r , a
coding l i s t was drawn u p , and the hase d a t a were then coded and
sub j ec t ed t o computer a n a l y s i s us ing the S t a t i s t i c a l Package f o r t he
Socia l Sciences. I n i t i a l l y ba s i c frequency t a b l e s f o r each of the
v a r i a b l e s ve re a s se s sed and t h e r e a f t e r more d e t a i l e d c r o s s t a b u l a t i o n s
were processed and evalua ted .
2.6 Concluding Remarks
The r e sea rche r e s t a b l i s h e d good r e l a t i o n s wi th the Agr i cu l tu r a l
Extens ions Divis ion of the then Department of Indian A f f a i r s which
served the Natal r e g i o n , l and in t roduced t he ex t ens ions t e chn ic i an t o
a number of market gardeners i n t he G i l l i t s a r e a , which i n 1982 had
Deen dec l a r ed an a g r i c u l t u r a l a r e a a f t e r many years of unce r t a in ty a s
t o t he f u t u r e s t a t u s of t he area .
Although susp i c ious and unders tandably r e l u c t a n t a t f i r s t , a number of
t he G i l l i t s gardeners have sought t he advice of t he t e chn ic i an on
i s s u e s and problems r e l a t i n g t o pe s t con t ro l . The r e sea rche r i s pleased
t o announce t h a t t he G i l l i t s a r e a has now been des ignated a p r o j e c t
a r ea by t he Extensions Divis ion and conse rva t i on work has a l r eady been
e s t a b l i s h e d on a number of farms. The r e sea rche r accompanied t he
ex t ens ions t e chn ic i an on a number of subsequent v i s i t s t o the C l i f f d a l e
a r e a , and a t a 'Farmers Day' both t he G i l l i t s and C l i f f d a l e gardeners
were i n v i t e d t o a demonst ra t ion of new farming implements on the
market. The 'Farmers Day' was we l l a t tended.
I . The region i s now served by t he Department of Local Government, Housing and g r i c u l t o r e , Adminis t ra t ion , House of Delegates.
SECTION THKEE
THE SOCIAL FRAMEWORK
Thie s e c t i o n p rov ide s t h e r eade r w i t h informat ion concern ing t he s o c i a l
background and f ami ly h i s t o r y of t h e market gardeners . This i s fol lowed
by a d i s c u s s i o n of c e r t a i n f e a t u r e s of t h e sample, such a s s e x , age and
educa t i ona l l e v e l s , and how the se r e l a t e t o t h e reasons g iven f o r
choosing market gardening a s a means of l i ve l i hood . The s e c t i o n is
concluded w i t h informat ion on t h e r e s idency p a t t e r n s and mob i l i t y of
t he market ga rdene r s and t h e r o l e which urban expansion played i n t h e i r
p r e sen t l o c a t i o n .
3.1 Soc i a l Background and Family H i s to ry
It has g e n e r a l l y been accep t ed , though never e s t a b l i s h e d , t h a t t h e
market gardening community i n Durban ha s continued a t r a d i t i o n of
supply ing t h e C i t y ' s popula t ion wi th f r e s h produce Chat o r i g i n a t e d w i th
t h e i r f a t h e r s and g r and fa the r s . It comes a s no s u r p r i s e t h e r e f o r e t h a t
over 80% of t h e sample i n t h i s s t u d y repor ted t h a t t h e i r f a t h e r s had
been market ga rdene r s themselves (Table 2) o r t h a t , f o r two out of
eve ry t h r e e respondents (67X)m, t h e i r f ami ly had been involved i n t he
Live l ihood f o r over 50 y e a r s (Table 3).
Table 2: Occupations of Fa the r s o f Market Gardeners (N - 62)
Occupation n %
Market gardener 51 8 2
Farm worker 2 3
Businessman 3 5
Shop a s s i s t a n t 1 worker ( u n s p e c i f i e d ) 6 10
To t a l 62 100
T a b l e 3: Number of Years t h e F a m i l l c s Have Bern Invo lved i n Market
Garden ing ( N = 62)
Number o f Years n %
l e s s t h a n 30 0 0
31 - 40 5 8
41 - 50 15 24
51 - 60 1 1 18
61 - 70 10 1 b
7 W 17 27
Cannot s a y - but a l o n g t ime 4 6
T o t a l 62 100
With i n c r e a s i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r s t e a d y employment i n o t h e r s p h e r e s o f
a c t i v i t y , however , f ewer s o n s of t h e p r e s e n t market g a r d e n e r s a r e
t a k i n g up g a r d e n i n g and c o n t i n u i n g t h e f a m i l y t r a d i t i o n . For example,
o n l y 13 c h i l d r e n o f t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s i n t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y , a l l of
them m a l e , have t a k e n up marke t g a r d e n i n g t h e m s e l v e s and a r e p r e s e n t l y
a s s i s t i n g t h e i r f a t h e r s on t h e f a m i l y fa rms . I n r e s p o n s e t o a q u e s t i o n
c o n c e r n i n g whe ther o r n o t t h e y t h o u g h t t h a t t h e l r c h i l d r e n might t a k e
up g a r d e n i n g t f a r m i n g themse lves i n t h e f u t u r e , 27% o f t h e sample s t a t e d
t h a t t h i s was u n l i k e l y s i n c e t h e i r c h i l d r e n had a l r e a d y t a k e n up 'more
s e c u r e ' employment i n i n d u s t r y o r were t o o young, 32% r e p l i e d i n t h e
n e g a t i v e and 31f o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s were u n s u r e a s t o whether o r n o t
t h e i r c h i l d r e n would c o n t i n u e i n t h e f a m i l y t r a d i t i o n . Only 10%. t h a t
Is s i x g a r d e n e r s , responded p o s i t i v e l y and thought t h a t t h e i r c h i l d r e n
migh t t a k e up marke t g a r d e n i n g and s o c o n t i n u e t h e fa rming t r a d i t i o n .
Ln v iew o f t h e t r e n d towards u rban employment, h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n a l
qualifications and t h e g r e a t e r s e c u r i t y normal ly a t t r i b u t e d t o wage
employment, a s w e l l a s t h e c o n s t a n t d i s p l a c e m e n t e x p e r i e n c e d by t h e
marke t g a r d e n e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e i r h i s t o r y and t h e I n s e c u r i t y a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h t h i s I l v e l i h o o d . i t can be conc luded t h a t f ewer c h i l d r e n o f t h e
pre sen t market gardeners w i l l choose t o take up t h i s a c t i v i t y . In
f u t u r e , market gardening w i l l tend towards monopolisation hy the fewer
and more s u c c e s s f u l gardeners whose e n t e r p r i s e g i v e s them a s u f f i c i e n t
and p r o f i t a b l e r e tu rn . Smaller (and o f t e n poorer ) gardeners w i l l f i n d
themselves i n a p o s i t i o n whereby they a r e n e i t h e r a b l e t o s ecu re
a d d i t i o n a l c a p i t a l f o r inves tment , nor a b l e t o f i nance the purchase
of s u i t a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e farming land i n t he event of t h e i r being
d i sp l aced .
3.2 Some Fea tu re s o f t he Narket Gardeners
Of t h e 62 market gardeners who were in terv iewed, t he g r e a t e r ma jo r i t y
(82%) were male, a s expected; t he r e s t , t h a t is 182 (N = 11) were
female market ga rdene r s , p r imar i l y widowed women whose f a t h e r s o r
husbands had been market gardeners and who now worked the land t o
supplement t h e i r pens ions /grants (F igure 2).
Figure 2: D i s t r i b u t i o n of t he Sex of Market Gardeners ( N - 62)
For a l l t he market ga rdene r s , however, t h e i r a g r i c u l t u r a l p u r s u i t s were
conducted on a fu l l - t ime b a s i s , a l though market gardening d i d not
c o n s t i t u t e t he s o l e income gene ra t i ng a c t i v i t y w i th in t he household.
Male
Female
Table 4 r e f e r s t o t he d i s t r i b u t i o n of age of t he market gardeners .
Whilst the t a b l e r e f l e c t s t h a t 64% of t he sample were over t he age of
5 0 , l e ad ing one t o conclude t h a t t he market gardeners were, g e n e r a l l y ,
of an o l d e r age group, a breakdown of t he se f i g u r e s by a r e a revealed
t h a t wh i l s t 762 of t he S tockv i l l e ga rdene r s were 50 yea r s p l u s , the
corresponding f i g u r e f o r the C l i f f d a l e a r e a was 402, wi th I1 of the 19
c u l t i v a t o r s i n t l i i s a r e a being l e s s than 50 yea r s - thus c o n s t i t u t i n g a
f a i r l y young community of gardeners . What i s s i g n i f i c a n t perhaps about
82%
18%
these age c a t e g o r i e s i s t h a t wh i i s t a l a r g e number (26 out of 34') of
t he S t o c k v i l l e market gardeners were over 50 yea r s of age and one might
have expected more of t h e i r a d u l t c h i l d r e n t o have taken up farming
themselves, ve ry few of the a d u l t c h i l d r e n of the S t o c k v i l l e gardeners
( i n f a c t , o n l y seven) had a c t u a l l y chosen t o work fu l l - t ime on the
land. By c o n t r a s t , s i x ch i l d r en of the C l i f f d a l e gardeners had involved
themselves on t h e fami ly farm on a fu l l - t ime bas is .2
Table 4: Age of Market Gardeners (N - 61)
Under 30 y r s 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ Tota l
n 3 14 5 22 17 6 1
Z 5 23 8 36 28 100
With r e f e r ence to the household d a t a f o r t he S t o c k v i l l e and C l i f f -
d a l e communities, i t was a sce r t a ined t h a t whereas 26% of the t o t a l
popula t ion of the S tockv i l l e farming community were employed i n non-
a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s - t h a t i s , secondary and t e r t i a r y wage
employment - t he corresponding f i g u r e f o r t he C l i f f d a l e community was
lower (12%) , leading one t o conclude t h a t w h i l s t t he number of c h i l d r e n
ok t he market gardeners who have taken up a g r i c u l t u r e a s a fu l l - t ime
occupation might be low, c h i l d r e n o f t he sma l l e r , l e s s p rog re s s ive
market gardeners ( a s i n S t o c k v i l l e ) were more i n c l i n e d t o t a k e up wage
employment i n i n d u s t r y than c h i l d r e n of the l a r g e r and more p rog re s s ive
c u l t i v a t o r s , a s a t C l i f f d a l e .
It i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o no t e t ha t 76% of the sample had never been
involved in any o the r form of l i v e l i h o o d , o t h e r than market gardening.
The r e s t of t he aample (24%) had g iven up t h e i r previous j obs a s
s k i l l e d and semi-ski l led workera i n manufacturing i n d u s t r y i n o rde r t o
pursue t h e i r present gardening activities. I t would appear t h a t fami ly
1. 1 missing. 2. With r e f e r ence t o t he e i g h t market gardeners i n t he Dassenhoek and
Motala r-trm a r e a s , t he d a t a r evea l an even d i s t r i b u t i o n of age c a t e g o r i e s , ranging between 30 and 70 years .
t r a d i t i o n was a n i m p o r t a n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n t h e market g a r d e n e r s '
c h o i c e t o t a k e up market g a r d e n i n g a s a means o f l i v e l i h o o d s i n c e , i n
a s s e s s i n g t h e i r r e a s o n s g i v e n f o r c h o o s i n g t o be se l f -employed market
g a r d e n e r s . 65% of t h e sample r e p l i e d ' f a m i l y t r a d i t i o n ' . I n t h e c o u r s e
o f d i s c u s s i o n s h e l d w i t h t h e r e s p o n d e n t s , i t was a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t t h e s e
g a r d e n e r s had a t one t ime a s s i s t e d t h e i r f a t h e r s on t h e f a m i l y p l o t s
and o n c e t h e f a t h e r s had reached o l d a g e , o r had become ill, t h e s o n s
( t h e p r e s e n t marke t g a r d e n e r s ) c o n t i n u e d t h e g a r d e n i n g t r a d i t i o n .
T h i r t e e n p e r c e n t o f t h e sample (N = 8) s t a t e d t h a t t h e y had chosen t h i s
means of l i v e l i h o o d because t h e y d i d n o t have a 'good e d u c a t i o n ' and
were n o t q u a l i f i e d f o r a n y t h i n g e l s e - t h e y had choaen t o work a t what
t h e y knew b e s t , t h a t is garden ing . 'Freedom t o be o n e ' s own b o s s ' and
' independence ' was t h e r e a s o n g i v e n by 10% of t h e sample f o r c h o o s i n g
t o be a marke t g a r d e n e r , w h i l s t a s m a l l number c o n s t i t u t i n g some 6% of
t h e sample s u p p l i e d a v a r i e t y o f r e a s o n s r a n g i n g from 'ill h e a l t h ' t o
' d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h p r e v i o u s employer ' . The 6% of t h e sample who
s t a t e d t h a t t h e y had t a k e n up g a r d e n i n g t o supplement t h e i r income were
composed o f t h o s e i n r e c e i p t of a p e n s i o n o r a g r a n t , b e i n g m o s t l y
women who had t a k e n up market g a r d e n i n g a f t e r b e i n g widowed.
We have a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t a l m o s t t w o - t h i r d s of t h e marke t
g a r d e n e r s , t h a t is 65% of t h e sample , had chosen t h i s a c t i v i t y a s t h e i r
means of l i v e l i h o o d because of ' f a m i l y t r a d i t i o n ' . However, a d d i t i o n a l
i n f o r m a t i o n v iz -a -v iz t h e l e v e l o f e d u c a t i o n a l a t t a i n m e n t a s w e l l a s
r e a s o n s g i v e n f o r l e a v i n g s c h o o l , i f having a t t e n d e d s c h o o l a t a l l .
b e f o r e c o m p l e t i n g t h e i r f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n , g o some way towards b u i l d i n g
up a more comprehens ive p i c t u r e a s t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , b o t h s o c i a l
and economic, under which s u c h c h o i c e s were made. For example, 26 o f
t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s (432) had no fo rmal e d u c a t i o n o r minimal formal
e d u c a t i o n up t o s t a n d a r d 3. Reasons f o r non-a t t endance , o r f o r l e a v i n g
a f t e r f i v e y e a r s a t s c h o o l , were found t o be a s s o c i a t e d p r i m a r i l y w i t h
f i n a n c i a l p r o b l e m s , t h e l a c k o f o r t h e non e x i s t e n c e of s c h o o l s i n t h e
a r e a , o r a s i n t h e c a s e of t h e female market g a r d e n e r s , t h e t r a d i t i o n
o f n o t s e n d i n g d a u g h t e r s t o s c h o o l .
The a g e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e m a r k e t g a r d e n e r s d i s c u s s e d e a r l i e r would
s u g g e s t f i r s t l y t h a t o v e r h a l f o f t h e sample were of s c h o o l - g o i n g a g e
a t a t i m e when t h e number o f r u r a l p r i m a r y s c h o o l s was minimal and
t h i s m i g h t a c c o u n t f o r non-a t t endance . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e f i n a n c i a l
c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s n o t e w o r t h y s i n c e a number o f m a r k e t g a r d e n e r s who l e f t
s c h o o l d i d s o i n o r d e r t o h e l p t h e i r p a r e n t s work t h e f a m i l y p l o t , and
80 c o n t r i b u t e t o s u p p o r t i n g t h e f a m i l y .
F i f t y - s e v e n p e r c e n t o f t h e sample had p roceeded beyond s t a n d a r d f o u r ,
w h i l s t o n l y 5X (N = 3) have been r e c o r d e d a s h a v i n g a n e d u c a t i o n beyond
s t a n d a r d e i g h t . I t is p e r h a p s a p p r o p r i a t e t o n o t e f u r t h e r m o r e t h a t none
o f t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s i n t h e s t u d y had r e c e i v e d a n y t r a i n i n g on a n y
a s p e c t o f a g r i c u l t u r e , t h i s b e i n g r e f l e c t i v e o f a p r i m a r y and s e c o n d a r y
s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n which was m o s t l y academic i n n a t u r e . Knowledge o f
f a r m i n g t e c h n i q u e s have t h e r e f o r e been a c q u i r e d f rom p a r e n t s , which
p e r h a p s e x p l a i n s t h e t r a d i t i o n a l a p p r o a c h t o a g r i c u l t u r e which m a r k e t
g a r d e n e r s a r e g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d t o p o s s e s s . With t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f
t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e s , however , a g r a d u a l bu t s l o w
p r o c e s s o f d i f f u s i o n o f knowledge c o n c e r n i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l t e c h n i q u e s
and s o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n i s o c c u r r i n g .
3.3 M o b i l i t y P a t t e r n s
I n v e s t i g a t i o n s p e r t a i n i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y t o t h e m o b i l i t y p a t t e r n o f
p e o p l e s e t t l e d i n t h e p e r i - u r b a n a r e a s o f m e t r o p o l i t a n Durban h a v e
r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e s e a r e a s a r e a s s i g n e d m u l t i p l e r o l e s i n t h e l o c a l
u r b a n i s a t i o n p r o c e s s . When a d i s t i n c t i o n was made between t h e t y p e s o f
p o p u l a t i o n s t r e a m s o c c u p y i n g t h e f r i n g e s o f t h e C i t y a c c o r d i n g t o
r e a s o n f o r s e t t l i n g on t h e f r i n g e and l i f e c y c l e , i t was e s t a b l i s h e d
t h a t f o u r d i f f e r e n t c a t e g o r i e s o f b l a c k p e o p l e were s e t t l e d i n t h e s e
p e r i - u r b a n a r e a s ( M o l l e r , 1978) . It would a p p e a r t h a t u r b a n e x p a n s i o n
was e q u a l l y i n f l u e n t i a l t o r u r a l - u r b a n i n f l u x i n p o p u l a t i n g t h e u rban
f r i n g e . Ti i is s u b - s e c t i o n t h u s s e e k s t o show by p r e s e n t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n
c i m c e r n i n g t h e r r s i d e : l c y p a t t e r n s and m o b i l i t y o f t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s ,
t h a t u r b a n e z p a n s t o n was a m a j o r c o n t r i b u t o r y f a c t o r i n t h e p r e s e n t
l o c a t i o n of Indian market ga rdene r s , a s wel l a s i n t h e i r d i sp lacement
from t h e i r p r ev ious a r e a of r e s i dence .
