Provision of irrigation scheduling advice to small-scale sugarcane farmers using a web-based crop model and cellular technology: a South African case study

2006 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 363-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Singels ◽  
M. T. Smith
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Crop Model ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Cellular Technology

scholarly journals Diagnosis of the productivity gap using a crop model. Methodology and case study of small-scale maize production in central Brazil

Agronomie ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fran�ois Affholder ◽  
Eric Scopel ◽  
Jose Madeira Neto ◽  
Alain Capillon
Keyword(s):  
Crop Model ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Central Brazil ◽  
Productivity Gap

Web-based health information seeking

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 933-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Rantala ◽  
Heidi Enwald ◽  
Sandy Zinn
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Information ◽  
South African ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
African Students ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internet Penetration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine differences of health information seeking among Finnish and South African university students. The focus is on weight management and on how students utilise various internet sources. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected with a web-based, structured survey by using convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s χ2 test were utilised in the analysis. Findings Overall, health information was more often encountered than sought on purpose. Passive information seeking was more common for South African students as almost a third of them report encountering it several times a week. As an information source, South African students opted for social networking sites more frequently than search engines, the latter being the first choice for Finnish students. Discussion boards were more popular among South African students, and, on the other hand, web-based health calculators among Finns. Research limitations/implications This is a small-scale comparative study. The results are not to be generalised, but may provide clues about the information seeking differences between Finland and South Africa. Practical implications Media literacy, digital literacy and health information literacy of young adults should be emphasised so that they would be able to evaluate information for reliability and accuracy in order to help them make appropriate decisions when confronted by health information online. Social implications The implications of the study are that health providers and professionals should be more prominent on social media sites, which are popular ways for young people to discover information. Originality/value Comparative studies are rare. This comparison is between Finland, where internet penetration is 94 per cent, and South Africa, where internet penetration is 54 per cent.

scholarly journals Transforming vocational education: One lecturer at a time

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neville Rudman ◽  
Leslie Meiring
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Systemic Level ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
And Training ◽  
New Curricula

The South African technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college sector faces amyriad development needs, including the academic, professional and motivational preparednessof college lecturers.1 While attention is being paid to dealing with challenges at colleges at themacro-level or systemic level, there appears to be less focus on the micro- level, that is, on lecturersor teachers and their day-to-day classroom challenges. This article reflects on a case study involvingTVET college lecturers who participated in a professional development programme that attemptedto incorporate principles of a humanising pedagogy in its design and delivery. Feedback wasobtained about the influence of the course on classroom practice shortly after the programme,and, again, two years later, it was elicited through a small-scale study of participant self-reflections.Qualitative data revealed that the participants had perceived a positive and potentiallytransformative influence on their practice, which they related to their exposure to the principles ofhumanising pedagogy. By revisiting and sharing what was learned in a study that preceded a newlecturer development policy and bringing into focus the principles of humanising pedagogy, wehope to inspire those in our university faculties who are currently designing qualifications forcollege lecturers. Our contention is that infusing these principles into new curricula could possiblycontribute to transforming this sector – one lecturer at a time.

Collective Action in a Complex Institutional Environment

2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marijke D'Haese ◽  
Guido Van Huylenbroeck ◽  
Luc D'Haese
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Tenure System ◽  
Land Tenure System ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Wool Industry

The importance of social capital and institutional reform is increasingly recognized in current development reporting. This article illustrates the complexity of the institutional environment in which smallholders in developing countries operate and how institutional innovation can contribute to increasing farmers' incomes. A case study of small-scale farmers in the Transkei area of South Africa illustrates the success of new institutional arrangements via a project of the South African wool industry, which aims at improving the livelihoods of farmers by supporting wool production and securing market access. However, possibilities with respect to specialization are limited because of a peculiar institutional environment, in particular a communal land-tenure system.

scholarly journals Potential Valorization of Organic Waste Streams to Valuable Organic Acids through Microbial Conversion: A South African Case Study

