Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the Lower Olifants River region in response to water management issues
Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613909533327360 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Smuts, John Conroy |
| author2 | Hoffman, Willem |
| author_browse | Hoffman, Willem Smuts, John Conroy |
| author_facet | Hoffman, Willem Smuts, John Conroy |
| author_sort | Smuts, John Conroy |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134824 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:38.086Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134824 Converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the Lower Olifants River region in response to water management issues Smuts, John Conroy Hoffman, Willem Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Agricultural Economics. Viticulture -- Economic aspects -- Western Cape (South Africa) Grapes -- Economic aspects -- Western Cape (South Africa) Wine industry -- Economic aspects -- Western Cape (South Africa) Table grapes -- Western Cape (South Africa) Farms -- Western Cape (South Africa) UCTD Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Smuts, J. C. 2025. Converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the Lower Olifants River region in response to water management issues. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/6aae8e5a-b2ea-4795-9a1d-e9ee85f8e23f ENGLISH SUMMARY: The Lower Olifants River region is a highly productive irrigated agricultural region in the western part of the Western Cape. Crops grown in the area include wine grapes, table grapes, citrus fruit, deciduous fruits, tomatoes, vegetables, and vegetable seeds, of which wine grapes are the most popular. The region, as well as the wine industry, has faced multiple challenges, such as an intense drought, low wine prices, and bans on local and international wine sales, combined with below-sustainable farm-level profitability. Table grapes are seen as a high-value commodity, which could financially be a more viable alternative to wine grape production. Table grape production not only provides the opportunity for higher financial gains but also allows farmers to utilise water more efficiently in response to water scarcity. Secondly, a higher financial gain in a normal harvest season could mean farmers are better prepared to absorb financial losses in adverse events, such as droughts. The study will look at various objectives in exploring a possible transition from wine grape production to table grape production. These objectives are (i) determining the difference in technical and financial farm system dimensions for wine grapes in the area, (ii) identifying the core technical differences in farm systems when comparing wine and table grape production, (iii) translating these differences into financial considerations, and (iv) evaluating the expected implication on profitability when converting to table grape production from wine grape production in this region. A system-based approach will be used to determine the different subsystems that make up the whole-farm system. Farming systems consist of smaller, interrelated subsystems that affect whole-farm level outcomes. Understanding these subsystems is complex, and predicting definite outcomes is impossible due to the endless possibilities of interacting variables, which constantly change the outcome. Consequently, a budget simulation model is created that represents a typical farm in the Lower Olifants River region. The budget simulation model takes into account a number of production factors, such as land, water capital, and labour. Two models are simulated at first. The first model is a budget simulation of a typical wine grape production unit in the Lower Olifants River region, representing the typical cultivar distribution of wine grapes, hectares, equipment, and infrastructure. Second, since table grapes would be the best substitute for wine grapes in the area, an ideal table grape farm is modelled. Higher manpower and capital requirements are taken into account, along with the fact that there are fewer hectares that can be planted because of water scarcity. Whole-farm level profitability is compared with the use of financial tools such as the NPV and IRR. A third model is then used to investigate the systematic transitioning from wine grapes to table grapes over a 20-year period. The purpose of this is to determine whether a wine grape production unit is financially and managerially capable of making such a change. Finally, all three models are compared to determine whether such a transitioning process is a financially feasible choice. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2026-01-09T12:08:22Z 2026-01-09T12:08:22Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134824 Stellenbosch University 81 pages : illustrations, maps, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Viticulture -- Economic aspects -- Western Cape (South Africa) Grapes -- Economic aspects -- Western Cape (South Africa) Wine industry -- Economic aspects -- Western Cape (South Africa) Table grapes -- Western Cape (South Africa) Farms -- Western Cape (South Africa) UCTD Smuts, John Conroy Converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the Lower Olifants River region in response to water management issues |
| title | Converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the Lower Olifants River region in response to water management issues |
| title_full | Converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the Lower Olifants River region in response to water management issues |
| title_fullStr | Converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the Lower Olifants River region in response to water management issues |
| title_full_unstemmed | Converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the Lower Olifants River region in response to water management issues |
| title_short | Converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the Lower Olifants River region in response to water management issues |
| title_sort | converting from wine grape production to table grape production in the lower olifants river region in response to water management issues |
| topic | Viticulture -- Economic aspects -- Western Cape (South Africa) Grapes -- Economic aspects -- Western Cape (South Africa) Wine industry -- Economic aspects -- Western Cape (South Africa) Table grapes -- Western Cape (South Africa) Farms -- Western Cape (South Africa) UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134824 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT smutsjohnconroy convertingfromwinegrapeproductiontotablegrapeproductioninthelowerolifantsriverregioninresponsetowatermanagementissues |