Prof. Johan Willemse Departmental Chairman

Agricultural Economics – a modern career with international opportunities

The Department is in the privileged position to have as its staff component internationally recognised researchers on issues relevant to the challenges that agriculturists face from an economic point of view. This expertise is organised in several centers of excellence.

 

Research groups in the Department

The group that specialises on agricultural risk management and the development of decision support models with particular reference to irrigation are renowned for the development of management strategies and technologies with potential to increase economic returns and reduce risk from agricultural production. They are, amongst other things, represented on two international working groups on irrigation economics.

Generation of information to improve efficiency and sustainability in the use and management of the natural resources (water and land) is the research focus of another group of researchers. More specifically they concentrate on the determination and control of the social and economic impacts of floods and water restrictions. More recently the research agenda of this group was broadened to include the economic impacts and management of saline irrigation water, capacity sharing in water use and rain water harvesting.

Agricultural Engineering is very involved in the whole spectrum of irrigation design from flood irrigation to specialised drip irrigation. They specialise in irrigation suitable for Africa and its specific climatic conditions. On the research front they are leaders in sub-surface drip irrigation. Currently they are involved in research projects from sub-surface on pastures to sub-surface drip on large nut trees. Agricultural Engineering is very involved in community projects. They were responsible for the design and project management of the Bethlehem apple project for small scale farmers. Currently they are involved with the design and implementation of a large peach project for small scale farmers in Ficksburg. They specialise in sustainable agricultural projects in rural areas and to develop new partnerships between commercial farmers and previously disadvantaged farmers.

The Centre for Agricultural Management specialises in agricultural management and precision agriculture. A multidisciplinary and practical approach is followed to equip learners with skills to achieve sustainable success in the total agricultural system.  Apart from strategic management research, the Centre also specialises in precision agriculture research on master’s and doctoral level. This research is funded by New Holland S.A.

With the financial assistance of its donors (Afgri, ARS, FNB and VKB), the Centre also developed a certificate training package consisting of various short courses in agriculture.

FNB also sponsored the production of a food garden project, namely Growing Vegetables: A comprehensive guide on how to establish, maintain and manage a vegetable garden.  This is available on video, DVD and in a manual.

The Chair in International Agricultural Marketing and Development (CIAMD) was established in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Orange Free State during 1997. The deregulation and liberalisation of the South African agricultural sector has brought with it many challenges and opportunities.

The deregulation and liberalisation of the South African agricultural sector has brought with it many challenges and opportunities ranging from market development, the assessment global and domestic markets, understanding of new value chains, international trade to issues pertaining to policy design and implementation and upliftment of the rural poor.

The aforementioned can only be addressed in a comprehensive and efficient manner by taking cognizance of the deficiencies that exist in the agricultural milieu within South Africa. Amongst other, these deficiencies include; a general lack of accurate and timely information pertaining to agricultural markets, lack of specialists in the field of marketing, international trade, policy analysis and development, etc. It was with these deficiencies in mind, as well as the challenges and opportunities that exist that CIAMD was established with its core competencies being research and advise pertaining to the issues mentioned.

CIAMD’s research is aimed at developing an analytical framework that would assist role players, in agriculture in quantifying the effects of various agro-economic variables such as agricultural policy, technology, development strategies, regional demand, product distribution, competitive advantages and trade liberalization on the agricultural economy of the region. Focusing on these key issues create obvious spill-overs for the rest of the economy in terms of development, employment and improved living standards. Development of capacity to analyze and direct such changes improve the situation of South Africa's community at large. Trade, if well managed, could also lead to a reduction in poverty and the upliftment of rural households.

NCEE
The National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) is a nationwide network that leads in promoting economic literacy with students and their teachers. NCEE's mission is to help students develop the real-life skills they need to succeed: to be able to think and choose responsibly as consumers, savers, investors, citizens, members of the workforce, and effective participants in a global economy.

A cooperation agreement with the Centre for International Food and Agricultural Policy (CIFAP ) in the Department of Applied Ecocomics at the University of Minnesota has lead to an initiative involving a proposed partnership between the National Council for Economic Education (NCEE), the UFS and the Free State Provincial Department of Education. The project involves the establishment of a university-based centre for the training of teachers, and eventually learners, in economics. 

Another important partner is Purdue University. With their assistance, this Department is able to conduct important research and projects in African countries, among which Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, Cameroon, Uganda, Cameroon, Nigeria Ghana and Senegal.. Students from these countries also receive relevant training in agricultural economics in a developing environment.