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 964
Author(s):  
Sesethu Gift Njokweni ◽  
Annica Steyn ◽  
Marelize Botes ◽  
Marinda Viljoen-Bloom ◽  
Willem Heber van Zyl
Keyword(s):  
Organic Acids ◽  
South African ◽  
Carboxylic Acids ◽  
Organic Waste ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Waste Streams ◽  
Biomass Waste ◽  
Carboxylate Platform

The notion of a “biobased economy” in the context of a developing country such as South Africa (SA) necessitates the development of technologies that utilize sustainable feedstocks, have simple and robust operations, are feasible at small scale and produce a variety of valuable bioproducts, thus fitting the biorefinery concept. This case study focuses on the microbial production of higher-value products from selected organic waste streams abundant in the South African agricultural sector using microbes adapted to utilize different parts of biomass waste streams. A ruminant-based carboxylate platform based on mixed or undefined anaerobic co-cultures of rumen microorganisms can convert the carbohydrate polymers in the lignocellulosic part of organic waste streams to carboxylic acids that can be upgraded to biofuels or green chemicals. Furthermore, yeast and fungi can convert the simpler carbohydrates (such as the sugars and malic acid in grape and apple pomace) to ethanol and high-value carboxylic acids, such as lactic, fumaric, succinic and citric acid. This review will discuss the combinational use of the ruminal carboxylate platform and native or recombinant yeasts to valorize biomass waste streams through the production of higher-value organic acids with various applications.

scholarly journals FACILITATING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THROUGH CROWDSOURCING IN URBAN PLANNING PROCESSES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindelwa Sinxadi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
South African ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Town Planning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Planning Processes

Fostering community participation by planners in South African municipalities poses a challenge during planning processes. Different levels of public apathy have been observed, and they continue to undermine the quest of municipalities to provide sustainable neighbourhoods. Also, value conflicts from different urban stakeholders resulting from this apathy can be ameliorated through improved participation of the communities in the planning processes. In bridging this gap, the paper seeks to explore different Crowdsourcing techniques to be employed in Mangaung to enable urban stakeholders’ participation in planning projects. As such, crowdsourcing, as a new web-based business model, is inclusive in the 4th Industrial Revolution and can be used as the best solution for community participation in planning projects. Based on the foregoing, this paper employs a case study research design and a coterie of techniques: semi-structured interviews and document reviews for data elicitation. Interviewees comprise of purposively recruited town planning and other municipal officials involved in planning projects. The emergent data will be analysed thematically. Expectedly, the findings hold immense implications for planning practitioners as well as other professionals and policymakers working within the urban planning and socio-economic development praxes in South African Municipalities.

A Case Study on Web-based Learning Environment Evaluation in Higher Education: Learner Perspectives in a Private University in Malaysia.

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-33
Author(s):  
Zarina Che Imbi ◽  
Tse-Kian Neo ◽  
Mai Neo
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Private University ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Web Based Learning ◽  
Kirkpatrick’S Model

In the era of digital learning, multimedia-based classroom has been commonly used in higher education including Malaysian higher education institutions. A case study has been performed to evaluate web-based learning using Level 1 to 3 of Kirkpatrick's model in a multi-disciplinary course at Multimedia University, Malaysia. In this study, mixed method research was employed in which triangulation was performed from multiple sources of data collection to give deeper understanding. Students perceived that learning with multimedia was enjoyable. They were also motivated in learning and engaged through the use of web module as multimedia was perceived to motivate them and make learning fun. Students showed significant improvements in their knowledge based on the pre-test and post-test results on learning evaluation. Students were perceived to transfer the learning from web-based learning into the learning outcome. The systematic evaluation can provide the feedback that educators and institution as a whole need to improve the learning environment and programme quality. This study contributes to the research field by adding another perspective in evaluations of web-based learning. It also provides empirical evidence on student perspectives, learning and behaviour in a private university. It demonstrated that the Kirkpatrick's model is useful as an evaluation tool to be used in higher education.

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