Table 5: Date of Ar r i va l i n Area (N = 62)
Year n %
Before 1930 6 10
1931 - 1940 22 35
1941 - 1950 18 29
1951 - 1960 3 5
1961 - 1970 10 16
1971 - 1980 1 2
1981 - 1982 2 3
To t a l 62 100
The per iod of g r e a t e s t i n f l u x i n t o S t o c k v i l l e , C l i f f d a l e and Motala
Farm was between 1931 and 1950, w h i l s t t h a t of Dassenhoek was between
1961 and 1970. For 42 of t he market gardeners ( t h a t i s 68% of t he
s a ~ n p l e ) , t h e reason f o r moving away from t h e i r previous a r e a s of
r e s i dence l f a rming vas a s soc i a t ed w i th t h e i n c r e a s i n g demands placed on
land f o r urban expans ion , and t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t by t he ope ra t i on of
t h e Group Areas Act pe r se. With r e f e r ence t o t h e S t o c k v i l l e market
ga rdene r s , j u s t over h a l f of t he sample (51%) had moved i n t o t he a r e a
between 1931 and 1950 from t h e Pinetown env i rons1 where they had been
gardening previous ly . The reason f o r l o c a t i n g i n S t o c k v i l l e was g iven
a s 'wanting t o fa rm' , 'one of few a v a i l a b l e Indian farming a r e a s ' and
'Group Areas ' . Twenty-six percent had moved i n t o S t o c k v i l l e from a r e a s
v i t h i n me t ropo l i t an Durban ( J acobs , Bayhead, B e l l a i r , ~ i t t e k l i ~ , ~
Newlands. Roosfonte in , C l a r e E s t a t e ) when t h e i r a r e a s were taken over
f o r development i n t o e i t h e r an i n d u s t r i a l e s t a t e (ClairwoodIBayhead
a r e a ) o r r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s . A sma l l e r number (14%) of the S t o c k v i l l e
I . Kloof, C i l l i t s , Nev Germany, H i l l c r e s t , Pinetown. 2. Now known a s Chatsworth.
gardeners had come i n t o the a r e a from the no r th (Tongaat and Verulam)
and south (Umzinto, Park Rynie) of h r b a n and from the Midlands. It
should be pointed out t h a t t h r e e market gardeners i n the S tockv i l l e
a r e a had s t a t e d t h a t the reason f o r moving from t h e i r previous l o c a t i o n
( H i l l c r e s t ) vas a s soc i a t ed wi th the 1949 r i o t s vhich had a f f e c t e d
them.
A g r e a t e r number of C l i f f d a l e market gardeners (68%) ve re a f f e c t e d
by the r e s i d e n t i a l and i n d u s t r i a l requirements f o r l and , and theae
gardeners had a l s o been requi red t o move from the above mentioned a r e a s
once they ve re s u b j e c t t o app rop r i a t i on . With land being made a v a i l a b l e
i n C l i f f d a l e , a s f a r back a s 1934, a number of t he se gardeners
r e loca t ed i n t h i s a r ea p r i o r t o the 50 ' s . The r e s t of the C l i f f d a l e
gardenera (32%) came from Northern Natal (Greytown, Glencoe) and
Pie termar i tzburg .
The t h r ee ga rdene r s i n Motala Farm had moved i n t o the a r e a p r i o r t o the
1940's . v h i l s t the f i v e market ga rdene r s i n Dassenhoek had moved i n t o
the a r e a i n the 1960's. The reason f o r moving from t h e i r previous
res idence was g iven a s ' app rop r i a t i on ' . I t vas a sce r t a ined t h a t the
land t h a t they and t h e i r family had been c u l t i v a t i n g i n Wi t t ek l i p had
been app rop r i a t ed f o r the development of the Indian housing a r e a of
Chatsvorth.
For these e i g h t market ga rdene r s , the process of displacement is
ongoing, s i n c e both a r e a s , Motala Farm and Dassenhoek, have been
dec l a r ed a s Indian r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s , and development of p r i v a t e
r e s i d e n t i a l u n i t s has a l r eady s t a r t e d i n Dassenhoek. Only t h r ee of
the e i g h t market gardeners could s ay v i t h any c e r t a i n t y t h a t they
vould cont inue v i t h gardening, t h a t i s , i f they could f i n d s u i t a b l e
a l t e r n a t i v e farming land. The r e s t of the a f f e c t e d gardeners s t a t e d
t h a t , v h i l s t they vould cont inue gardening i n t h e i r present l o c a t i o n ,
they d i d not t h ink i t was Likely t h a t they would cont inue v i t h t h i s
l i ve l i hond once they ve re requi red t o move.
SECTION FOUR
THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
I n t h i s s e c t i o n a t t e n t i o n i s g iven t o t h e phys i ca l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e
( f a c i l i t i e s and s e r v i c e s ) i n t h e s t udy a r e a s and t o t he a t t i t u d e s of
t h e market ga rdene r s towards t he se . F i r s t , e x i s t i n g e l e c t r i c i t y ,
domest ic water supply and s a n i t a r y f a c i l i t i e s a r e reviewed. This is
followed by a d i s c u s s i o n of t h e a t t i t u d e s of t he respondents t o the
roads i n t h e t h e a r e a s and t he bus s e r v i c e s . The a t t i t u d e s of t h e
market ga rdene r s t o l i v i n g i n t he a r e a and t h e i r perceived degree of
i n t e g r a t i o n w i th in t h e community a r e cons idered next . F i n a l l y , t h e
perce ived needs of t h e community a r e presented .
4.1 F a c i l i t i e s and Se rv i ce s
E l e c t r i c i t y
E l e c t r i c i t y is a v a i l a b l e i n each of t h e fou r a r e a s , though on ly j u s t
over h a l f (58%) of t hose in te rv iewed s t a t e d t h a t t hey had e l e c t r i c i t y
i n t h e i r homes. The r e s t (42%) had not brought e l e c t r i c i t y i n t o t h e i r
dwe l l i ngs , t h e most f r equen t reason g iven being t he high i n i t i a l c o s t
of i n s t a l l i n g e l e c t r i c i t y . F igure 3 r e f e r s t o t h e a l t e r n a t i v e sou rce s
of l i g h t i n g and means of cooking used by t he se 25 households.
Figure 2: A l t e r n a t i v e Source of Light and Means of Cooking
Cooking n n - L i g h t i n g - Coal s t ove
Primus
Coal 6 primus
Coal 6 gas
Gas 6 p a r a f i n
I . The i n fo rma t ion prefiented i n t h i s s e c t i o n was ga thered from a sample of 6 0 i n t e rv i ewees , s i n c e two market gardeners were non- r e s i d e n t s o f t h e a r e a s t hey were farming.
Candles
Candles 6 o i l l g a s
Gas P a r a f i n
Candles 6 p a r a f i n
4
4 2
2
13
9 2
1
9 4
Asked whether o r n o t t h e y were s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h i s a r rangement , 52% of
t h e r e s p o n d e n t s s t a t e d t h a t t h e y were , w h i l s t t h e r e s t ( 4 8 2 , o r 12
r e s p o n d e n t s ) found t h i s t o be unsatisfactory.
Domestic Water Supply
T h i r t y - f o u r ( i . e . j u s t o v e r h a l f , 5 7 % ) , o f t h e households had a c c e s s
t o piped wate r . Whi l s t I 8 households (30%) had p iped wate r i n t h e
d w e l l i n g , 14 households ( 2 3 % ) had a c c e s s t o a s i n g l e c o l d w a t e r t a p
o u t s i d e t h e d w e l l i n g , and two respondent8 (3%) e t a t e d t h a t t h e y were
dependent on t h e c l i n i c l s c h o o l i n t h e a r e a f o r t h e i r wate r supply .
The r e a r o f t h e households (43;A) d i d no t have a c c e s s t o p iped r e g i o n a l
w a t e r and t h e r e f o r e r e l i e d on a v a r i e t y of s o u r c e s f o r t h e i r domeat ic
w a t e r s u p p l y ( T a b l e 6 ) .
Table 6: Domestic Water Supply (N = 60)
Source n Z
Piped w a t e r 34 57
Catchment t a n k 8 1 3
We1 1 I 2
Spr ing lpond I I 18
River 6 10
T o t a l 60 100
The f o l l o w i n g t a b l e p r e s e n t s a breakdown of t h e t i m e t a k e n by t h e 42
household8 (70% of sample) who d i d n o t have p iped r e g i o n a l water i n
t h e i r homes, t o c o l l e c t t h e i r domes t ic wate r supply . Inc luded i n t h i s
f i g u r e a r e t h o s e households who had r e g i o n a l w a t e r , by way of a t a p ,
o u t s i d e t h e d w e l l i n g .
Table 7: Time Taken t o Co l l e c t Water not in Duerl ing ( K = 4 2 )
Time Taken n Z
About a minute 23 55
2 - 5 minutes 12 29
6 - LO minutes 1 2
I 1 - I 5 minutes 3 7
16 - 20 minutes 2 5
25+ minutes I 2
To t a l 42 100
Although on ly 18 households had piped water i n t h e i r dwe l l i ngs , 39
respondents (65%) repor ted t h a t they were s a t i s f i e d wi th t h e i r domestic
water supply. The r e s t of t h e sample, 21 market gardeners (35%) , were
d i s s a t i s f i e d wi th t he s i t u a t i o n f o r t h e fo l lowing reaaons: 16
repondents (27%) complained of inconvenience, t h r e e (5%) aa id t h a t t he
water was unhygienic and two respondents i n S tockv i l l e (3%) s t a t e d t h a t
t he s p r i n g which normally met a l l of t h e i r domestic aa wel l a s
a g r i c u l t u r a l water supply had been reduced t o a t r i c k l e . They had
t h e r e f o r e been dependent on o t h e r r e s i d e n t s i n t he a rea .
San i t a ry F a c i l i t i e s
Information presented i n Table 8 below shows t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of
s a n i t a r y f a c i l i t i e s . S ix ty- f ive percent of t he respondents repor ted
t h a t they found e x i s t i n g f a c i l i t i e s s a t i s f a c t o r y , w h i l s t the r e s t (35%)
found t h e f a c i l i t i e s unsa t i%Eactory , p r e f e r r i n g , they s a i d , a water
borne srwerd::e system.
20
Table 8: D i s t r i b u t i o n of San i t a ry F a c i l i t i e s ( N = 60)
S e p t i c l f l u s h
Tota l 60 LOO
4.2 At t i t ude t o Roads i n the Area
In response t o a ques t ion concerning t h e i r a t t i t u d e t o the roads i n t he
a r e a , seven ou t of every t en market gardeners ( 7 0 % ) were in no doubt
t h a t the roads were unsa t i s f ac to ry . The condi t ion and s t a t e of r e p a i r
of the roads i n t he S tockv i l l e and C l i f f d a l e a r e a s , but e s p e c i a l l y i n
t he former a r e a , was t he t o p i c of much d i s cusa ion , and 62% of t he
respondents l im i t ed t h e i r responses t o the f a c t t h a t the untar red roads
caused immense problems f o r t he road-uaer dur ing and a f t e r r a i n f a l l
when they were hazardous. In the S t o c k v i l l e a r e a i n p a r t i c u l a r , where
t he t e r r a i n i s h i l l y , t he roads a r e transformed i n t o s l i p p e r y and
hazardous pa th s which makes t he movement of people and goods e s p e c i a l l y
d i f f i c u l t .
I n an a t tempt t o improve t he s t a t e of r e p a i r of the roads, e s p e c i a l l y
on s t e e p i n c l i n e s , the r e s i d e n t s of S tockv i l l e have taken the
i n i t i a t i v e of l ay ing down cement t r acks thus al lowing acces s and e x i t
dur ing wet weather.
Five vaspondents (8%) repor ted t h a t a cces s t o t h e i r farmsteads was
l im i t ed t o pathways. This had caused immense problems of access , not
only f o r t he t r anspo r t i ng of produce from the farm p l o t t o the veh i c l e ,
hut :1190 P,>r the members of t he household.
Table 9: A t t i t u d e s t o Koads i n t h e Area ( N = 60)
Roads i n t h e C l i f f d a l e a r e a by c o n t r a s t , though u n t a r r e d , were g raded
from t ime t o t i m e and were t h e r e f o r e i n a s l i g h t l y b e t t e r c o n d i t i o n
than chose i n e i t h e r S t o c k v i l l e o r Dassenhoek. S ince Motels Farm had
been d e c l a r e d f o r r e s i d e n t i a l p u r p o s e s , a l l t h e r o a d s i n t h e a r e a were
t a r r e d and i n a good s t a t e of r e p a i r .
A t t i t u d e n 4
S a t i s f a c t o r y I8 30
4.3 A t t i t u d e t o Bus S e r v i c e s
U n s a t i s f a c t o r y - r o a d s u n t a r r e d 30
no road t o farm 5
r o a d s t o o n a r r o w / u n t a r r e d / but be ing done up 7
By o b s e r v a t i o n i t was a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t b o t h t h e H o t a l a Farm and
Dassenhoek a r e a s were w e l l se rved wi th b u s e s t o P i n e t o m . Although a
bus s e r v i c e d i d o p e r a t e between P i e t e r m a r i t z b u r g and Durban/Pinetoun,
t h e r e s i d e n t s o f C l i f f d a l e and S t o c k v i l l e who wished t o u s e t h i s
s e r v i c e had t o walk a c o n s i d e r a b l e d i s t a n c e i n o r d e r t o r e a c h t h e bus
s t o p . Whi l s t i n t h e C l i f f d a l e a r e a a school bus o p e r a t e d d u r i n g t e rm,
no s u c h f a c i l i t y e x i s t e d i n S t o c k v i l l e .
When r e s p o n d e n t s were q u e s t i o n e d about t h e adequacy of t h e bus s e r v i c e ,
o n l y seven of t h e 60 market g a r d e n e r s (12%) cons idered t h e s e r v i c e t o
be adequa te and s a t i s f a c t o r y . ( I n c l u d e d h e r e a r e t h e t h r e e g a r d e n e r s i n
Hota la Farm and t h e f o u r r e s i d e n t g a r d e n e r s a t Uassenhoek). The r e s t
(88%) found t h e s e r v i c e t o be u n s a t i s f a c t o r y . P a r t i c u l a r l y hard h i t
were tlce r e s i d e n t s and f i r h o l a r s i n t h e S t o c k v i l l e a r e a , some o f whom
had t o walk f u r over 20 minu tes i n o r d e r t o board a bus t o s c h o o l /
c l i n i c ( T a h l e 10) .
T o t a l 60 100
50
, 42 8
12
(70%)
Table 10: Time Taken t o Walk t o Bus Stop (N = 60)
4.4 A t t i t u d e t o Living i n t h e Area
Time Taken n Z
Up t o 5 minutes 2 3
6 t o 10 minutes 1 2
11 t o 15 minutes 9 15
16 t o 20 minutes 2 3
The r e sea r che r wished t o a s s e s s how the respondents perceived t h e i r
s o c i a l s i t u a t i o n and t o t h i s end t h e r e f o r e a number of ques t i ons
r e l a t i n g t o t h e i r s t a t e of we l l be ing , t he a r e a they r e s ided i n , and
whether o r not they perce ived themselves t o c o n s t i t u t e a s o c i a l l y
cohesive community were d i r e c t e d t o t he in te rv iewees .
The fo l lowing f i g u r e (F ig . 4) r ep r e sen t s the spontaneous responses of
the market gardeners t o a s e r i e s of ques t i ons concerning t h e i r a t t i t u d e
t o l i v i n g i n t he a r ea . Two gardeners i n Uotala Farm s t a t e d t ha t the
a r e a was not a hea l t hy p l ace t o l i v e i n cons ide r i ng i t s proximity t o
t he i n d u s t r i a l e s t a t e i n Pinetovn. One C l i f f d a l e gardener was not happy
i n t he a r e a ; t h e reason g iven f o r t h i s was f i r s t l y t he s t a t e of the
roads , and secondly , t he hardship caused by the l a c k of water a t the
time.
(77%)
21 t o 30 minutes 17
31 t o 40 minutes 3
Over 40 minutes 26
Tota l 60 100
28
46 5
4 3
F i g u r e 4 : A t t i t u d e s Towards L i v i n g i n t h e Area (N = 6 0 )
I n a s s e s s i n g t h e r e a s o n s g i v e n f o r t h e i r p o s i t i v e a t t i t u d e s towards
l i v i n g i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e a r e a s , ' q u i e t n e s s ' , 'open s p a c e ' and ' p e a c e '
r a t e d h i g h l y and were mentioned by 48% of t h e r e s p o n d e n t s . More of t h e
C l i f f d a l e g a r d e n e r s , however, g a v e 'good c l i m a t e f o r f a rming ' a s a
r e a s o n why t h e y h e l d p o s i t i v e a t t i t u d e s towards l i v i n g i n t h e a r e a .
T h i s was mentioned by 4 2 2 o f t h e C l i f f d a l e g a r d e n e r s a s compared w i t h
j u s t 6% o f t h e S t o c k v i l l e g a r d e n e r s . Al though t h e r e s p o n s e r a t e t o t h i s
p a r t i c u l a r q u e s t i o n was 7 7 2 (14 r e s p o n d e n t s d i d no t s u g g e s t r e a s o n s why
t h e y were happy i n t h e a r e a o r why t h e y l i k e d l i v i n g i n t h e a r e a ) , t h e
r e s p o n s e s were s u f f i c i e n t t o show t h a t f o r abou t f o u r o u t of e v e r y f i v e
g a r d e n e r s , l i v i n g i n t h e s e a r e a s was f a v o u r a b l e .
Each o f t h e f o u r a r e a s l i e s on t h e f r i n g e of t h e u rban s y s t e m and a
q u e s t i o n r e l a t i n g t o how t h e y , t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s , p e r c e i v e d t h e i r
s i t u a t i o n i n t e r m s of u rban i sm ( a s a way o f l i f e ) was i n c l u d e d .
O v e r a l l , 73% of t h e g a r d e n e r s p e r c e i v e d t h e i r a r e a a s b e i n g s e m i - r u r a l ,
w h i l s t t h e r e s t (272) p e r c e i v e d t h e i r a r e a o f r e s i d e n c e a s b e i n g r u r a l .
T a b l e 11 g i v e s a breakdown of t h e s e p e r c e p t i o n s f o r e a c h of t h e f o u r
a r e a s .
Table 11: Percept ion of Area ( N = 60)
Percept ion C l i f f d a l e G i l l i t s MotalaFarm Dassenhoek T o t a l
n % n % n X n Z n Z
Rural 2 11 11 3 2 - - 3 75 16 27
Semi-rural 17 89 2 3 68 3 100 1 25 4 4 73
Urban - - - - - - - - - - Tota l 19 100 34 100 3 100 4 100 M) 100
The quotes below se rve t o i n d i c a t e how the market gardeners viewed
t h e i r s o c i a l s i t u a t i o n . They show t h a t wh i l s t some of the respondents
viewed themselves as being ' b e t t e r o f f ' i n terms of t h e i r q u a l i t y of
l i f e , o t h e r s f e l t l e s s s o because of t he l a c k of f a c i l i t i e s they
exper ience i n these a r ea s a s compared wi th urban a r ea s . P o s i t i v e
responses inc luded ' b e t t e r than housing schemes' , 'not conges ted ' , ' b e t t e r o f f here - very p e a c e f u l ' , 'no i n t e r f e r e n c e - independent ' and
'farm l i f e ' . By c o n t r a s t , s t a t emen t s such a s ' roads a r e bad i n r u r a l
a r e a s ' , 'no f a c i l i t i e s l i k e i n urban e r e a s ' , ' b ad ly developed a r ea '
i n d i c a t e t ha t dwe l l e r s i n these f r i n g e a r e a s , wh i l s t holding favourable
a t t i t u d e s towards l i v i n g i n t h e s e a r e a s , exper ience what they cons ider
t o be 'poor f a c i l i t i e s ' i n terms of bad roads and an inadequate bus
s e rv i ce .
