Are Aspirations of Rural Households Aligned with National Rural Development Policies? Understanding Aspirations of Small-Scale Farming Households in the Former Homelands of South Africa

V. N. Mathinya (), A. C. Franke, G. W. J. Ven, K. E. Giller and J. A. Andersson
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V. N. Mathinya: University of the Free State
A. C. Franke: University of the Free State
G. W. J. Ven: Wageningen University and Research
K. E. Giller: Wageningen University and Research
J. A. Andersson: Wageningen University and Research

The European Journal of Development Research, 2025, vol. 37, issue 5, No 2, 885-908

Abstract: Abstract This study examines the livelihood aspirations of rural farming households in South Africa’s former homelands and the disconnect between these aspirations and current agricultural policies. Using a mixed-methods approach, including life history interviews and farm mapping, the study finds that farming is not universally regarded as the primary livelihood strategy. In Thaba Nchu, farming is seen as a potential income source, whilst in Emmaus, it is mainly viewed as a survival strategy. Only 23% of participants aspire to farming as a business, with the majority (77%) preferring non-farm livelihoods, such as urban employment or small-scale entrepreneurship. The study identifies an “aspiration gap” between the capital-intensive farming futures of those who want to farm and their available resources. The findings suggest that rural development should focus on skills development, infrastructure improvement, and policies that align with regional opportunity spaces rather than promoting agrarian livelihoods as a driver of rural development.

Keywords: Aspirations; Development; Former homelands; Livelihoods; Opportunity space; Small-scale farming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1057/s41287-025-00709-5

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