Core Competencies Required in Commercial Grain Farming: A Scoping Review

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18313024

Thapelo Moloi (Department of Human Resource & Labour Relations, University of Venda, South Africa)

The study conducted recently investigating the impact of entrepreneurship on food security among smallholder farmers indicated low levels of entrepreneurship and high levels of food insecurity among the farmers. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to map the existing literature on the core competencies required in commercial grain farming to transfer such to the future aspirant farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. There were 8 articles which met the inclusion criteria. From the selected studies, half of the studies (n= 4) used quantitative methods and qualitative research approach. Majority of the studies (n= 6) were conducted in South Africa while one (n= 1) study was conducted in Nigeria and another (n= 1) in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. Findings indicated that for one to be involved into commercial farming should possess certain competencies and these competencies are shared in Sub-Saharan African countries. For instance, this research indicated that educational skills in terms of basic literacy are seen as high skills needed in South Africa. Again, in South Africa the farmers’ personal attributes matter as they should encompass the managerial and leadership skills needed for commercial farming, on the one hand. On the other hand, in Nigeria, it indicated that the core competency in commercial families should include technical skills. Furthermore, implications for future research are also made as well as practical implications on policy and general management of the farm.