' I n t eg ra t i on '
Four out of eve ry f i v e of t he market gardeners vho were interviewed
(80%) s t a t e d t h a t they thought t h a t the community t o which they
belonged was ' i n t e g r a t e d ' . In the S tockv i l l e a r ea , f o r example, the
farming community had he ld meetings from time t o t ime i n t h e p a s t t o
d i s c u s s t h e i r f u t u r e s e c u r l t y i n t he a r ea . In add i t i on , the community
had at tempted t o so lve the problem of accesa dur ing and a f t e r wet
weather, by r e p a i r i n g s e c t i o n s of t h e road i n t he a r e a themselves.
Through d i s c u s s i o n i t was fur thermore e s t ab l i shed t h a t i n terms of
advice v is -a-v is farming, the l oan of t o o l s and implements, a s wel l a s
n e e d , t h e y had o f t e n s o u g h t and r e c e i v e d one a n o t h e r ' s he lp . The
C l i f f d a l e g a r d e n e r s . by c o n t r a s t , had e x p e r i e n c e d some form of
i n t e g r a t i o n by fo rming themse lves i n t o a n a s s o c i a t i o n concerned v i t h
t h e i r f a r m i n g a c t i v i t i e s . A l l t h e Dassenhoek and Mota la Farm g a r d e n e r s
p e r c e i v e d t h e i r communi t i e s t o be i n t e g r a t e d . The r e a s o n s g i v e n
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e t h e y r e c e i v e d from o t h e r g a r d e n e r s .
4 . 5 P e r c e i v e d Needs of t h e Community
The p r e c e d i n g s u b - s e c t i o n s have been concerned w i t h t h e f a c i l i t i e s
and s e r v i c e s i n t h e s t u d y a r e a s , a s v e l l a s t h e a t t i t u d e s of t h e
r e s p o n d e n t s t o w a r d s t h e s e . I n a d i r e c t q u e s t i o n r e l a t i n g t o t h e needs
of t h e c o m u n i t y , t h e r e s p o n s e s v e r e found t o b e a r a c l o s e a s s o c i a t i o n
v i t h t h e d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n s mentioned e a r l i e r by t h e r e s p o n d e n t s . For
example , a b o u t t h r e e o u t of e v e r y f i v e r e s p o n d e n t s ( 6 2 2 ) s t a t e d t h a t
t h e i r community v a s i n need o f a s s i s t a n c e . A l l of t h e p e r c e i v e d ' n e e d s '
ment ioned by t h e s e 37 r e s p o n d e n t s concerned t h e s o c i a l s e r v i c e s i n t h e
a r e a . Over h a l f of t h e s e g a r d e n e r s ( 5 4 % ) s t a t e d t h a t t h e y needed
' b e t t e r s e r v i c e s ' i n g e n e r a l , v h i l s t a b o u t a t h i r d ( 3 0 % ) s t a t e d
s p e c i f i c a l l y t h a t t h e r o a d s i n t h e a r e a needed improvement; 14% of
t h e s e g a r d e n e r s s t a t e d t h a t p iped v a t e r v a s t h e i r g r e a t e s t need and t h e
r e s t ( 3 % ) r e q u e s t e d f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e .
When asked v h e t h e r t h e r e v e r e v a y s i n v h i c h t h e community cou ld h e l p
improve t h e q u a l i t y of l i f e of i t s p e o p l e , j u s t o v e r h a l f o f t h e t o t a l
sample ( 5 2 2 ) a o s v e r e d i n t h e p o s i t i v e . S i x t e e n p e r c e n t of t h o s e vho
responded s t a t e d t h a t t h e improvemene of t h e i r homes and g a r d e n s would
have a p o s i t i v e e f f e c t on t h e q u a l i t y of t h e i r l i v e s , v h i l s t 2 3 2 s t a t e d
t h a t "ve c o u l d approach t h e a u t h o r i t i e s f o r s e r v i c e s " and 6 % s t a t e d
t h a t t h e y needed a community h a l l l t e m p l e . The r e s t of t h o s e vho
answered p o s i t i v e l y ( 5 5 % ) r e f e r r e d t o what t h e community had a l r e a d y
d r , , ~ c t o improve t h e q u a l l t y o f l i f e of t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e a r e a . For
e x ~ m p l e , t h e g a r d e n e r s i n t h e G i l l i t s a r e a r e f e r r e d t o t h e s o c i a l c l u b
t h e y had formed which met a t t h e schoo l l communi ty h a l l , t o t h e m e e t i n g s
t h a t t h e y had !~elii c o n c e r n i n g t h e f u t u r e s t a t u s of t h e a r e a and t o t h e
work t h a t the community had done i n improving the s t a t e of r e p a i r of
s e c t i o n s of t he road. Respondents i n the C l i f f d a l e a r e a r e f e r r e d t o the
formation of a Farmers' As soc i a t i on , w h i l s t those i n the Motala Farm
a r ea s t a t e d t h a t they had r e c e n t l y , a s r e s i d e n t s of the a r e a , jo ined
the non-farming cornuni ty i n forming a Ratepayers ' Assoc ia t ion .
-alepsJeomeH uy puel
paseal peq eale a~epj~y13 aq3 UT slauno puex aalql 'uoy3yppe UI '(%6E)
puel ~yaql paseal s~ano~8 aql 30 jsal aql lslrqn WuylenllTns amn Xaql
pue7 aql pauno (~19) RE 'Xpnls aq3 uy s~auap~ea layleu 29 jo lean1 e 30
'ssasold Buyuyslsns jlas e aq 03 (asuas lsapsolq aq3
uy) luamdopnap alqeua 03 se os uoylnqyl3syp pue alnual pus1 30 ua3sds
aTqe3ynba us 30 3uamanayqse aql aq 03 1qBno sal3rununuos Buyu~ej 30
spaau 3uaodoranap aqj jo aug 'Xly7yqelsuy pue dluys31asun uy asealsuy
ue se 71an se 's~yun Suysnpozd >anax pue lanaj o3uy BuyuapleW layleu
jo uoylnuyuyp an~ssa1%o~d aq3 uaaq seq ssasold syql jo 17nsal llelano
aqL .alnsas lo alqsls KIle1nsyl~ed uaaq IOU seq alnual puol lsq3
'aJojalaq3 'lueaw seq uoy3eJo1al pue uoy~eyldoldde lue3suo3 *slauap~e%
3aqJem ueypul jo pue1 Buyu~e~ ~euoy~ype~l aq3 uo s usmap pa3sada~ apcm
aneq Buysnoq pus X~asnpuy 30 s3uaualynbal pus7 aql 'unoqs ssq uoylsas
BuyoBa~oj E se 'alsp 01 -3uaadoTanap 1eyluapysaJ pue leyllsnpuy 1oj
pue~ 30 7esods~p pus uoyaeyldo~dde 'uoylnqyl3syp aql sa3e7nSal qJyqn
ua3sKs 1e%al e 30 3xaluoJ rE1auaS aq3 uyqlyn salslado 1e3EN uy sasod~nd
p?~n31nJy~Se loj saJlnosa1 pue7 30 uoy3e~o71e aqL -maql Buy~ynba~
asoql 3sSuoue palesorp ale sasJnosa3 qJyqn ur Ken aq3 sy 3uamuolynua
aql 03 uoyle1a1 s,X>ay~os e jo s3sadse lue31oduy sou aql 30 auo
'pauymexa sy uoy~sAy11ns 30 alnleu aql 'Xl~suyd 'uno1S sdolJ snoylen
aql JO pus uoylsnyl1ns lapun eale aq3 30 uorssnssyp e dq panoTTo3
sy syqk 'alnual 30 X3ylnsas jo asuas ,slauapleS aql pus palapysuos alE
alnual pus dyqs~auno puel 'ISJ~J 'dpnls aql jo sea>= %uyuap~e% 3aqleu
aql uy uoyjsnpo~d jo slJadse snoylen qlTn paulaJuoJ sy uoyl~as syq~
I n r e s p o n s e t o a q u e s t i o n c o n c e r n i n g v h e t h e r o r not t h e y f e l t t h e i r
t e n u r e t o be s e c u r e , t h e overwhelming m a j o r i t y (90% o f t h e sample)
s t a t e d t h a t t h e y d i d . Inc luded h e r e a r e bo th owners and t e n a n t s of l a n d
( T a b l e 12). For owners of l a n d i n t h e C l i f f d a l e and S t o c k v i l l e a r e a a ,
i n s e c u r i t y and u n c e r t a i n t y was n o t a problem s i n c e b o t h a r e a s had nov
a c h i e v e d a g r i c u l t u r a l s t a t u s , t h e l a t t e r a r e a a c h i e v i n g t h i s i n 1982,
a f t e r many y e a r s of u n c e r t a i n t y . For f i v e t e n a n t s i n t h e S t o c k v i l l e
a r e a t h e r e was f e a r t h a t t h e owner of t h e s e p l o t s of l a n d , v h i c h a r e
a d j a c e n t t o e a c h o t h e r , might d e c i d e t o a e l l t h e l and now t h a t t h e a r e a
had been zoned f o r a g r i c u l t u r e . A l l of t h e s e g a r d e n e r s a n t i c i p a t e d
n o t i c e s t o l e a v e and f a c e d t h e f u t u r e v i t h g r e a t u n c e r t a i n t y aa t o what
t h e y would do i f t h e y were f o r c e d t o v a c a t e t h e l a n d t h e y had been
c u l t i v a t i n g f o r o v e r 20 y e a r s . Three o f t h e s e market g a r d e n e r a s t a t e d
t h a t t h e y f e l t u n a b l e t o s t a r t a g a i n i n a n o t h e r a r e a , b e c a u s e of t h e i r
a g e and t h e l a c k of c a p i t a l t o p u r c h a s e a l t e r n a t i v e fa rm l a n d .
Tab le 12: Tenure by Sense of S e c u r i t y of Tenure ( N = 6 2 )
Sense of S e c u r i t y
Tenure Secure I n e e c u r e T o t a l
n n n %
Ovne r 34 I 35 56
T e n a n t - a t - v i l l * 14 4
Tenant 5 I 24 39
OwnerILessee 3 - 3 5
T o t a l 5 6 (90X) 6 (10%) 62 100
Ovn d w e l l i n g , on l e a s e d l and
Of t h e f i v e marke t g a r d e n e r s i n Dassenhoek, which has been d e c l a r e d a
r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a , two had d e c i d e d t o g i v e up g a r d e n i n g e n t i r e l y , w h i l s t
t h e t h r e e remain ing g a r d e n e r s e x p r e s s e d t h e i r wish t o c o n t i n u e market
g a r d e n i n g , if p o s s i b l e . T h i s depended o n v h e t h e r o r not t h e y cou ld f i n d
s u i t a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e l and .
Two o f t h e c h r e e marke t g a r d e n e r s i n Motaln Farm which had e l s o becn
d e c l a r e d a r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s t a t e d t h a t t h e change i n s t a t u s o f t h e
a r e a had p r e s e n t e d them w i t h no p rob lem, s i n c e chey would be a b l e t o
s u b d i v i d e and se l l t h e i r p r o p e r t y and buy l a n d e l s e v h e r e f o r t h e i r
g a r d e n i n g a c t i v i t i e s .
S e c u r i t y o f t e n u r e is a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r i n an i n d i v i d u a l ' s ' s e n s e ' o f
v e l l b e i n g and i s e s s e n t i a l i n t h e development o f community w e l l b e i n g .
I n a q u e s t i o n d i r e c t e d t o t h e g a r d e n e r s c o n c e r n i n g ways i n which t h e
i n d i v i d u a l c a n i n c r e a s e h i s l h e r s e n s e o f w e l l b e i n g , i t was found t h a t
a h i g h p r o p o r t i o n of t h e S t o c k v i l l e r e s i d e n t s r e sponded p o s i t i v e l y v i t h
s t a t e m e n t s a b o u t ' improv ing o u r homes and g a r d e n s ' , f o l l o w i n g t h e
d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t t h e i r a r e a had a c h i e v e d a g r i c u l t u r a l s t a t u s a f t e r
many y e a r s o f u n c e r t a i n t y . I n t h i s r e g a r d Butler-Adam and Ven te r s t a t e
t h a t :
P e o p l e who e x p e r i e n c e i n s e c u r i t y o f t e n u r e o f t e n
l a p s e i n t o p a s s i v e n e s s r e g a r d i n g t h e i r homes and
t h e i r l i v e s . Because t h e y d o n o t know how l o n g t h e y
w i l l be a b l e t o s t a y i n t h e i r homes, t h e y have l i t t l e
i n c e n t i v e t o improve them, o r l o o k a f t e r them.
( 1 9 8 4 , p .277)
I n t h e S t o c k v i l l e a r e a , i n p a r t i c u l a r . s e c u r i t y o f t e n u r e h a s been
found t o c r e a t e a g r e a t e r d e g r e e o f community development and
i n d i v i d u a l invo lvement i n improving t h e s e n s e o f w e l l b e i n g . The
f o l l o w i n g q u o t e s f rom i n d i v i d u a l m a r k e t g a r d e n e r s r e f l e c t t h e
e n t h u s i a s m w i t h which chey f a c e t h e f u t u r e :
"We c a n a p p r o a c h t h e a u t h o r i t i e s f o r s e r v i c e s " , "we c a n improve o u r
homes and g: l rdrns now t h a t t h e a r e a is c e r t a i n " , "want t o e x t e n d t h e
house" ; "want t o r e b u i l d t h e house" , "go ing t o i n s t a l l e l e c t r i c i t y " .
The f o l l o w i n g t a b l e s p r e s e n t a breakdown of t h e amount of land owned
and l e a s e d by t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s .
Table 13: S i z e s of P l o t s of Land Owned (N = 38)
-
S i z e n Z
Up t o 5 a c r e s 8 21
6 - 10 a c r e s 9 24
11 - 20 a c r e s 5 13
21 - 30 a c r e s 6 16
31 - 40 a c r e s I 3
41 - 50 a c r e s 5 13
Over 50 a c r e s 4 I I
T o t a l 38 100
Table 14: S i z e s o f P l o t s of Land Leased ( N = 27) '
S i z e n Z
Up t o 5 a c r e s 12 44
6 - 10 a c r e s 9 3 3
I1 - 1 5 a c r e s I 4
16 - 20 a c r e s I 4
21 - 30 a c r e s L 4
Over 30 a c r e s 3 I I
T o t a l 27 100
Three owners o f Land i n t h e C l i f f d a l e a r e a l e a s e d l and a s w e l l
The t a b l e s s h o v t h a t t h e p l o t s of land owned and l e a s e d a r e , on
a v e r a g e , s m a l l . One o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i a t i c f e a t u r e s of I n d i a n market
g a r d e n i n g has been t h e g e n e r a l l y s m a l l s i z e of p l o t s and t h e i n t e n s i v e
c u l t i v a t i o n o f h i g h v a l u e c r o p s . Of t h e 27 g a r d e n e r s who l e a s e d l a n d ,
t h e g r e a t e r m a j o r i t y ( 2 5 i.e. 93%) l e a s e d t h e l a n d From p r i v a t e l n d i a n
i n d i v i d u a l s . Of t h e r e m a i n i n g two l e s s e e s , one c u l t i v a t e d l and owned by
t h e H a r i a n n h i l l M i s s i o n ( f o r wh ich he p a i d no r e n t ) , w h i l s t t h e o t h e r
r e n t e d l a n d n e a r C l i f f d a l e from a p r i v a t e w h i t e i n d i v i d u a l .
The r e n t s t h a t t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s p a i d f o r t h e l and t h e y l e a s e d were
found t o b e r e l a t i v e l y low and w h i l s t one g a r d e n e r i n Daaaenhoek d i d
n o t pay any r e n t , t h e r e s t o f t h e g a r d e n e r s ( t h a t i s 26) p a i d between
R50 and R90 p e r annurn f o r t h e l e a s e of t h e i r 1and. l
Those marke t g a r d e n e r s who were l e s s e e s were a sked why they had n o t
p u r c h a s e d l and t o farm. Over a t h i r d o f t h e l e s s e e s ( 3 7 % ) s t a t e d t h a t
t h e y were n o t a b l e t o a f f o r d t h e c o a t o f p u r c h a s e , w h i l s t o v e r h a l f
( 5 2 % ) s t a t e d t h a t t h e y would l i k e t o p u r c h a s e t h e l a n d t h e y were
p r e s e n t l y c u l t i v a t i n g , b u t were n o t s u r e w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e owners o f
t h e s e p r o p e r t i e s would sell . Tvo lessees s t a t e d , however , t h a t t h e y
i n t e n d e d t o a p p r o a c h t h e owner w i t h a v i e w t o p u r c h a s i n g l a n d , w h i l s t
t h e l e s s e e who was r e n t i n g vhi te-owned l a n d s t a t e d t h a t t h e g r o u p Areas
Act d i d n o t p e r m i t t h e p u r c h a s e o f s u c h l a n d .
5.3 Area under C u l t i v a t i o n
The t o t a l a r e a under c u l t i v a t i o n i n t h e s t u d y a r e a s was 680 a c r e s ,
w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t a r e a ( 5 5 0 a c r e s ) b e i n g d e v o t e d t o t h e i n t e n s i v e
c u l t i v a t i o n o f v e g e t a b l e s . The a c t u a l s i z e s o f p l o t s , however, were
r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l , a s e x p e c t e d . T a b l e 15 p r e s e n t s d a t a c o n c e r n i n g t h e
a r e a under c u l t i v a t i o n i n e a c h o f t h e f o u r m a r k e t g a r d e n i n g r e g i o n s . I t
shows t h a t o v e r 70% of t h e p l o t s a r e t e n a c r e a o r less, w i t h 86% of t h e
S t o c k v i l l e p l o t s b e i n g f i v e a c r e s o r less. By c o m p a r i s o n , t h e p l o t s i n
t h e C l i f f d a l e a r e a a r e l a r g e r w i t h o n l y two p l o t s , however , b e i n g o v e r
35 a c r e s , and 53% of t h e p l o t s b e i n g o v e r 10 a c r e s i n e x t e n t .
I . See Tab le 1 (Appendix A) f o r t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e amount o f r e n t p a i d p e r y e a r For t h e l e a s e o f l a n d by t h e 27 g a r d e n e r s .
T a b l e 15: Area under C u l t i v a t i o n by Loca t ion ( N = 62)
Area C l i f f d a l e S t o c k v i l l e Motala Farm ~ ' ~ o e k * T o t a l
n n n n n 4.
Up t o 5 a c r e s 1 30( 86%) 2 1 34 55
6 t o 10 a c r e s 8 2 - - 10 16
I1 t o 15 a c r e s - I 2 5 8
16 t o 20 a c r e s - - - 1 2
21 t o 25 a c r e s 1 - 1 3 5
26 t o 30 a c r e s - - - 3 5
31 t o 35 a c r e s 1 - - 2 3
Over 35 a c r e s 1 1 4 6 - T o t a l 19 35 3 5 62 100
* Dassenhoek
5.4 Crops
D e s p i t e t h e r e l a t i v e s m a l l s i z e of p l o t s ( a v e r a g e s i z e of p l o t being
10.9 a c r e s ) , t h e v a r i e t y of c r o p s t h a t a r e grown r e f l e c t s t h e i n t e n s i t y
o f c u l t i v a c i o n . Whils t t h e g a r d e n e r s i n C l i f f d a l e s p e c i a l i s e d i n t h e
c u l t i v a t i o n of v e g e t a b l e s , w i t h t h r e e g a r d e n e r s g rowing v e g e t a b l e s
f r u i t , t h e S t o c k v i l l e a r e a s p e c i a l i s e d i n t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of f l o w e r s ,
Ninety-seven p e r c e n t of t h e S t o c k v i l l e g a r d e n e r s c u l t i v a t e d f l o w e r s ,
w h i l s t 632 g rew v e g e t a b l e s . Tab le 16 shows t h e t y p e s o f c r o p s and
combina t ions o f c r o p s grown i n e a c h a r e a , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e number of
g a r d e n e r s who grew them. One w i l l n o t i c e t h a t whereae 84% of t h e
C l i f f d a l e g a r d e n e r s c u l t i v a t e d o n l y v e g e t a b l e s , o n l y 3% of t h e
S t o c k v i l l e g a r d e n e r s s p e c i a l i s e d i n v e g e t a b l e monoculture. Tab le 17
shows t h e t y p e of c r o p s grown i n e a c h a r e a by t h e nunber of a c r e s
devo ted t o t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of such c r o p s .
