Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS)
Browse by
The Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) engages in research, training, policy development and advocacy in relation to land and agrarian reform, rural governance and natural resource management. It is committed to social change that empowers the poor, builds democracy and enhances sustainable livelihoods.
Collections in this community
-
Fact Check [4]
-
Policy Briefs (PLAAS) [130]
-
Policy Submissions [13]
Recent Submissions
-
Elite capture and state neglect: new evidence on South Africa’s land reform
(Taylor & Francis, 2017)South Africa’s land reform is in flux – and, arguably, in crisis. We argue here that the widespread criticism of its slow pace fails to capture the extent of this crisis. Our argument follows from that of Lionel Cliffe ... -
Community land formalization and company land acquisition procedures: A review of 33 procedures in 15 countries
(Elsevier, 2020)Indigenous and community lands, crucial for rural livelihoods, are typically held under informal customary tenure arrangements. This can leave the land vulnerable to outside commercial interests, so communities may seek ... -
Immunoglobulin G response and performance in Holstein calves supplemented with garlic powder and probiotics
(MDPI, 2020)The study evaluated the effects of garlic, probiotics, and in combination on levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and growth performance in new-born Holstein calves. Thirty-two Holstein calves were randomly allocated to ... -
Behavioural reactivity of two lines of South African Merino sheep divergently selected for reproductive potential
(Elsevier, 2020)The behavioural reactivity of two divergently selected lines of South African Merino sheep for an increased (HL: N = 1187) and reduced (LL: N = 285) number of lambs weaned per ewe mated was investigated using a docility ... -
Tillage practices affect weeds differently in monoculture vs. crop rotation
(Elsevier, 2020)Reduced tillage practices are widely considered to be more sustainable than conventional tillage practices, but many producers remain reluctant to reduce tillage due to difficulties controlling weeds. Crop rotation is often ... -
Cash transfers for sustainable rural livelihoods? Examining the long-term productive effects of the Child Support Grant in South Africa
(Elsevier, 2020)Cash transfers have received increased scholarly and policy attention, as a means of reducing poverty in the global South. While cash transfers are primarily intended to prevent impoverishment and deprivation, several ... -
The effect of varying dietary nutrient densities on the relative growth of ostrich body components
(OpenJournals Publishing AOSIS (Pty) Ltd, 2020)The influence of varying dietary protein and energy levels on the relative growth of body components of ostriches was evaluated over a 244-day growth period. One hundred twenty 1-day-old ostrich chicks were randomly ... -
Weed community assessment and response to smother cropping strategies at George, South Africa
(Editorial board of Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 2020)Weeds are one of the major constraints to crop cultivation that can affect crop yield based on their species composition and density. A field trial was initiated to assess the weed community composition and evaluate ... -
Meat quality, skin damage and reproductive performance of ostriches exposed to extensive human presence and interactions at an early age
(Springer Nature, 2020)The effect human presence and interactions performed after hatch to 3 months of age has on ostrich meat quality, skin damage and reproductive performance at a later age was investigated in 416-day-old ostrich chicks. The ... -
Bureaucrats, investors and smallholders: contesting land rights and agro-commercialisation in the Southern agricultural growth corridor of Tanzania
(Taylor & Francis, 2020)Since the triple crises of food, fuel and finance of 2007/8, investments in agricultural growth corridors have taken centrestage in government, donor and private sector initiatives. This article examines the politics of ... -
Changing livelihoods in rural Eastern Cape, South Africa (2002–2016): Diminishing employment and expanding social protection
(Taylor & Francis, 2020)This is evident in South Africa’s former ‘homelands’, the site where this study examined changes in rural livelihoods over a 14-year period. Detailed survey data (collected in 2002 and 2016) from two villages in the Pondoland ... -
Collapse, conflict or social cohesion? Learning from livestock dipping associations in Kwazulu-Natal
(2020-06-29)This working paper is about the revival of communal cattle dipping in post-apartheid KwaZulu-Natal, which has improved animal healthcare and strengthened the livelihoods of the black rural households that keep cattle in ... -
Assessing potential for employment-intensive land reform in South Africa: Key research findings from a CBPEP study
(GTAC, 2020)The Capacity Building Programme for Employment Promotion (CBPEP) is an EU-funded initiative aimed at assisting the Government of South Africa to attain its goal of reducing unemployment, by building state and institutional ... -
Thematic study: Agricultural value chains in South Africa and the implications for employment-intensive land reform
(GTAC, 2020)This paper is part of a larger research initiative intended to formulate policy options for land reform in South Africa and facilitate employment and livelihoods through small-scale agriculture. The report examines small-scale ... -
Thematic study: The strengths and weaknesses of systems of land tenure and land administration in South Africa and the implications for employment intensive land reform
(GTAC, 2020)The CBPEP/GTAC Project: Employment intensive land reform in South Africa: policies, programmes and capacities aims to formulate a set of options for rural land reform in South Africa aimed at generating a large number of ... -
A review of support services for smallholder and small-scale agricultural producers
(GTAC, 2020)The CBPEP/GTAC Project: Employment intensive land reform in South Africa: policies, ‘programmes and capacities aims to formulate a set of options for rural land reform in South Africa aimed at generating a large number of ... -
Thematic study: International experiences of support policies for smallholders: A review and an exploration of underlying rationale and narratives
(GTAC, 2020)This thematic study on International experiences of policies supporting smallholder production is part of the background papers of the ‘GTAC/CBPEP/EU study on employment-intensive rural land reform in South Africa.’ It ... -
Thematic study: Conceptualising finance to support labour-intensive land redistribution
(GTAC, 2020-01)This paper seeks to provide an overview and understanding of how South Africa’s smallholder farmers and small-scale black commercial farmers (‘SFs & SSBCFs’) presently finance their agricultural operations (excluding land ... -
Thematic study: Climate change and its impacts on the feasibility and sustainability of small-scale systems of agricultural production, in communal areas and on farms transferred through land reform
(GTAC, 2020-03-31)This paper is intended to provide context and support discussion on the potential impacts of climate on small-scale farming systems in South Africa and the resulting socio-economic impacts, including in the context of black ... -
The social and cultural aspects of small-scale agricultural production in South Africa and the implications for employment-intensive land reform
(GTAC, 2020-03-31)There is widespread agreement that Government interventions to support smallholders have often been poorly constructed (Khulisa, 2016; Aliber & Cousins, 2013) and have failed to produce positive impacts (Okunlola et al, ...
RSS 1.0