3 3
T a b l e 16: Distribution o f Crops Crown by L o c a t i o n ( N = h2)
Crop C l i f f d a l e S t o c k v i l l e N o t a l a Farm D'Hoek T o t a l
n % n % n % n X n X
F lowers o n l y - - 1 0 29 - - - - 1 0 16
V e g e t a b l e s o n l y 16 84 1 3 - - 1 20 18 29
V e g e t a b l e s and f l o v e r s - - 1 8 51 - - 1 20 19 31
V e g e t a b l e s , f r u i t 6 f l o w e r s - - 3 9 - - - - 3 5
F r u l t 6 f l o w e r s - - 3 9 1 3 3 - - 4 6
F r u i t 6 v e g e t a b l e s 3 16 - - 2 67 3 60 8 1 3
T o t a l 19 100 3 5 100 3 100 5 100 62 100
T a b l e 17: Crops Grown by L o c a t i o n and R e l a t i v e ~ c r e a ~ e l (N - 62)
Crop C l i f f d a l e S t o c k v i l l e M'Farm D'Hoek To t a l
n A c r e s n Acres n A c r e s n Acres n I Acres
F lowers - - 34 76 I 1 1 1 I 36 58 88
V e g e t a b l e s 19 379.5 22 94.5 2 2 5 74 4 8 77 550
F r u i t 3 2 6 3 1 . 5 3 Y ~ N A ' 15 24 4 2 , l
NA - n o t a v a i l a b l e
W h i l s t t h e above d e t a l l s c o n c e r n l n g a c r e a g e f o r v e g e t a b l e s and f l o w e r
c u l t i v a t i o n were e a s i l y a v a i l a b l e b e c a u s e o f t h e n a t u r e o f c u l t i v a t i o n .
a c c u r a t e d e t a i l s a b o u t t h e a c r e a g e d e v o t e d t o t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f f r u i t
were no t available i n most c a s e s s i n c e t h e f r u i t b e a r i n g t r e e s , e x c e p t
i n t h e r.ase o f b a n a n a s , were s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e u n i t s and no t
o r g a n i s e d i n t o o r c h a r d s .
I . blarket ~ i l r d e n e r s who c u l t i v a t e d c o m b i n a t i o n s o f c r o p s ( s e e Tab le 16) have been ' c o u n t e d ' more t h a n once i n t h i s t a h l e .
F r u i t
I t was a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t t h e most popula r f r u i t grown by t h e 15
g a r d e n e r s who grew f r u i t ( 2 4 X of sample) was bananas, fol lowed by
paw-paws, mangos, avocados, and a l i m i t e d amount of o r a n g e s and lemons
(See Table 2 , Appendix A f o r d e t a i l s o f f r u i t c u l t i v a t i o n . ) One
gardener i n t h e Dassenhoek a r e a had s t a r t e d t o s p e c i a l i s e i n t h e
c u l t i v a t i o n of pawpaws e x c l u s i v e l y , and used a system of c u l t i v a t i o n
t h a t e n a b l e a t h e young c u t t i n g s t o s t a r t b e a r i n g f r u i t w i t h i n two
years . Th is g a r d e n e r had t h e r e f o r e d e c r e a s e d h i s v e g e t a b l e p r o d u c t i o n
i n favour o f t h i s ven ture .
Vege tab les
I n comparing and c o n t r a s t i n g t h e C l i f f d a l e and S t o c k v i l l e a r e a s i n
t e rms of t h e v a r i e t y of v e g e t a b l e s produced i n each of t h e a r e a s , one
f i n d s t h a t t h e g a r d e n e r s i n C l i f f d a l e grow a g r e a t e r v a r i e t y of
v e g e t a b l e s , and s p e c i a l i s e i n cabbage , c a u l i f l o w e r , p o t a t o e s and
tomatoes. More S t o c k v i l l e g a r d e n e r s , however, grow t h e more s p e c i a l i s t
I n d i a n v e g e t a b l e s , h e r b s and s p i c e s such a s c o r r i a n d e r l e a v e s , r e d
and g r e e n h e r b s and c h i l l i e s . F i g u r e s 5 and 6 p r e s e n t t h e number of
g a r d e n e r s i n each a r e a who grew a wide v a r i e t y of v e g e t a b l e s , i n c l u d i n g
beans, c a r r o t s , cabbage, b r i n j a l s , m e a l i e s , cucumber, p o t a t o e s and
t u r n i p s , p l u s t h e more t r a d i t i o n a l I n d i a n v e g e t a b l e s such a s b i t r e r -
g a l l , o k r a , and red and g r e e n h e r b s . Tab le 3 of Appendix A r e f l e c r s t h e
types o f v e g e t a b l e s grown and t h e number of fa rmers who grew them i n
each of t h e f o u r a r e a s .
t~p
ur
e 6
: K
epre
sen
tatl
on
o
t th
e R
ela
tiv
e N
umbe
r a
nd
V
ari
ety
of
Veg
etab
les
(.m
w in
Das
sen
hae
k
an
d Hotala Farm
Are
as
- . - -
- - - -
Mot
ala
Farm
D
'Hoe
k
To
tal
acr
eag
e d
evo
ted
to
Flowers
W h i l s t t h e G i l l i t s a r e a had t h e l a r g e s t number of f lower g r o w e r s
( N = 3 4 ) . one marke t g a r d e n e r i n Motala Farm and o n e i n Dassenhoek
c u l t i v a t e d a c o m b i n a t i o n o f f l o w e r s and f r u i t . The most p o p u l a r
v a r i e t i e s grown were m a r i g o l d s , a s t e r s , s e l u c i a s , cockscombs and a
l i m i t e d amount of r o s e s and c a r n a t i o n s . I t is p e r h a p s no tewor thy t h a t
t h e s e p o p u l a r v a r i e t i e s a r e t r a d i t i o n a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h Hindu
c e r e m o n i a l p r a c t i c e s and on a u s p i c i o u s o c c a s i o n s t h e r e is a g r e a t
demand f o r m a r i g o l d s i n p a r t i c u l a r .
5.5 Na tu re of C u l t i v a t i o n
T a b l e 18 shows t h e n a t u r e of c u l t i v a t i o n p r a c t i s e d by t h e market
g a r d e n e r s and t h e e x t e n t t o which I n d i a n market g a r d e n e r s have adop ted
t h e c o n t o u r sys tem i n p r e p a r i n g t h e i r l and . O b s e r v a t i o n and d i s c u s s i o n
w i t h t h e S t o c k v i l l e g a r d e n e r s e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t none of t h e s e g a r d e n e r s
had p r a c t i c e d e i t h e r c o n t o u r l a y o u t f o r s o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n o r p l a n t i n g
a c r o s s t h e s l o p e . Al l of t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s i n S t o c k v i l l e , Mota la
Farm and Dassenhoek ( e x c e p t one g a r d e n e r i n Dassenhoek, who had
t e r r a c e d h i s l a n d ) p r a c t i s e d s t r i p c u l t i v a t i o n . E x t e n s i v e c o n t o u r i n g i n
t h e C l i f f d a l e a r e a is r e f l e c t i v e o f t h e work i n i t i a t e d t h e r e by t h e
A g r i c u l t u r a l E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e s . Work on t h e two r e m a i n i n g p l o t s i n
C l i f f d a l e was e x p e c t e d t o be comple ted s h o r t l y .
Good l a y o u t which e n s u r e s c o n s e r v a t i o n o f s o i l and w a t e r i s g e n e r a l l y
poor on I n d i a n f a r m s ( G r e y l i n g , 1976) . However, i t must be remembered
t h a t t h e s i z e o f p l o t s i n t h e S t o c k v i l l e , Dassenhoek and Motala Farm
a r e a s makes i t d i f f i c u l t t o implement c o n s e r v a t i o n l a y o u t s and o f t e n ,
where s l o p e s exceed 30" o r more a s t h e y do i n t h e S t o c k v i l l e a r e a , t h e
u s e of t r a c t o r s is u n s u i t a b l e , i f n o t dangerous .
Vethods o t l and p r e p a r a t i o n v a r i r d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e a r e a s su rveyed and
i t was found tltict on bOX of t h e p l o t s manual methods ( h o e s ) were
adop ted . Trar.Lors which were used on t h e l a r g e r p l a t s i n C l i f f d a l e and
18
T a b l e L8: Nature o f C u l t i v a t i o n by Loca t ion ( N = h?)
r Nature of C l i f f d a l e S t o c k v i l i e Motala Farm D'hoek T o t a l
C u l t i v a t i o n n n n n n %
S t r i p method 2 35 3 4 44 71
Contour 12 - - - 12 19
S t r i p h c o n t o u r 5 - - - 5 8
T e r r a c e - - - L 1 2
T o t a l 19 3 5 3 5 62 100
Dassenhoek were used by o n l y 29% of t h e sample, w h i l s t a small p r o p o r t i o n
( 5 % ) had adopted a r o t o r v i t a f o r ploughing. I n t h e S t o c k v i l l e a r e a , f o u r
market g a r d e n e r s ( 6 % of t h e t o t a l sample) were us ing animal drawn p loughs
which, accord ing t o the r e a p o n d e n t s , were not o n l y s u i t a b l e to the t y p e of
t e r r a i n , h u t a l s o cheaper than a t r a c t o r which they could n o t a f f o r d t o
purchase.
A t t h e t ime of i n t e r v i e w i n g , t h e Natai reg ion was e x p e r i e n c i n g drought
c o n d i t i o n s and t h e g a r d e n e r s i n t h e a r e a had been undergoing c o n s i d e r a b l e
hardsh ip because of i t . Although t h e m a j o r i t y of g a r d e n e r s i n a l l f o u r
a r e a s d id not r e l y d i r e c t l y on rainfall, having a r ranged some form of
i r r i g a t i o n method. they were n e v e r t h e l e s s r e l i a n t on r a i n f a l l i n a s much as
che s t reams from which wate r f o r t h e i r i r r i g a t i o n sys tems r e l i e d were
s lowly d r y i n g o u t .
The market g a r d e n e r a i n S t o c k v i l l e were i n a somewhat b e t t e r s i t u a t i o n
d u r i n g t h e d rought because t h e a r e a was se rved by many s p r i n g s . By
c o n t r a s t , t h e g a r d e n e r s i n C l t f f d e l e , Uassenhoek and Motala Farm f a r e d
badly d u r i n g t h e d rought and a number of g a r d e n e r s complained b i t t e r l y
about t h e i r h a r d s h i p and p l i g h t .
Ln terms of i r r i g a t i o n , 84X of t h e market g a r d e n e r s i r r i g a t e d t h e i r p l o t s
w i t h the usc o t p e t r o l pumps and hoses which d i r e c t e d wate r from t h e
'sadyd 30 maasXs
e qSno~qa play3 aqa oauo paaaalyp uaqa alan qqqn Isasoq 30 sueam
Lq puod lo TTan e molj Jaaen nalp (%g) s~auapJe8 lnoj 'XTTWUTJ .sdmnd
1o~aad lyaqa 30 asn auellen oa MOT ooa uaaq pwq sowalas aqa 30 TanaT
laaen aqa a>uTs 'uw~ Buy1a~en w 30 sueam dq Buynayn~aauy 30 awya aqa ae
sao~d lyaqa BuyaeBy~ay alan (%a) aTTyq>oaS uy s~auap~e8 any$ 'mealas
e 03 ssa>>e aneq aou pyp ao~d syq axys poy~ad 8uyuoyael laaen aqa
8uylnp a8eauenpesyp lea18 e ae alojalaqa sen aH 'dea e oa paq>eaae asoq
e $0 sueaw Xq play3 syq pale8ylly peq xaoquassen uy lauaple8 auo 'sdol~
aqa 02 laaen 30 uoyanqylasyp uana ue Buy~nsua snqa 'SlaTquylds qayn
splay3 1~aq-l paae8y~~~ peq (aTdwes ~e-101 aqa 30 %vh 10) LZ 's-lauap1wS
asaqa 30 'spTay3 paaenyaln> aqa oauo sao~d lyaq2 oa aua~erpe smealas
SECTION SIX
LMOUK -
In t h i s s e c t i o n a t t e n t i o n i s turned t o the labour f o r ce employed by the
market gardeners . The type of labour and, i n p a r t i c u l a r , the number
and sex of the employees i n t he var ious a r e a s a r e considered f i r s t ,
followed by a d i s cus s ion of problems experienced wi th labour. The
res idency p a t t e r n s of the workers a r e cons idered next and the s ec t i on
ends wi th a review of wages paid a t the time of the study.
6.1 Type of Labour
One of the most no t ab l e f e a t u r e s of the 323 a g r i c u l t u r a l labour f o r c e
employed i n t he four a r e a s under s tudy was the predominantly female and
b lack composit ion of the workers.
Figure 7: Male-Female Rat io of Labour
26%
Hale
74%
Female
Women, who undertook a v a r i e t y of manual t a sk s ranging from hoeing,
sowing, p l an t i ng of s e e d s l s e e d l i n g s , weeding, watering (where the
i r r i g a t i o n system was l e s s than adequate) and ha rve s t i ng , c o n s t i t u t e d
74% of t he t o t a l labuor force . Where men a s well a s women were
employed, t hey , r a t h e r than t he women, undertook t he more demanding
t a sk s of packing and Loading produce onto t he veh i c l e s . In most c a sea ,
t r a c t o r d r i v i n g was undertaken by the gardener h imsel f .
In some i n s t a n c e s , where t he q u a n t i t y of f r e s h produce was l a r g e . a
number of employees were taken o f f t he f i e l d s t o accompany the gardener
t o the market and a s s i s t wi th t he unloading a t the f i n a l d e s t i n a t i o n .
As was e x p e c t e d , t h e farm l a b o u r f o r c e was w h o l l y b l a c k , t h a t is a p a r t
f rom two I n d i a n employees , one o f whom was employed a s a s u p e r v i s o r /
manager , t h e o t h e r b e i n g a t r a c t o r dr iver-cum-mechanic . U n l i k e a number
o f w h i t e f a r m e r s , I n d i a n g a r d e n e r s do no t g e n e r a l l y employ t h e s e r v i c e s
o f f a rm managers . R a t h e r , t h e y a r e p e r s o n a l l y i n v o l v e d i n p l a n n i n g ,
s u p e r v i s i n g o f s t a f f , and t h e day t o d a y a c t i v l t i e a o f f i e l d c u l t i -
v a t i o n t h e m s e l v e s , a s w e l l a s i n t h e m a r k e t i n g o f t h e p roduce . I t i s
n o t a n uncommon s i g h t t h e r e f o r e t o f i n d t h e marke t g a r d e n e r i n t h e
f i e l d s w i t h h i s employeea, e i t h e r a s s i s t i n g i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e
f i e l d w i t h t h e a i d of a t r a c t o r ( o r a r o t a v i t a o r , i n a m i n o r i t y o f
c a s e a , w i t h a h o e ) , o r s u p e r v i s i n g h i a l a b o u r f o r c e i n t h e many v a r i e d
t a s k s o f f i e l d c u l t i v a t i o n .
I n t h e c a s e o f t h e S t o c k v i l l e f l o w e r g r o w e r s , t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s and
t h e i r f a m i l i e s u n d e r t o o k t h e s o r t i n g and t h e a r r a n g i n g o f blooms i n t o
s u i t a b l e and s a l e a b l e q u a n t i t i t e s .
I n a s s e s s i n g t h e number o f employees g e n e r a l l y and i n e a c h a r e a i n
p a r t i c u l a r , one i s c o n f r o n t e d w i t h , f i r s t l y , t h e low numbera o f p e r s o n s
employed i n f a r m l a b o u r and s e c o n d l y , by t h e marked d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e
numbers employed i n t h e S t o c k v i l l e a r e a a s compared w i t h t h e C l i f f d a l e
a r e a ( s e e T a b l e 19). Al though t h e r e were a l m o a t t w i c e t h e number o f
marke t g a r d e n e r s i n t h e S t o c k v i l l e a r e a a s t h e r e were i n C l i f f d a l e , t h e
number o f f a rm w o r k e r s i n t h e f o r m e r a r e a was less t h a n h a l f t h e number
employed i n C l i f f d a l e . T h i s r e g i o n a l d i f f e r e n c e i s a c c o u n t e d f o r .
p a r t i a l l y , by t h e c o m p a r a t i v e l y s m a l l e r s i z e of p l o t s i n S t o c k v i l l e
(where t h e m a j o r i t y o f h o l d i n g s a r e l e s s than f i v e a c r e s i n e x t e n t ) and
where p resumably f ewer l a b o u r e r s a r e needed.
However, a more i m p o r t a n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n would be t h e a p p a r e n t s h o r t a g e
o f l a b o u r a s e x p e r i e n c e d by t h e f a r m i n g l g a r d e n i n g community i n g e n e r a l .
A t t h e time of i n t e r v i e w i n g , 18% o f t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s d i d n o t have
a n y employees , w l t i l s t 33% employed f rom one t o t h r e e workera . Only 16%
of t h e g a r d e n e r s ( and t h e s e were t h e l a r g e r c u l t i v a t o r a ) employed more
t h a n t e n (maximum of 30) employeea a t any o n e time.
Table 19: Labour by Number and Sex of Employees i n Each Area ( N = 323)
Female Tota l
S t o c k v i l l e
Motala Farm 7 5 25
1 C l i f f d a l e 56 29 138 7 1 194 60 I Uassenhoek 3 9 31 91 34 11
Tota l 85 26 238 74 323 100
Row percentages
Table 20: Median Number of Workers Employed by Area
Area
S tockv i l l e
C l i f f d a l e
Uassenhoek
An a d d i t i o n a l v a r i a b l e , t h a t of age , was included i n the survey of t he
S tockv i l l e a r e a , s o t h a t some i d e a of t he age s t r u c t u r e of a g r i c u l t u r a l
workers might be gained from the s tudy . l ( I t must be pointed o u t ,
however, t h a t these a r e approximate ages of vorkers a s ce r t a i ned from
t h e market ga rdene r s ) .
In t h i s regard , i t i s worth not ing t h a t the predominantly female labour
f o r c e i n t h e S t o c k v i l l e a r e a I s a l s o a r e l a t i v e l y young one when
compared with t h e i r male co-workers. For example, a c r o s s t a b u l a t i o n
1 . This v a r i a b l e was omi t ted from the schedule in each of the o t h e r t h r ee a r e a s hecause i t proved t o be t oo time-consuming.
between s e x and age of l a b o u r employed i n S t o c k v i l l e , where t h e t o t a l
number of workers was 91, shows t h a t 46 of t h e 68 women workers (6BX)
were between 30 and 49 y e a r s o f age . By c o n t r a s t , male workers i n t h e
a r e a were o l d e r - 70% were 50 y e a r s o f a g e o r o l d e r .
In t h e lower age c a t e g o r y , t h a t i s under 30 y e a r s of a g e , t h e p a t t e r n
i s r e p e a t e d - t h e r e were more women (21%) t h a n men ( 9 4 ) i n t h l s a g e
c a t e g o r y .
A p o s s i b l e r e a s o n f o r t h i s p redominan t ly young, female l a b o u r f o r c e
might be t h a t t h e y , t h e women, s o u g h t farm l a b o u r s i n c e i t r e q u i r e s no
f o r m a l s k i l l s t r a i n i n g . One c o u l d a r g u e f u r t h e r t h a t , due t o lower
e d u c a t i o n a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s , t h e s e women were f o r c e d t o seek farm work
s i n c e t h e i r chances of s e c u r i n g employment i n manufac tu r ing i n d u s t r y
would be minimal . However, i t was no t w i t h i n t h e s c o p e of t h i s s t u d y t o
f o l l o w t h i s th rough .
6.2 Problems w i t h Labour
I n response t o a q u e s t i o n r e l a t i n g t o problems t h a t t h e g a r d e n e r s
had e x p e r i e n c e d w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e i r work f o r c e , deep concern was
e x p r e s s e d a b o u t t h e g e n e r a l s h o r t a g e of l a b o u r , p a r t i c u l a r l y d u r i n g
t h e h a r v e s t . When aaked t o s t a t e what t h e y p e r c e i v e d t o be t h e i r
'most p r e s s i n g ' problems concern ing l a b o u r , abou t a q u a r t e r of t h e
r e s p o n d e n t s (26%) s t a t e d t h a t t h e y had ' n o p rob lems ' . The rest of t h e
market g a r d e n e r s (74%) s t a t e d t h a t t h e y were n o t a b l e t o s e c u r e enough
r e g i s t e r e d workers .
The problems stemmed from P o r t Na ta l A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Board p o l i c y t h a t
a l l l a b o u r had t o be r e g i s t e r e d f o r employment. P a l l i n g r e g i s t r a t i o n ,
any employer found g u i l t y of employing an u n r e g i s t e r e d worker was
l i a b l e t o a c o n s i d e r a b l e f i n e amounting t o R200 p e r employee. A number
of market g a r d e n e r s were t h e r e f o r e r e l u c t a n t t o employ u n r e g i s t e r e d
w o r k e r s , bu t o f t e n had t o r e s o r t t o t h i s e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g t h e more
demanding h a r v e s t p e r i o d , when f a i l u r e t o p i c k t h e c r o p a t t h e r i g h t
t ime cou ld r e s u l t i n g r e a t l o s s e s t o t h e farmer.
Through d i s cus s ion i t was e s t a b l l s h e d . f i r s t l y , t h a t t he problem was
not i n f i nd ing labour but i n r e g i s t e r i n g t he workers, many of whom d id
not possess t he necessary papers f o r r e g i s t r a t i o n . Constant and sudden
spot checks by o f f i c i a l s of the Port Natal Adminis t ra t ion Board was
s a i d t o be p a r t i c u l a r l y r i f e i n one a r e a (which w i l l be unnamed) and,
unders tandably , market gardeners were r e l u c t a n t t o say more. One
gardener however d i d go a s f a r a s t o say t h a t gardeners i n the a r e a
were c o n s t a n t l y harassed and t h a t i t was not uncommon f o r o f f i c i a l s
(complete wi th b inocu l a r s ) t o be seen on t h e surrounding h i l l s i d e ,
checking up on t he numbers of workers employed on any one farm.
Secondly, t he gardeners t a l ked of t he incons is tency wi th which many
farm employees turned up f o r work. The gardeners s t a t e d t h a t o f t e n ,
a f t e r being r e g i s t e r e d f o r employment, the workers tended not t o t u r n
up f o r work, t h e primary reason g iven being ' b e t t e r pay' elsewhere.
In o rde r t o overcome problems of both i ncons i s t ency and sho r t age some
gardeners provided week-day accommodation ( p l u s food) and week-end
t r an spo r t f o r t h e i r workers.
6.3 Residency P a t t e r n s of Workers
Figure 8 shows t h a t on ly 42 employees, t h a t i s 14% of the t o t a l l abour
f o r c e i n a l l a r e a s , res ided permanently on t he farms on which they
worked, a l though a g r e a t e r propor t ion (40%). p a r t i c u l a r l y those workers
who were employed on l a r g e r farms, l i v e d on t h e farms du r ing t h e week
and re turned home on a weekly ba s i s . For 185 employees ( 5 7 % ) t h e
fa rmers provided t r an spo r t f o r t h e i r workers, on e i t h e r a weekly or
d a i l y b a s i s , s o a s t o en su re t h a t t h e i r labour needs were met.
What i s s t r i k i n g about t h i s p a t t e r n i s i t s marked d i f f e r e n c e from t h e
r e s u l t s ob t a ined by a recent r e s ea r ch p ro j ec t i n Natal on farm labour
i n t he Mtubatuba-Hluhluwe a r e a of Zululand (CRD, 1982). Of the 120 farm
l abou re r s in te rv iewed Ln the above survey , &OX were d a i l y commuters who
came i n t o the whi te ( fa rming) a r e a s from t h e ad jacent b lack a r ea s . (By
45
F i g u r e 8 : Residency P a t c e r n s of Farm Employees (N = 323)
c o n t r a s t , d a i l y commuters i n t h i s s t u d y c o n s t i t u t e d j u s t 33% of t h e
t o t a l l a b o u r f o r c e ) . One p o s s i b l e r e a s a n nuggested by t h e r e s e a r c h team
f o r t h e h i g h r a t e o f c o m u t i n g v h i c h o c c u r s between t h e b l a c k and w h i t e
a r e a s i n Zululand is t h a t bo th a r e a s a r e c o n v e n i e n t l y i n t e r p e r s e d s o a s
t o a l l o v w h i t e a r e a s t o b e n e f i t f rom t h e l a b o u r of b l a c k v o r k e r s
v i t h o u t having t o s h o u l d e r t h e burden o f accommodating them.
Live on f a r m
With r e f e r e n c e t o t h e s t u d y a r e a , i t was a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t a s m a l l
p r o p o r t i o n ( 9 % ) i n f a c t va lked t o t h e i r p l a c e of work (Dassenhoek) from
ne ighbour ing Umbumbulu (KwaZulu).
One g a r d e n e r had circumvented t h e problem of m a i n t a i n i n g a s t e a d y and
n u f f i c i e n t s u p p l y o f l a b o u r by employing p r i s o n l a b o u r ( N - 30) f o r
which he pa id a f l a t r a t e p e r day v h i c h covered a l l t h e p r i s o n e r s .
Although d a t a c o n c e r n i n g t h e s o u r c e a r e a of 35 employees was
u n a v a i l a b l e , Tab le 21 g i v e s some i n d i c a t i o n of t h e a r e a s from which
l a b o u r was r e c r u i t e d - v i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , a l l of t h e s e a r e a s a r e r u r a l
I n c h a r a c t e r .
PERMANENTLY
4 2
( 2 5 % )
170
( 5 3 % )
MONDAY - FRIDAY ONLY
128
( 7 5 % )
U a i l y F a r m T r a n s p o r t
57
( 5 3 % )
Dai ly Comnuters
BUS
2 1
( 1 9 % )
108
( 33%)
Walk
30
(28%)
K i s s i n g I n f o r m a t i o n
15
( 3 3 % )
Other Arrangements
P r i s o n Labour
45
(14%)
30
( 6 7 % )
46
T a b l e 21: Labour Force by Areas o f Rec ru i tmen t ( N = 323)
Area n %
h h l a t u z a n a / U m l a a s 32 10
H i l l c r e s t e n v i r o n s 30 9
Inchanga/Peacevale/Drumond 35 I 1
Nagel Dam e n v i r o n s 9 3 29
Shongweni 12 4
H a m a r s d a l e 14 4
G e o r g e d a l e 30 9
Mulweni/Nketo 9 3
Othe r 3 1
P r i s o n e r s 30 9
H i s s i n g 35 11
T o t a l 323 100
The f o l l o w i n g t a b l e g i v e s t h e a v e r a g e week ly wages f o r employees i n t h e
f o u r a r e a s a t t h e t i m e o f t h e s u r v e y .
Tab le 22: Average Weekly Wages
G i l l i t s Mota la Farm C l i f f d a l e Dassenhoek
Average Weekly R9.96 R15,20 ~ 9 , 8 7 * R9.00 Wage
H i g h e s t R15,OO R17.44 R13,95' R12.00
Lowest R6,51 R12,OO ~ 6 , 5 0 * R8.00
Exc lud ing p r i s o n e r s
siaqion iaqmyj pa~~yqs-yoas pue suerpu~ +
siainoqel uiej jo sajen a%efl a%eianv :cz aTqeL
'pueInInZ uy suoyBai Buymiej ajyqa moij Xlpaqieo Buyiajjyp
lou IsTyqn '(E861 'nn1QS) TeensueiL pue ade3 uiajsq aqj uy seaie amos
ueqj iaq'i'yq 6~1ue~rjruBys aian ueqina punoie seaie %uluapie% laqiem
aqj uy pado~doa asoqj 'no1 aian siaqion Teinj~n~yi%e TTe jo sajei
a%en d~q~uou aqj jsryqn 1eq1 snoqs aTqej aql ( aIqeL) Buylsanieq
pue Buy1ue~d 'Buypaan sy 1eq1 - qion jo sad61 ieTyuys uy paaToAuy
aian 'd11uap73uy 'oqn siainoqe1 ilaql pred siauapiea jaqiem ueypuI pue
siasiej alrqn leq1 lunoms aqj uy aJuaiajjyp lue~yj~u%ys e aq 01 ieadde
IOU saop aiaqj '(~861 '(1x3) pueTnTnZ jo uor%ai TeleN uiaqjiou aqj uy
asoqj qlyn eaxs dpnjs aqj uy siaqJon oj pred saBen dlqaan a8eiaae aqj
Buy~se~luo~ pue %uriedoo~ UI 'syq~ ueql azom qJnm siaqion iyaqj Led
oj 'pres daql .'alqe lou azan 1nq 'saado~doa iraqj pred daqj sa%en MOT
aq1 jo snorJsuos aian s~auaple% laqxeu jo zaqsnu Q -siado~dma aql 6q
auzoq azan sjso~ jiodsueij 'uoyjrppe uy :sxa6o~dma aqj dq papraold aian
(sluaprsax dIqaan alan saado~dma aql aiaqn) uoylepoomoJJe snTd suoylex
pooj d~yep 'saseJ aaoqe aql 11-2 u1 'dmouo~a aql jo iojJas 1exn1InJy~%e
aql UI pauisa sa%en no1 Xl~e~aua% aql jJaIjai anoqe sain%yj aqL
SECTION SEVEN
MARKETING
T h i s s e c t i o n i n v e s t i g a t e s t h e m a r k e t i n g of f r e s h produce i n Durban and
i n c l u d e s a b r i e f h i s t o r y of t h e E a r l y Morning o r s o c a l l e d S q u a t t e r s '
Market. T h i s i s fo l lowed by a d i s c u s s i o n of t h e p a t t e r n s of m a r k e t i n g
fo l lowed by t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s i n t h e s t u d y , a s w e l l a s t h e i r
a t t i t u d e s t o t h e e x i s t i n g m a r k e t i n g sys tem and f a c i l i t i e s . F i n a l l y ,
i s s u e s c o n c e r n i n g t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n of t h e i r goods t o t h e market a r e
c o n s i d e r e d , s u c h a s means of t r a n s p o r t , t r a n s p o r t c o s t s , t h e f r e q u e n c y
o f v i s i t s t o t h e m a r k e t , m a r k e t i n g d a y s of t h e week and d i f f i c u l t i e s
e x p e r i e n c e d w i t h t r a n s p o r t .
7.1 H i s t o r y o f Marke t ing
The wide v a r i e t y o f f r e s h p roduce c u l t i v a t e d by t h e market g a r d e n e r s i n
t h e s t u d y a r e a , a s w e l l a s by t h o s e i n t h e c o a s t a l r e g i o n of N a t a l ,
f i n d a r e a d y market i n Durban ' s m u l t i r a c i a l p o p u l a t i o n . The problem
t h a t e v e r y u r b a n a r e a h a s , however , is i n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of food t o
i t s p o p u l a t i o n . The u s u a l p r a c t i c e is f o r food t o be s o l d i n b u l k a t a
market and r e t a i l e d by s h o p k e e p e r s and s t a l l h o l d e r s i n v a r i o u s p a r t s of
t h e c i t y . In Europe , f o r example, i t is s t i l l common p r a c t i c e i n many
towns t o c l o s e o f f s t r e e t s on c e r t a i n d a y s t o e n a b l e s t a l l h o l d e r s and
t r a d e r s t o se l l t h e i r wares . F a c i l i t i e s a l s o e x i s t , t hough , t o e n a b l e
t h e s m a l l e r market g a r d e n e r who c u l t i v a t e s v e g e t a b l e s , f l o w e r s and
f r u i t t o s e l l h i s p roduce d i r e c t l y t o t h e p u b l i c . The sys tem o f
m a r k e t i n g of f r e s h produce a n d , t o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t , a l i m i t e d amount
of manufac tu red goods and p o u l t r y , h a s fo l lowed a s i m i l a r p a t t e r n
I n t h e Durban m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a , whereby b o t h t h e s t a l l h o l d e r , who
p u r c h a s e s t h e goods from t h e Bulk S a l e s Marke t , and t h e market g a r d e n e r
have s h a r e d f a c i l i t i e s a t t h e Market B u i l d i n g i n Uarwick Avenue. Th ia
market is known more p o p u l a r l y a s t h e ' E a r l y Morning M a r k e t ' , o r t h e
' S q u a t t e r s ' M a r k e t ' .
It is n o t t h e i n t e n t i o n of t h e a u t h o r t o p r o v i d e a l e n g t h y d e s c r i p t i o n
of t h e E a r l y Morning Marke t , n o r of t h e h i s t o r y o f i t s development .
These t o p i c s have been a d e q u a t e l y covered by r e s e a r c h p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e
S q u a t t e r s ' Market ( G r e y l i n g . 1976; C i t y Eng inee r , 1975 and 1983) . T h i s
b r i e f h i s t o r y s e r v e s t o p r o v i d e a c o n t e x t a g a i n s t which t h e p r e s e n t
d i s t r i b u t i o n sys tem and r e t a i l i n g , a s w e l l a s some o f t h e i s s u e s r a i s e d
by t h e sample of market g a r d e n e r s , migh t be unders tood .
The E a r l y Morning Market o r i g i n a t e d on t h e s i t e o f t h e o l d I n d i a n
Market i n V i c t o r i a S t r e e t i n 1910 and i t is b e l i e v e d t o have been
s t a r t e d s o a s t o e n a b l e b o t h t r a d e r s and market g a r d e n e r s t o sell t h e i r
produce. Goods f o r s a l e were d i s p l a y e d on p i e c e s o f h e s s i a n p laced on
t h e pavements and s t r e e t s and t h e market g a r d e n e r s e i t h e r " s a t on
wooden boxes o r s q u a t t e d c r o s s l egged i n t h e s t r e e t ' ' - hence t h e name
of ' S q u a t t e r s ' Marke t ' ( C i t y E n g i n e e r , 1975). During t h i s p e r i o d
V i c t o r i a S t r e e t was c l o s e d t o t r a f f i c and d e v o t e d e n t i r e l y t o t h e
s a l e of f r e s h produce. With t h e growth and e x p a n s i o n o f t h e C i t y ,
however, t h e a r rangement proved t o be u n s a t i s f a c t o r y . To o b v i a t e t h e
d i f f i c u l t i e s caused by c o n g e s t i o n i n t h e a r e a , r e t a i l e r s o f f r e s h
produce ( b o t h t r a d e r s and market g a r d e n e r s ) were moved t o t h e p r e s e n t
s i t e of t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market , i n Warwick Avenue, i n 1934. S i n c e t h e
market o r i g i n a t e d , and up u n t i l t h e l a t e s e v e n t i e s , bo th t r a d e r s and
marke t g a r d e n e r s have been a b l e t o s h a r e t h e f a c i l i t i e s of t h e Squa t=
t e r s ' Market . Over t h e y e a r s . however , t h e market has been i n c r e a s i n g l y
monopolised by t r a d e r s . I n t h e e a r l y s i x t i e s , f o r example. t r a d e r s and
f a r m e r s o c c u p i e d e q u a l f l o o r s p a c e ( N a t a l Reg iona l Survey , 1961,
p. 63) . By 1945 t h e a r rangement was s u c h t h a t 618 s t a l l s were r e n t e d by
t r a d e r s on a long-term b a s i s and 578 t a b l e s , of a s m a l l e r a r e a , were
r e n t e d by marke t g a r d e n e r s and f a r m e r s on a d a i l y b a s i s ( C i t y E n g i n e e r ,
1975) . By 1983. however, t h e f a c i l i t y of h i r i n g t a b l e s on a d a i l y b a s i s
had been s e v e r e l y c u r t a i l e d , t h e r e b y l i m i t i n g t h e number of marker
g a r d e n e r s who cou ld r e t a i l t o t h e p u b l i c a t t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market . A
r e c e n t coun t of t h e number of s t a l l s a v a i l a b l e a t t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market
( C i t y E n g i n e e r , 1983) showed t h a t t h e r e were 676 s t a l l s , of which 606
were r e n t e d on a long-term b a s i s by t r a d e r s , w h i l s t o n l y 70 s t a l l s were
set a s i d e f o r marke t g a r d e n e r s l g r o w e r s o f f r e s h p roduce which have a
s h o r t s h e l f l i f e - t h e s e i n c l u d e g r e e n and red h e r b s , p a r s l e y , m i n t ,
w a t e r c r e s s . s p r i n g o n i o n s . b e t a 1 l e a f and d h a n i a .
With t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e N a t i o n a l F r e s h Produce Market ( B u l k S a l e s
Marke t ) a t C la i rwood , and t h e open ing o f t h e s p e c i a l I n d i a n Fa rmers '
S e c t i o n (1979) . a l l marke t g a r d e n e r s have been r e q u i r e d t o marke t t h e i r
p roduce t h r o u g h t h e Bulk S a l e s Market . S i n c e 1979 no g rower may r e t a i l
h i s p roduce d i r e c t l y t o t h e p u b l i c w i t h o u t f i r s t h a v i n g o b t a i n e d a
p e r m i t t o d o s o , o r w i t h o u t h a v i n g f i r s t p a i d t h e s t a t u t o r y l e v y
r e q u i r e d a t t h e Bulk S a l e s Market .
T h i s a r r angement c o n t r a s t s m a r k e d l y w i t h t h e p r e v i o u s s y s t e m of
m a r k e t l n g a t t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market whereby f a r m e r s , a s d a i l y t e n a n t s ,
were no t r e q u i r e d t o p o s s e s s a l i c e n c e t o r e t a i l t h e i r p roduce ( N a t a l
Reg iona l S u r v e y , 1961) . bu t had t h e i r f e e 6 a s s e s s e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
q u a n t i t y of p roduce b rough t t o t h e marke t f o r s a l e . On payment o f t h e
n e c e s s a r y d u e s , t h e market g a r d e n e r s were a l l o t t e d s t a n d s ( t a b l e s )
depend ing on t ime o f a r r i v a l , t h e i r consequen t p o s i t i o n i n t h e queue .
and on t h e q u a n t i t y o f p roduce f o r s a l e .
With i t s c e n t r a l l o c a l i t y , p r o x i m i t y t o b o t h t h e Berea Road S t a t i o n and
t h e b l a c k bus t e r m i n a l s , a s w e l l a s i t s p h y s i c a l c l o s e n e s s t o t h e
l n d i a n CBD, t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market i s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t d i s t r i b u t i o n
c e n t r e f o r t h e C i t y ' s f r e s h p roduce . U n t i l r e c e n t l y i t h a s been s h a r e d
by b o t h t r a d e r and f a r m e r , a f f o r d i n g t h e marke t g r a d e n e r s , many o f whom
a r e sms11 p r o d u c e r s , t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of s e l l i n g t h e i r p roduce d i r e c t l y
t o t h e p u b l i c a t c o m p e t i t i v e p r i c e s . The f r e s h p roduce on s a l e a t t h e
marke t is p u r c h a s e d e i t h e r a t t h e Bulk S a l e s Market a t Clai rwood o r
from t h e f a r m e r l m a r k e t g a r d e n e r h i m s e l f . It was e s t i m a t e d t h a t 60X of
p roduce p u r c h a s e d a t t h e Bulk S a l e s Market a t Clai rwood was r e s o l d
t h r o u g h t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market ( C i t y E n g i n e e r , 1975). It was a l s o
a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t w h i l s t t h e t r a d e r s r e l i e d w h o l l y on t h e F r e s h P roduce
Market f o r t h e i r s t o c k s o f p o t a t o e s , t o m a t o e s , o n i o n s , o r a n g e s ,
c a r r o t s , pumpkins , p i n e a p p l e s and g r e e n b e a n s , t h e y a l s o r e l i e d on
d i r e c t p u r c h a s e s from t h e fa rmer lmarke t g a r d e n e r f o r bananas ( 1 1 6 of
t h e t o t a l s t o c k was s u p p l i e d by t h e f a r m e r s ) , c a r r o t s , r a d i s h e s ,
m e a l i e s , l e t t u c e s , and s p r i n g on ions . In a d d i t i o n , o t h e r i t e m s a r e
purchased i n s m a l l e r q u a n t i t i e s d i r e c t l y from t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s ,
e i t h e r a t t h e N a t i o n a l F resh Produce Market ( F a r m e r s ' S e c t i o n ) o r on
d e l i v e r y t o t h e t r a d e r a t t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market - t h e s e i t e m s i n c l u d e
g r e e n p e p p e r s , thyme, p a r s l e y , c e l e r y , l e e k s , m i n t , s p i n a c h and
t u r n i p s , a s w e l l a s a s e l e c t i o n o f s p e c i f i c a l l y I n d i a n v e g e t a b l e s , s u c h
a s c h a r d , c u r r y l e a f , d h a n i a , s u s u , h e r b s and b e t a 1 l e a f .
Resea rch conduc ted s p e c i f i c a l l y on t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market ( G r e y l i n g ,
1976; C i t y E n g i n e e r , 1975 and 1983) s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e market p l a y s a
s i g n i f i c a n t r o l e i n t h e economy of marke t g a r d e n e r s , i n t h a t t h e y
d e r i v e t h e maximum r e t u r n s from t h e s a l e of p roduce w h i l e t h e market
r e n d e r s a v a l u a b l e s e r v i c e t o consumers . l
The removal o f t h e N a t i o n a l F resh Produce Market t o C la i rwood , t h e l a n d
r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e South A f r i c a n T r a n s p o r t S e r v i c e s ' p r o p o s a l f o r t h e
e x t e n s i o n o f t h e Berea Road S t a t i o n , t h e C i t y C o u n c i l ' s p r o p o s a l f o r
t h e I n n e r Ring Road and o t h e r t r a f f i c r e q u i r e m e n t s i n t h e a r e a have
t o g e t h e r t h r e a t e n e d t h e p r e s e n t l o c a l i t y of t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market . As
y e t no d e c i s i o n has been made a s t o whe the r o r not t h e p r e s e n t market
w i l l be r e l ~ c a t e d . ~ A s t u d y u n d e r t a k e n by t h e Research S e c t i o n of t h e
C i t y E n g i n e e r ' s Town P lann ing S e c t i o n i n 1975 conc luded t h a t t h e
S q u a t t e r s ' Market s h o u l d be r e l o c a t e d i n a c e n t r a l a r e a " t o s e r v e a l l
r a c e g roups" and shou ld be " a s c l o s e a s p o s s i b l e t o t h e non-white bus
t e r m i n i and t h e Berea Road s t a t i o n " ( C i t y E n g i n e e r , 1975) . I t s t a t e d
f u r t h e r t h a t " t h e r e l o c a t i o n o f t h e market i n t o s e p a r a t e m a r k e t s w i l l
not be e n t i r e l y s u c c e s s f u l " . A more r e c e n t s u r v e y of t h e S q u a t t e r s '
Market c.onducted i n 1983 by t h e same depar tment p o i n t s t o t h e
impor tance and s u c c e s s of t h i s c e n t r a l l y s i t u a t e d market i n s a t i s f y i n g
some 750 000 peop le i n t h e m e t r o p o l i t a n Durban a r e a .
I . See C i t y Eng inee r Market Survey (1983) f o r a r e c e n t breakdovn o f t h e nctnhrrs of s h o p p e r s who u s e t h i s f a c i l i t y .
2. I t ha.; s i n c e been d e c i d e d t h a t t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market w i l l n o t be re l acn tc?d ((:i t y Engineer Depar tment , p e r s c o r n , 1986).
P a t t e r n s o f Marke t ing
With t h e e x c e p t i o n of a s m a l l g roup of n i n e market g a r d e n e r s ( 1 5 % ) who
e i t h e r s o l d t h e i r p roduce l o c a l l y o r had i t c o l l e c t e d by t r a d e r s , an
overwhelming m a j o r i t y ( 7 7 % ) marketed t h e i r p roduce t h r o u g h t h e N a t i o n a l
F r e s h Produce Market a t Clairwood. T h i s f i g u r e is r e f l e c t i v e of t h e
1979 r e g u l a t i o n aimed a t s t r e a m l i n i n g t h e sys tem of m a r k e t i n g of f r e s h
p roduce i n Durban and c o n t r a s t s marked ly w i t h p r e v i o u s r e s e a r c h
f i n d i n g s which show t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y of market g a r d e n e r s (81%) sell a t
t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market o n l y ( G r e y l i n g , 1976) .
Of t h e 48 market g a r d e n e r s who marketed t h e i r produce t h r o u g h t h e F r e s h
Produce Market . 30 (62%) were o b l l g e d t o u s e t h e f a c i l i t i e s of t h e
s p e c i a l I n d l a n Farmers ' s e c t i o n t o r e t a i l t o t h e p u b l i c and a s many a s
13 market g a r d e n e r s (27%) were i n v o l v e d i n t h e r a t h e r time-consuming
and c o s t l y e x e r c i s e of f i r s t ' r e g i s t e r i n g ' t h e i r produce f o r s a l e a t
t h e N a t i o n a l F resh Produce Marke t , and pay ing a s t a t u t o r y l e v y , b e f o r e
p r o c e e d i n g e i t h e r t o t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market t o ' s u p p l y goods on o r d e r '
from t h e t r a d e r s t h e r e (N = 10) o r t o o t h e r p r i v a t e o u t l e t s s u c h a s
s u p e r m a r k e t s and hawkers (N = 3 ) . A s m a l l number o f market g a r d e n e r s
(N = 5) who had l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s of produce f o r s a l e , but w i t h no
s p e c i f i c r e t a i l o u t l e t s , marke ted t h e i r p roduce t h r o u g h t h e a u c t l o n s a t
t h e Bulk S a l e s Market ( F i g u r e 9 ) .
A v e r y s m a l l number of g a r d e n e r s (N - 4 ) , r e p r e s e n t i n g 6% of t h e t o t a l
sample , had made a r r a n g e m e n t s w i t h e x i s t i n g s t a l l h o l d e r s a t t h e
S q u a t t e r s ' Market t o s u p p l y them d i r e c t l y w i t h s m a l l q u a n t i t i e s of
f r e s h p r o d u c e , w i t h o u t hav ing t o make t h e J o u r n e y t o Clairwood. These
f o u r market g a r d e n e r s d i d n o t p o s s e s s l i c e n c e s t o r e t a i l a t e i t h e r t h e
s p e c i a l I n d i a n Farmers ' S e c t i o n a t Clairwood o r t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market.
One market g a r d e n e r from C l i f f d a l e used t h e market f a c i l i t i e s a t
P i e t e r m a r i t z b u r g .
53
F i g u r e 8 : R e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f E x i s t i n g Marke t ing P a t t e r q ( N = 0 2 )
Supermarke t s / 48 Hawkers
Market g a r d e n i n g a r e a s
I S p e c i a l I n d i a n Fa rmers ' I \ / S e c t i o n ( C l a i r w o d ) \
7.3 A t t i t u d e t o E x i s t i n g Marke t ing Arrangement
P i e t r r m a r i r z h u r g Market
I t is i m p o r t a n t a t t h e o u t s e t t o n o t e t h a t abou t one i n e v e r y f o u r
marke t g a r d e n e r s ( 2 5 % ) was e n t i r e l y s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e e x i s t i n g
m a r k e t i n g a r r a n g e m e n t ( T a b l e 24 ) . l n c l u d e d h e r e would be:
I
a ) t h o s e p r o d u c e r s o f l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s o f f r e s h produce f o r whom s a l e
though t h e Bulk S a l e s S e c t i o n a t Clai rwood was s a t i s f a c t o r y ;
b ) t h o s e marke t g a r d e n e r s who were s u p p l y i n g t r a d e r s d i r e c t l y by
hav ing t l l e i r goods c o l l e c t e d a t t h e f a rm; and
C ) t h e s u p p l l r r q of s u p e r m a r k e t s and hawkers.
T a b l e 2 4 : A t t i t u d e s Towards Marke t ing Arrangement ( N = 61)*
A t t i t u d e n %
S a t i s f i e d
Not S a t i s f i e d
Don ' t Know 3 5
T o t a l 6 1 100
I H i s s i n g
Apart from t h r e e market g a r d e n e r s vho v e r e non-commital abou t t h e i r
a t t i t u d e t o v a r d s t h e marke t ing a r r a n g e m e n t , a s i g n i f i c a n t p r o p o r t i o n o f
t h e sample r e p r e s e n t i n g n e a r l y t h r e e o u t o f e v e r y f o u r marke t g a r d e n e r s
( 7 0 % ) . v e r e d i s s a t i a f i e d v i t h t h e p r e s e n t marke t ing a r rangement .
J u s t o v e r a q u a r t e r of t h o s e marke t g a r d e n e r s vho v e r e d i s s a t i s f i e d
( 2 6 % ) s t a t e d t h a t t h e y v e r e unhappy a b o u t having t o make t h e j o u r n e y t o
C l a i r v o o d ' s N a t i o n a l F resh Produce Market t o pay t h e l e v y t h a t was
r e q u i r e d o f them, before b e i n g a b l e t o d e l i v e r goods on o r d e r a t t h e
S q u a t t e r ' s Market i n Warvick Avenue. They vould p r e f e r t o p roceed
d i r e c t l y t o t h e S q u a t t e r ' s Market where , t h e y s u g g e s c , t h e same l e v y
might be p a i d . In t h i s vay , bo th t h e market a u t h o r i t i e s (vho c o l l e c t
t h i s r evenue) and t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s ( v h o vould reduce t h e i r
d i s t r i b u t i o n c o s t s c o n e i d e r a b l y by n o t hav ing t o make t h e i n i t i a l
j o u r n e y t o C l a i r v o o d ) vould be s a t i s f i e d . S i x of t h e s e marke t g a r d e n e r s
t a l k e d a t l e n g t h of t h e added i n c o n v e n i e n c e o f hav ing t o unload a
t r u c k l o a d of v e g e c a b l e s a t C la i rvood i n o r d e r t h a t a t i c k e t might be
i s s u e d o n payment of t h e l e v y . It v a s o n l y a f t e r t h i s t h a t t h e p roduce .
v h i c h had t h e n t o be re loaded o n t o t h e v e h i c l e , could be t aken t o i t s
f i n a l d e s t i n a t i o n . I n v i e v o f t h i s added i n c o n v e n i e n c e , t h e s e market
I . S i n c e some of t h e r e s p o n d e n t s mentioned more t h a n one r e a s o n f o r d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n , i t v a s dec ided c h a t t h e r e s p o n s e s vou ld be grouped a c c o r d i n g t i , t h e i s s u e concerned . The p e r c e n t a g e s t h e r e f o r e a r e n o t i n t e n d e d t o t o t a l 100%.
g a r d e n e r s s t a t e d t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n would be c o n s i d e r a b l y improved i f
t h e y were a l lowed t o proceed d i r e c t l y t o t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market .
The l e v y , a s t a t u t o r y amount t h a t is p a y a b l e by t h e fa rmer end market
g a r d e n e r t h e Marke t , was s i n g l e d o u t f o r c r i t i c i s m by a s m a l l number
o f f i v e marke t g a r d e n e r s (12% of t h o s e who were d i s s a t i s f i e d ) who
c o n s i d e r e d i t t o be u n f a i r l y h i g h f o r t h e p r o d u c e r s of s m a l l e r
q u a n t i t i e s of produce. Payment of a f i x e d sum, r e g a r d l e s s of t h e
q u a n t i t y of produce was, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s e g a r d e n e r s , u n f a i r s i n c e t h e
l a r g e r f a r m e r s who a r r i v e d w i t h a t r u c k l o a d of goods and t h e s m a l l e r
market g a r d e n e r s , some o f whom produce s m a l l q u a n t i t i e s of p r o d u c e ,
were r e q u i r e d t o pay t h e same amount. One o f t h e s e g a r d e n e r s p o i n t e d
o u t t h a t , i n c o n s i d e r i n g t h e c o s t of t r a n s p o r t i n g t h e goods t o t h e
Market and , i n a d d i t i o n , t h e c o s t of t h e l e v y , i t was o f t e n q u i t e
i m p o s s i b l e t o show a p r o f i t . A l l of t h e s e g a r d e n e r s f avoured r e v e r t i n g
t o t h e sys tem t h a t was o p e r a t i o n a l i n t h e s i x t i e s when f e e s were
a s s e s s e d a c c o r d i n g t o q u a n t i t y o f produce.
Seven teen ( 4 0 % ) o f the market g a r d e n e r s who were d i s s a t i s f i e d w i t h
t h e p r e s e n t marke t ing a r rangement s t a t e d t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n could be
improved i f t h e y were a f f o r d e d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of r e t a i l i n g t h e i r
p roduce d i r e c t l y t o t h e p u b l i c . W h i l s t t h e e x i s t i n g S q u a t t e r s ' Market
o r i g i n a t e d t o e n a b l e t h e market g a r d e n e r s t o r e t a i l t h e i r f r e s h produce
i n a c e n t r a l and w e l l p a c r o n i s e d l o c a l i t y , c h i s f a c i l i t y h a s , a s s t a t e d
e a r l i e r , been i n c r e a s i n g l y monopolised by t h e t r a d e r s s o t h a t a t
p r e s e n t a l l bu t a few s t a l l s have been t a k e n up by t h e t r a d e r s . As a
r e s u l t , t h e number o f marke t g a r d e n e r s who u s e t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market
has d e c r e a s e d c o n s i d e r a b l y . Of t h e 17 market g a r d e n e r s who s t a t e d t h a t
t h e y wished t o r e t a i l t o t h e p u b l i c , t e n s t a t e d t h a t t h e y could n o t do
s o s i n c e t h e y d i d n o t p o s s e s s a p e r m i t t o r e t a i l a t t h e S q u a t t e r s '
Marke t , w h i l s t f i v e g a r d e n e r s s a i d t h a t t h e y d i d not p o s s e s s a p e r m i t
t o r e t a i l a t Clairwood e i t h e r . They were t h e r e f o r e o b l i g e d t o e i t h e r
s u p p l y s t a l l h o l d e r s a t t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market , r e l y on o t h e r market
g a r d e n e r s t t i ~ k r t h e produce t o marke t , o r were dependen t on t h e
t r a d e r who c o l l e c t e d t h e f r e s h produce d i r e c t l y from t h e farm. I n t h e
l a t t e r i n s t a n c e a nominal amount was deducted from t h e c o s t t o cover
t h e t r a d e r ' s p e t r o l expenses !
Host of t h e market g a r d e n e r s who were not a b l e t o r e t a i l d i r e c t l y t o
t h e p u b l i c were f o r t h r i g h t i n t h e i r c r i t i c i s m of t h e p r e s e n t marke t ing
system which appeared t o deny t h e g rowers , e s p e c i a l l y t h e s m a l l e r
market g a r d e n e r s , t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o a t t a i n maximum f i n a n c i a l b e n e f i t .
Eleven market g a r d e n e r s (26% of t h o s e d i s s a t i s f i e d ) s t a t e d t h a t under
t h e p r e s e n t system i t was t h e t r a d e r o r 'middleman' who was running a
p r o f i t a b l e b u s i n e s s by buying and s e l l i n g t h e f r e s h produce grown and
n u r t u r e d by t h e market g a r d e n e r , o f t e n a g a i n s t such odds a s t h e r e c e n t
d r o u g h t , i n c r e a s i n g c o s t s and l a b o u r problems.
T h i r t e e n ( 3 0 X ) of t h e market g a r d e n e r s who expressed d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n
w i t h t h e p r e s e n t market ing arrangement conf ined t h e i r d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n
t o t h e f a c i l i t i e s a t t h e s p e c i a l I n d i a n Farmers' S e c t i o n of t h e market
a t Clairwood. These g a r d e n e r s complained of t h e bad layout o f s t a l l s a t
Clairwood, a s wel l a s t h e inadequacy of t h e s h e l t e r s above t h e s t a l l s
i n p r o v i d i n g s u f f i c i e n t cover d u r i n g r a i n f a l l . The e x i s t i n g s h e l t e r s ,
i t i s c la imed , b a r e l y p r o t e c t t h e l a d e n s t a l l s and a g r e a t improvement
would be ach ieved i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of p roper s h e l t e r s o r i n t h e
e x t e n s i o n of t h e e x i s t i n g ones beyond t h e p r e s e n t l i m i t e d p o i n t .
S i x t e e n respondents (37% of t h o s e d i s s a t i s f i e d ) mentioned t h e l a c k of
pa t ronage a t Clairwood and were unanimous i n t h e i r c r i t i c i s m of t h e
p r e s e n t l o c a t i o n of t h e Clairwood o u t l e t . The Clairwood marke t , t h e y
s t a t e d , was ' n o t a s good' a s t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market and s i n c e i t was
' n o t on a bus r o u t e ' , i t was n o t e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e t o shoppers . h r o of
t h e s e g a r d e n e r s s t a t e d t h a t i f t h e buses were r e r o u t e d s o t h a t they
passed by t h e m a r k e t , t h e s i t u a t i o n could improve. All of t h e market
g a r d e n e r s s t a t e d t h a t i n terms of pa t ronage , atmosphere and c e n t r a l i t y .
t h e Clairwood market cnuld h a r d l y compare wi th t h e S q u a t t e r s Market.
Having a s c e r t a i n e d t h e market g a r d e n e r s ' a t t i t u d e s t o t h e e x i s t i n g
marke t ing arrangement and t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e i r d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n (where
a p p l i c a b l e ) , t h e y were asked whether o r n o t they would p r e f e r an
a l t e r n a t i v e s y s t e m o f m a r k e t i n g . Here a g a i n , i t s h o u l d be no ted t h a t
a p p r o x i m a t e l y one i n e v e r y f o u r ( 2 6 % ) o f t h e market g a r d e n e r s d i d n o t
p r e f e r a n a l t e r n a t i v e m a r k e t i n g a r rangement - presumably t h o s e
g a r d e n e r s who were s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e e x i s t i n g m a r k e t i n g s y s t e m ,
( F i g u r e 1 0 ) .
However, a t l e a s t 41 r e s p o n d e n t s (66%) would have p r e f e r r e d some
a l t e r n a t i v e m a r k e t i n g a r rangement . Almost 80% o f t h e s e g a r d e n e r s would
have p r e f e r r e d t o s e l l d i r e c t l y a t t h e S q u a t t e r ' s Marke t , e i t h e r t o
s t a l l h o l d e r s ( 3 9 % ) o r d i r e c t l y t o t h e p u b l i c ( 3 9 % ) .
F i g u r e 10: P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e t o Marke t ing Arrangement
M i s s i n
T o t a l
1 6 39% would p r e f e r t o s e l l d i r e c t l y t o P s t a l l h o l d e r s a t S q u a t t e r s ' Market
39% would p r e f e r t o s e l l d i r e c t l y t o t h e p u b l i c a t S q u a t t e r s ' Harke t
17% Levy s h o u l d be dropped 5 Bu i ld a d e c e n t market 2
7 . 4 T r a n s p o r t
The c o s t o f t r a n s p o r t i n g goods t o t h e marke t is an i m p o r t a n t c o n s i d e r a -
t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e c a s e o f s m a l l g rowers . Where s m a l l q u a n t i t i e s
o f p roduce have t o be t r a n s p o r t e d o v e r l o n g d i s t a n c e s , t r a n s p o r t c o s t s
may a b s o r b a s u b s t a n t i a l p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e i r r e t u r n s .
Most , i f n o t a l l , o f t h e g a r d e n i n g a r e a s a r e l o c a t e d a t some d i s t a n c e
From t h e i r m a r k e t s i n Uurban and t h e i r l o c a l i t y makes road t r a n s p o r t
t h e most c o n v e n i e n t mode o f t r a n s p o r t i n g goods t o t h e marke t . Even
though C l i f f d a l e and S t o c k v i l l e a r e l o c a t e d n e a r r a i l w a y s t a t i o n s ,
p r o x i m i t y d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o w a r r a n t use .
The l o a d i n g of t h e f r e s h l y c u t p roduce o n t o v e h i c l e s a t t h e f a r m is n o t
o n l y c o n v e n i e n t f o r t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s , bu t a l s o g u a r a n t e e s t h a t t h e
p roduce r e a c h e s t h e market w i t h i n a d a y o f b e i n g c u t .
A l l t h e a r e a s i n t h e s t u d y were e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e by t a r r e d r o a d s .
Three o f t h e a r e a s ( C l i f f d a l e , S t o c k v i l l e and Mota la Farm) a r e w i t h i n
f i v e m i n u t e s of t h e main n a t i o n a l r o u t e between Durban and P i e t e r =
m a r i t z b u r g . W h i l s t t h e main r o u t e s t o t h e a r e a p r e s e n t no p rob lem,
r o a d s w i t h i n e a c h a r e a v a r y c o n s i d e r a b l y , from p o o r ( S t o c k v i l l e ) t o
f a i r ( C l i f f d a l e ) t o good (Mota la Farm).
Means o f T r a n s p o r t
Tab le 25 shows t h a t a b o u t t h r e e o u t of e v e r y f i v e marke t g a r d e n e r s
(61%) used t h e i r o m v e h i c l e s f o r t h e t r a n s p o r t o f g o o d s t o t h e marke t .
I t was r e a s o n a b l e t o e x p e c t some s h a r i n g o f t r a n s p o r t , s i n c e n o t a l l o f
t h e g a r d e n e r s i n t h e s t u d y p roduced l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s o f p roduce . It was
found t h a t 27% o f t h e g a r d e n e r s s h a r e d a v e h i c l e w i t h o t h e r g a r d e n e r s
i n t h e a r e a o r r e l i e d on r e l a t i v e s t o t r a n s p o r t t h e goods t o t h e market
f o r them. Whereas i n t h e p a s t t h e s e r v i c e of c a r t a g e c o n t r a c t o r s was
w i d e l y u s e d , t h i s d o e s no t a p p e a r t o f e a t u r e i n t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y . The
s i n g l e marke t g a r d e n e r who t r a v e l l e d by b u s , d i d s o i n t e r m i t t e n t l y
depend ing on w h e t h e r o r n o t he had s u f f i c i e n t q u a n t i t i e s t o marke t . A
s m a l l number o f marke t g a r d e n e r s (10%). p a r t i c u l a r l y women i n t h e
S t o c k v i l l e a r e a , had made a r r a n g e m e n t s w i t h t r a d e r s f o r t h e p roduce t o
be c o l l e c t e d a t t h e f a r m , t h e f r e q u e n c y of c o l l e c t i o n s depend ing on t h e
s e a s o n and q u a n t i t y o f p roduce ( m a i n l y f l o w e r s ) a v a i l a b l e a t t h e t ime .
T a b l e 25: Type of T r a n s p o r t Used f o r Marke t ing Purposes (N = 62)
Type of T r a n s p o r t n %
Own v e h i c l e : van 28
l o r r y 10 1 3 8 ::I 61
Share w i t h o t h e r f a rmer
Dependent on f a m i l y 1 4 7 ':I 27
G o d s c o l l e c f ed 6 10
Bus 1 2
T o t a l 62 100
The i n f o r m a t i o n p r e s e n t e d i n Tab le 26 r e v e a l s t h a t t h e t r a n s p o r t c o s t s
p e r week f o r t h e C l i f f d a l e g r o w e r s were c o n s i d e r a b l y h i g h e r t h a n f o r
t h e g rowers i n t h e o t h e r t h r e e a r e a s . In t h i s r e g a r d , t h e number of
t r i p s made pe r week t o market produce is p e r h a p s a more s i g n i f i c a n t
f a c t o r t h a n d i s t a n c e . Seventy-four p e r c e n t o f t h e C l i f f d a l e g a r d e n e r s
marketed t h e i r p roduce a t l e a s t t w i c e a week, w h i l s t by compar i son , 66%
o f t h e S t o c k v i l l e g a r d e n e r s . 60% of t h e Dassenhoek g a r d e n e r s and a l l
t h e g a r d e n e r s i n Motala Farm made o n l y one j o u r n e y p e r veek t o market
t h e i r p roduce ( T a b l e 27) .
T a b l e 26: T r a n s p o r t Cos t s p e r Ueek by Loca t ion ( N = 6 2 )
Cos t s p e r Week C l i f f d a l e S t o c k v i l l e Motala Farm Dassenhoek T o t a l
n % n % n % n % n %
No c o s t s / s e l l i n a r e a 1 5 I 3 - - - - 2 3 I
Under K10 2 11 12 34 2 67 - - 16 26
K11 - R20 3 16 16 46 1 3 3 3 60 23 37
K21 - K30 8 4 2 3 9 - - 2 40 I3 21
tNer R30 5 2 6 3 9 - - - - 8 13
T o t a l 19 100 35 100 3 100 5 100 62 LOO
T a b l e 27: Frequency of V i s i t s t o Market by L o c a t i o n ( N = 62)
Frequency C l i f f d a l e S t o c k v i l l e Motala Farm D'Hork T o t a l
n % n % n % n X n %
t o market
Once a week
2-3 t imes a week 14 74 2 40 25 40
T o t a l 19 100 35 100 100 5 100 62 100
Marke t ing Days
F r i d a y a p p e a r s t o be t h e day on which most o f t h e market g a r d e n e r a
make t h e j o u r n e y t o market t h e i r produce. J u s t under 80% of a l l t h e
g a r d e n e r s s t a t e d t h a t F r i d a y was ' m a r k e t i n g d a y ' . T h i s b e a r s a c l o s e
r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e f i n d i n g s of c u r r e n t r e s e a r c h which e s t a b l i s h e d
F r i d a y t o be t h e most popu la r shopp ing day , w i t h 6 1 000 i n d i v i d u a l s
u s i n g t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market between 06h00 and 18h00 ( C i t y E n g i n e e r ,
T a b l e 28: Days on which Produce is Taken t o Market ( N = 53)
Day n 1 % 1
Monday 2 4
Tuesday 19 36
Wednesday I 2
Thursday 16 30
F r i d a y 42 79
S a t u r d a y 12 23
1. Market g a r d e n e r s who t r a n s p o r t e d t h e i r produce t o market on more t h a n one day p e r week have been i n c l u d e d i n t h e numbers f o r t h e r e s p e c t i v e d a y s and have t h u s been ' c o u n t e d ' more once.
1983) . Although p a s t r e s e a r c h h a s shown S a t u r d a y t o be t h e most p o p u l a r
d a y f o r m a r k e t i n g , d a t a from t h i s s t u d y show o t h e r ~ i s e . ~ Whi l s t
F r i d a y is t h e most popu la r ' m a r k e t i n g ' day f o r t h e g a r d e n e r s i n t h e
s t u d y a r e a , more g rowers marke ted t h e i r p roduce on a Tuesday ( 3 6 % ) than
on a S a t u r d a y ( 2 3 % ) . One p o s s i b l e r e a s o n f o r a low S a t u r d a y coun t migh t
be t h a t s i n c e g a r d e n e r s were r e q u i r e d t o u s e t h e f a c i l i t i e s o f t h e
Clairwood m a r k e t , more g a r d e n e r s f avoured F r i d a y i f t h e y marketed t h e i r
goods once a week - because o f t h e l o n g e r shopp ing h o u r s on t h a t day.
T r a n s p o r t D i f f i c u l t i e s
I n a s s e s s i n g t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s e n c o u n t e r e d by t h e market g a r d e n e r s w i t h
r e g a r d t o t r a n s p o r t i n g goods t o m a r k e t , o n l y 18% o f t h e sample ( 1 1
market g a r d e n e r s ) s t a t e d t h a t t h e y e x p e r i e n c e d any d i f f i c u l t i e s i n t h i s
s p h e r e . Seven of t h e r e s p o n s e s (11%) concerned t h e h i g h c o s t of
t r a n s p o r t i n g goods t o t h e market - t h e s e came from t h e owners o f s m a l l
p l o t s o f l a n d whose s a l e a b l e q u a n t i t i e s of p roduce were s m a l l . These
g rowers f e l t t h a t t h e c o s t of t r a n s p o r t i n g goods t o C la i rwood , where
p a t r o n a g e was l i m i t e d and ' n o t a s good a s Warwick Avenue' ( S q u a t t e r s '
M a r k e t ) , meant t h a t on many o c c a s i o n s t h e y were a b l e t o b a r e l y b r e a k
even . Four o f t h e r e s p o n s e s ( 6 % ) concerned t h e l a c k of t r a n s p o r t and
t h e consequen t dependence on t h e goodness of n e i g h b o u r s t o t r a n s p o r t
goods f o r them, w h i l s t one market g a r d e n e r , whose p l o t was some 500
m e t r e s away from t h e r o a d , had c o n s i d e r a b l e d i f f i c u l t y i n l o a d i n g t h e
p roduce o n t o h i s v e h i c l e s i n c e a c c e s s t o h i s farm was l i m i t e d t o a
p a t h .
I . G r e y l i n g ( 1 9 7 6 ) found t h a t 88 .51 of 182 f a r m e r s i n t e r v i e w e d a t t h e S q u a t t e r s ' blarket s o l d p roduce e v e r y S a t u r d a y , w h i l e t h e remain ing 11,52 r e q u i r e d market s p a c e o n l y on S a t u r d a y s , but i r r e g u l a r l y .
SECTION EIGHT
CONCLUSION
The task of draving toge ther a s t udy of t h i s na tu r e i s a d i f f i c u l t one.
Hovever, i f one were t o h igh l i gh t the main i s s u e s which appear t o be
problemat ic t he se vould be t he fo l l ov ing :
1.1 The a r ea under cons ide r a t i on covers 680 ac r e s vhich r e f l e c t s t he
cons ide r ab l e ' a r e a ' of c u l t i v a t i o n . Methods of c u l t i v a t i o n a r e
t r a d i t i o n a l (accept f o r C l i f f d a l e ) and t he c rop i s predominantly
vegetable .
1.2 With t h e except ion of t he C l i f f d a l e a r e a which had a good r e l a t i o n
v i t h , and benef i ted from con t ac t v i t h , t h e Extension Divis ion of
t he Department of Agr i cu l t u r e , t he o the r t h r e e a r ea s expressed
s cep t i c i sm over t he a g r i c u l t u r a l ex tens ion s e r v i c e s o f t he
Department. Market gardeners appeared t o be ' s u sp i c ious ' of t he
Department and vere of t he opin ion t h a t , s i n c e t hey vere small
fa rmers , t he Department vould not ' cons ide r ' them a s being i n need
of t he s e r v i c e . The r e sea r che r i n v i t e d t he ex tens ion o f f i c e r s t o
t he S t o c k v i l l e / G i l l i t s a r e a t o meet with and e s t a b l i s h con t ac t
wi th the market ga rdene r s , and by the end of t he survey , t h r e e
p l o t s had succe s s fu l l y been ' contoured ' .
The Extension Serv ices Div is ion i s unders ta f fed . At t h e time of
t he survey , a t o t a l of t h r ee o f f i c e r s vas requi red t o s e r v i c e the
e n t i r e Natal c o a s t a l reg ion from Stanger i n t he n o r t h , t o Umkomaas
i n t he south . More compet i t ive r a t e s of pay and s e r v i c e b e n e f i t s
would a t t r a c t more i nd iv idua l s t o t he Job. A l i m i t on t he mileage
i s a l s o problematic s i n c e i t means t h a t t he more ou t l y ing farming
reg ions a r e s a c r i f i c e d f o r ' a r e a s ' c l o s e r t o base.
1.3 The most i m p o r t a n t theme t o have emerged is t h a t o f t h e
a v a i l a b i l i t y o f s u i t a b l e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d . The f i n d i n g s show t h a t
a l m o s t a l l o f t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s had had t o r e l o c a t e t o t h e i r
p r e s e n t a r e a s o f o p e r a t i o n a s a r e s u l t of t h e u r b a n i z a t i o n p r o c e s s
and t h e i n c r e a s i n g demand f o r b o t h i n d u s t r i a l and r e s i d e n t i a l
sites. The m a r k e t g a r d e n e r s i n t h e a r e a s would have wished a t t h e
t i m e t o r e l o c a t e t o a r e a s ' c l o s e r ' t o t h e i r m a r k e t s . The l a c k o f
a l t e r n a t i v e l s u i t a b l e l and i n c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o t h e i r market had
f o r c e d them t o f a rm, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e G i l l i t s a r e a .
W h i l s t , a t t h e t i m e , t h e m a j o r i t y o f marke t g a r d e n e r s f e l t s e c u r e
a s a r e s u l t o f t h e zon ing o f t h e G i l l i t s and C l i f f d a l e a r e a f o r
a g r i c u l t u r a l p u r p o s e s , t h e y e x p e r i e n c e d a g r e a t d e a l o f i n s e c u r i t y
o v e r t h e i r f u t u r e . The i s s u e o f s e c u r i t y of t e n u r e and zone is
t h e r e f o r e a n i m p o r t a n t c r i t e r i o n i n b o t h t h e p r o g r e s s and s u c c e s s
o f t h e a c t i v i t y , s i n c e i n d i v i d u a l s a r e l e s s l i k e l y t o i n v e s t i n
p r o p e r t y t h a t is i n s e c u r e .
2. T r a d i t i o n
The s u r v e y h a s e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t marke t g a r d e n i n g is p r e d o m i n a n t l y
a t r a d i t i o n f o l l o w e d by t h e c h i l d r e n o f marke t g a r d e n e r s . There
a r e i n d i c a t i o n s , however , t h a t t h e demise o f t h i s a c t i v i t y may be
a t t r i b u t a b l e t o t h e low p r o f i t m a r g i n s o f many marke t g a r d e n e r s .
The f a c t o r s i n f o r c e h e r e a r e : a c o m b i n a t i o n o f low p r o f i t
m a r g i n s , h i g h c o s t o f l a n d , l a c k o f s u i t a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e
a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d , m a r k e t i n g p r o b l e m s , h i g h t r a n s p o r t c o s t s , and
t h e a t t r a c t i o n o f wage employment coup led w i t h t h e impor tance t h a t
is a t t r i b u t e d t o e d u c a t i o n .
3. M a r k e t i n g
The m a r k e t g a r d e n e r s e x p e r i e n c e d t h e f o l l o w i n g p rob lems w i t h t h e
e x i s t i n g m a r k e t i n g a r r a n g e m e n t :
i ) The l o c a t i o n o f t h e N a t i o n a l F r e s h Produce Market a t
Clai rwood is p a r t i c u l a r l y u n s u i t a b l e a s t h e r e is a l a c k o f
p a s s i n g t r a d e .
i i ) The c o n d i t i o n t h a t f a r m e r s have f i r s t t o pay a 'Levy ' a t t h e
Clairwood marke t b e f o r e p r o c e e d i n g t o t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market
i n v o l v e s t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s i n a p r o c e s s t h a t i s no t o n l y
t i m e consuming, bu t c o s t l y a s w e l l . T r a n s p o r t c o s t s a r e
t h e r e f o r e h i g h a s a r e s u l t o f t h e p r e s e n t l o c a t i o n o f t h e i r
f a r m i n g a r e a s , and t h e p r o c e s s o f t r a v e l l i n g t o Clairwood
f i r s t , b e f o r e p r o c e e d i n g onwards t o t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market .
As an a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e e x i s t i n g m a r k e t i n g a r rangement t h e marke t
g a r d e n e r s would p r e f e r :
i ) t o sell p roduce d i r e c t l y t o t h e p u b l i c a t t h e S q u a t t e r s '
Market . The p rob lem h e r e is t h e l a c k of a v a i l a b l e s t a n d s ,
which a t t h e moment a r e t a k e n up by ' t r a d e r s ' r a t h e r t h a n t h e
p r o d u c e r s , who buy t h e goods d i r e c t l y f rom t h e f a r m e r s ( a t
t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market g a t e ) o r a t Clai rwood. The m a j o r i t y of
t h e s m a l l e r f a r m e r s would p r e f e r t o s e l l d i r e c t l y t o t h e
p u b l i c a t t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Marke t , t h u s c u t t i n g o u t t h e ' m i d d l e
man' who is a b l e t o a c c r u e h i g h p r o f i t s on p roduce t h a t he
h a s n o t grown. The marke t g a r d e n e r s e s t i m a t e t h a t t h e t r a d e r s
s e l l t h e p roduce a t a p r i c e t h a t is 150% g r e a t e r t h a n t h e
p r i c e t h e y pay f o r t h e p roduce .
T h i s is an i m p o r t a n t i s s u e and t h e s o u r c e of much d i s s a t i s -
f a c t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r t h o s e f a r m e r s who m e r e l y e k e out a
l i v i n g by c h i s a c t i v i t y ;
i i ) o r , particularly w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e l a r g e r f a r m e r s who
have ' o r d e r s ' t o s a t i s f y , t o have t h e p r o c e s s of f i r s t hav ing
t o pay a l e v y a t Clai rwood and t h e n p r o c e e d i n g t o t h e i r f i n a l
destination s i m p l i f i e d , by a l l o w i n g them t o pay t h i s l e v y i n
t h e c l t y . a t t h e S q u a t t e r s ' Market .
The l o c a t i o n o f t h e marke t i s t h e r e f o r e an i m p o r t a n t and v i t a l
c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
The work f o r c e c o n s i s t s p r e d o m i n a n t l y o f b l a c k f emale l a b o u r who
command v e r y low r a t e s of pay. T h i s h a s been a t t r i b u t e d , a c c o r d i n g
t o t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s t h e m s e l v e s , t o t h e low p r o f i t m a r g i n s t h a t
t h i s l i v e l i h o o d a l l o w s . 1 t is q u e s t i o n a b l e , t h o u g h , whe the r t h i s
l i n e o f r e a s o n i n g is a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e l a r g e f a r m e r s a t C l i f f d a l e
bu t c e r t a i n l y t r u e of t h e s m a l l e r market g a r d e n e r s a t G i l l i t s ,
Dassenhoek and Mota la Farm.
The P o r t N a t a l A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Board r e q u i r e m e n t f o r a l l l a b o u r t o
be r e g i s t e r e d is p a r t i c u l a r l y p r o b l e m a t i c and a number of f a r m e r s
would p r e f e r a s y s t e m of ' b l o c k r e g i s t r a t i o n ' . T h i s would overcome
a v e r y r e a l problem t h a t t h e f a r m e r s f a c e when l a b o u r d o e s n o t
t u r n up c o n s i s t e n t l y , p a r t i c u l a r l y a t t h e t i m e o f h a r v e s t , and
would a l l o w them t o r e c r u i t a s many l a b o u r e r s a s t h e y need a t any
p a r t i c u l a r t ime.
I n b road terms, t h e n , i t i s c l e a r t h a t t h e marke t g a r d e n e r s f i n d
t h e m s e l v e s i n a m a r g i n a l p o s i t i o n . T h e i r l a n d base h a s b e e n , and
c o n t i n u e s t o b e , r e d u c e d ; t h e y o f t e n view a g r i c u l t u r a l s e r v i c e s w i t h
s u s p i c i o n ; t r a d i t i o n a l ties t o t h e a c t i v i t y a r e b e i n g l o o s e n e d ; and t h e
m a r k e t i n g s y s t e m f o r t h e i r p r o d u c t s h a s l o n g t r e a t e d them a s f r i n g e
o p e r a t o r s , t a n g e n t i a l p r o d u c e r s i n a l a r g e r , more c a p i t a l i n t e n s i v e
sys t em. T h i s is t h e r e a l i t y o f marke t g a r d e n i n g i n t h e a r e a s s t u d i e d .
The r e a l q u e s t i o n t o be a s k e d , t h e r e f o r e , i s whe the r s e r v i c e s p r o v i d e d ,
and changes made t o , market g a r d e n i n g a s a a c t i v i t y shou ld be aimed a t
p r o t e c t i n g t h e p r e s e n t p a r t i c i p a n t s a s t h i s way o f l i f e comes t o an
e n d , o r w h e t h e r t h o s e s e r v i c e s and changes shou ld be d i r e c t e d towards
s u c h i n n o v a t i o n s and deve lopment s a s w i l l move marke t g a r d e n i n g back
i n t o t h e main s t r e a m o f food p r o d u c t i o n . Posing t h e q u e s t i o n Is a s f a r
a s t h i s r e s e a r c h e r may g o ; answer ing i t l i e s w i t h i n t h e b r o a d e r realm
o f s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y : t h e n a t u r e and c o n t r o l of food p r o d u c t i o n
w i l l a l w a y s be a fundamenta l i n d i c a t o r o f t h e form of s o c i a l p r o c e s s
chosen by a s o c i e t y o r imposed by a government .
Butler-Adam, JF and Venter , WM (1984): Indian Housing Study i n Durban
and Pie te rmar i tzburg . Volume One: Metropol i tan Durban ( T e x t ) , Natal Tovn and Regional Planning Commission Main Ser iea Report
Volume 56, P ie te rmar i tzburg .
C i t y Engineer (1975): Report on an Inves t i ga t i on to Enable a S u i t a b l e
Reloca t ion of the Ear ly Morning Market, Durban, Ci ty Engineer ' s Department.
(1983): The Squa t t e r a ' Market, Durban, Ci ty Engineer ' s Department.
CKD (1983): Cent re f o r Research and Documentation. Univers i ty of
Zululand.
Greyl ing , JJC (1976): The Squa t t e r s ' Market, ISER Report No. 3 ,
Un ive r s i t y of Durban-Westville.
Moller,V (1978): Mobi l i ty on t h e Urban Fr inge: Some Observations Based
on 72 Householda i n t he Inanda Peri-urban Area, Centre f o r Applied
Socia l Sc iences , Un ive r s i t y of Na t a l , Durban.
H o l l e r , V and S top fo r th , P (1980) : Asp i r a t i ons , Experience and Needs i n Informal Housing: Survey Observationa i n a Spontaneous
Se t t lement Near Durban, Centre f o r Applied Socia l Sc iences ,
Un ive r s i t y of Nata l , Durban.
Natal Regional Survey (1961): S tud i e s of Indian Employment i n Nata l ,
Department of Economics, Un ive r s i t y of Natal . Durban.
SAIRK (1983): Survey of Race Re l a t i ons , Johannesburg, South African I n s t i t u t e of Race Rela t ions .
S c h l e m e r , L and Mol ler , V (1982): Informal Peri-urban Communities and
Planning Needs, Centre f o r Applied Socia l Sc iences , Univers i ty of
Nata l , Durban.
6 8
APPENDIX A
ADDITIONAL TABLES
Tab le I: Renc P a i d per Annum f o r Land Leased (N = 27)
Annual Rent n 5:
None I 4
R50 - R59 2 7
R60 - R69 9 33
R70 - R79 3 1 I
R8O - R89 2 7
R 9 0 t 10 37
T o t a l 2 7 100
~aoquassea seueuw 000 s qaoquassea saoluem z~/snsdnsd 002 T
qaquassea sopmohe 0'7/saoluem o~lsnednsd 001
aTepjjTT3 saolueol ~zlsnedned 0~/ssususq 01
~T~PIJ~J suoma~/sa8ue~o i
eITIIT3 slead S/saoluew z/seueueq 0s
sJTTTT3 seueueq 5
~JTTTT~ seueueq 000 s
uued ~T~JOU seueueq 000 T
wlea e~e~on seueueq 000 E
~JTTTT:, seueueq 00s z ~~TTTT~ seueueq 000 s
JT~PJJTT~ saoluem 0~
UIJWA e~elon swueueq 000 I
SlTIT13 seueueq OSL
uo~ msol aaq 30 ad& pue 'ON
001 ST TWJOL
Aes louue~ 1'7 L /JT~WTT~A~ WN
L T +8
LZ '7 E
LI Z
EI z al~e T 01 dn
% u salsv jo 'ON
Table 3: Types of Vegetables Grown and Number of Farmers who Grew Them
(N - 48)
G i l l i t s C l i f f d a l e Notala Farm D'Hoek Tota l
Beans ( l i m a l g a d r a l s t r i n g ) 17 16 I 5 39
Beetroot - 7 - 1 8
Br in j a l 6 10 I - 17
Cabbage 12 14 - 2 28
CalabashINarrow 3 6 I 2 12
Car ro t s - 4 2 2 8
Caulif lower I I2 - 1 14
C h i l l i e s 5 10 - 5 20 Cumcumbers 8 I 1 - - 19
Dhania 8 I I - 10
Gar l i c - - - - - Ginger I - - - I Herbs ( r ed lg reen ) 8 I - 2 I I Indian veg (okra . b i t t e r g a l l l a v a r c a ) 5 - - 5 10
Lettuce 7 10 1 - I 8
Mealies 10 7 - 2 19
Peas 7 5 1 - 13
Peppers (green1 r ed ) - 3 - - 3
Pota toes - 11 - - I I
Pumpkin 5 4 - - 9
Spring onions - I - - 1
Tomatoes 7 I I - 4 22
Turnips - 1 - - 1
Number of market gardeners 35 19 3 5 62
Number who grew vegetables 22 19 2 5 48
Tota l acreage devoted t o vegetable production 94,5 379,5 2 74 550
1 S t r i c t l y C o n f i d e n t i a l (
1NTERVlEW SCHEDULE FOR MARKET GARDENERS
(To b e completed by Head o f Household)
L o c a t i o n : Sample No. :
I n t e r v i e w e r : - Date :
SECTION A
GENERAL INFORHATIC -
I. Date o f a r r i v a l i n area:
Born here ti--l 2. Prev ious area o f res idence :
3. Reason f o r l o c a t i n g here :
1971-80
I I z I 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7
1951-60 1941-50
Other :
Comments :
1961-7C 1931-40 Don' t know' m iss ing
H i s s i n g
0
Family t ies
5
Before 1930 Spec i f y :
One o f few a v a i l a b l e Indian farming areas
2
Yanted to do market gardening
1
Had t o move o f Group
Areas
3
Cheaper accommodation
B e t t e r accommodation
4
Born here
8
o f l i f e Other
9 6
4 a) Occupation o f fa the r O F head o f household7
b) A l i v e
c) Area o f w r k
d) Area o f residence
5. No. o f years fami l y involvnd i n market gardening: I N/A
6. No. o f years i n present o c c ~ ~ o a t i o n
7. Previous occupat ion
8. Reason f o r choosing t o be a market gardener7
9. Tenure o f dwe l l i ng / iand :
10. Terlents only - Land :
a) Area rented
b) Rent pa id
c) Rented from :
d) Reason land not purchased:
owner
Other :
Comments :
tenant a t w i l l
too c o s t l y can't a f f o r d
1
tenant I o ther
I
h ) Dwel l ing rented from :
2 1 3 1 4
o w n e r w n ' t s e l l
2
1 1 . T e n a n t s o n l y - D w e l l i n g : I N/A 1 a) Rent :
convenient as i s don't want t o buy
3
per month
Group Area uncer ta in
4
per year -- 1
cannot get a a bond
5
12.
a) Area owned acres
b) Area leased f o r farming
C) I n c m e der ived from leas ing
d) l n c m e d e r i v e d f r o m d w e l l i n g leased
e) Bond repayments Yes
If, nature o f repayments :
13. Dwel l ing Type :
Descr ip t i on :
b r i c k
14. No. o f s I e e p i n g / l i v i n g rooms :
1 5 . No. o f persons i n dwe l l i ng
16. Feel secure w i t h e x i s t i n g tenure7 I yes I NO ) I f not, why not7
wood c i r o n
18. Improvements t o dwe l l i ng i n l a s t 5 years : -1
I
I f Yes, o u t l i n e nature o f improvements : -
asbestos
SECTION B
2 1 3
PRODUCTION
1 . Tota l a rea o f c u l t i v a t e d land :
shack*
4 1 s
o the r
- - -
: (s/do~= 104 pa~edald s! pue( q>!qn 6u!dnp r/qauou 'pasn auaud!nba 40 sl!elag) :pel 40 uo!le~eda~d (eb
e!ueup
Ja6u!6
sueaq
SqJaq
s1!1ual
SUO(UO
saj((!q~
sa! leau
sle!u!dq
a>n~~a(
sa6eqqe~
saolelod
~a~(j! 1"-
sJaqun:,n>
su!ldwnd
qseqele:, :SaJ>\l
sao~eunl :sa[qela6a~
Source o f seed: Cost p e r year
4 b ) Sowing:
Comments:
4 c ) Harvest ing & Storage: O u t l i n e n a t u r e o f harvest ing, equipment used, nunths o f harvest :
Seeds Seedl ings
I r r i g a t i o n :
Water pumped/ piped from stream
Catchment tank
Tap
Other
D e t a i l s
pq=r 1u!q paq=eluo= noh aneq
~lou Aqn 'x lpa(paas pa!4!lja= luamu~ano6 asn noA 00 .g
I f you have not contacted him, why no t?
11. Do gardeners i n the area co operate i n any way? -1 If i n what way?
Sharing o f t r a c t o r K inpie- ments
C m e n t s :
If uould you l i k e t o see more co-operation?
12. Gross i n c o m e d e r i v e d f r o m g a r d e n i n g (1982): R
13. Nett incane der ived from gardening (1982) : R --
Sharing o f transpc r t
14. Cas ts fa r the year 1982 :
yes
Advice E discuss ion o f methods
No D o n , t know I
Other
I tem h o u n t
- - - -
Comments on problems encountered:
-
19. Are you engaged i n any other income-deriving a c t i v i t y o t h e r than market garden in97 rL-rL- I f yes, n a t u r e o f a c t i v i t y / a c t i v i t i e s :
a.
b. -
Income per annum
20. Do you fee l as though you need t o supplement your gardening income7
1 Yes / NO ] I f Yes, why7
21. Caments on anyth ing not covered by questions: r e l a t i n g t o Production:
SECTION C
HARKETINC
1. Location:
2. Transpor tat ion:
3. T i m e s per week produce taken t o 'markel ' : I I
Bulk sales C l a i r w o d
I -
4. Does the produce go d i r e c t l y t o the market?
Other
5
I Yes I No I N / A - don' t qo t o market I
Other
6
I f No, g i v e d e t a i l s : -
Priva te entrepre- neur
4
Special Ind ian Farmer's Market
Clubs
2
Squatter's i larket War= wick Ave.
3
S a t i s l f e d w l t h arrangement: -1 i f No, why not7
I f No, would you l i k e t o see a co-op formed i n the area7 1-1 I f not , why not7
5. Do marketing co-ops e x i s t i n your area7
6. Problems o f t ranspor ta t ion :
I yes I No I N/A - no t ranspor t needed ]
Yes
S a t i s f i e d I Not s a t i s f i e d I Don ' t know
Reason f o r d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n :
I f Yes. o u t l i n e nature:
No
7. Cost o f t ranspor ta t ion : R
How can the s i t u a t i o n be improved7 -
Don' t know
per week
9. Wouid you p re fe r an a l t e r n a t i v e system7
I f Yes, please comment:
8. How do you fee l about the marketing arrangement7
- -
4. Ava i lab le f a c i l i t i e s :
Arrangement: Sa t i s fac to ry
5a) I s there a bus se rv i ce opera t ing i n your a r e a l
I f Yes, where t o 1
b) Bus serv ice: Adequate1 I Yes I NO I N/A I If why not?
Not s a t i s f a c t o r y
pr imary school
C) How far i s i t t o the nearest bus s top i n t ime taken t o get there1
Reason unsa t i s fac to ry :
1 5 min I 10 min 1 15 min 1 30 min I N/A (
6. Are the roads i n the area s a t i s f a c t o r y 1 rzrz
secondary school
I f no t , why not7 -
t r a d i n g s t o r e
c l i n i c / d o c t o r ' s surgery
7. Ccmnents on access t o the area:
o the r : 1
SECTION E
1 . Over t he past 10 years would you say t h a t your market-gardening business has :
Reason:
improved I w r s e n e d
2. Has t he no. o f f a m i l y mmbers working i n t he gardening business:
stayed much the same
Reason:
don ' t know
3. What do you t h i n k t he f u t u r e prospects a re f o r market gardeners t he a r e a l
1
increased
4. For haw much longer do you t h i n k you w i l l be a b l e t o cont inue w i t h market gardening7 (not necessa r i l y i n t he area) :
3 2
decreased stayed much the same I N/A
5. 00 you t h i n k your c h i l d r e n w i l l take up market gardening7
4
d o n ' t know
I
Camlen t s :
2 3 4 5
Reason:
15
7. I s there sanething e l s e you would r a t h e r be doing? I Yes I No bon' t know
I f Yes, what?
6. A t t i t u d e t o present occupation:
8. A t t i t u d e t o l i v i n g i n area: Reasons
I happy not happy 1
happy not happy i n d i f f e r e n t
- l i k e i t here
pleasant surroundings
good p lace t o l i v e
c lean 6 heal thy not a heal thy p lace environment
- -
do no t l i k e i t here
unpleasant surroundings -- bad place t o l i v e
f r i e n d l y people
9. How long do you in tend t o remain i n the area?
u n f r i e n d l y people
don ' t know
10. I f you in tend t o move, what would be your reason?
Reason:
safe
Area:
unsafe
W i l l you cont inue market gardening? Yes I NO I Don t know
I f No, what w i l l you do instead?
:sualqodd 40 adnaeu 'sa~ 41
(ON LSallLeale aqa u! 6u!n! 1 oa 6u!aela~ sualqo~d Aue aneq noA oa
~uo!aed6aau! ue anoqe 6u)~q oa auop aq plnoqs aeqrr 'sa~ 41
- 1 ~paae~Baau! a! aas oa a711 noA p~s~ofl
15a) I n what ways can you improve the q u a l i t y o f l l f e o r your well-being7
b) I n what way can the comnunity work together t o improve i t s wel l -be ing7
16. DO you t h l n k tha t the co rnun i t y needs ou ts ide help7
Do you t h i n k market gardeners need ou ts ide he lp i n order t o prosper7
Yes
I f Yes, i n what way7
17. How would you descr ibe your area7
I f Yes, i n what ways and f r a n whan7
No Don't knar
18. Do you fee l p a r t o f the urbanised system7 i.e. tha t you have much i n canmon w i t h people l i v i n g i n Pinetown o r Ourban7
Discuss:
r u r a l
Add i t i ona l Comments:
semi-rural urban I d o n ' t know
R e l a t i o n s h i p t o Head
Age i n Years
Sex
j ~ e v e l o f c m p l e t e d I I I I I I I I I I
Head
1 Economic S t a t u s
Type o f Job
, Type o f F i r m
i Income per Honth
Other income: r e n t 1
work e l s e w h e r e r a t h e r than marke t garden?
I
Economic S t a t u s : 1. U o r k e r 2. Housewi fe I . Student 4. S c h o l a r 5 . Unemployed
6 . Se l f -Employed 7 . R e t i r e d 8. No o c c u p a t i o n - d i s a b l e d , e t c .
9. P r e - s c h o l a r , b a b i e s , e t c .