Food Security Governance and Small-Scale Farmers in South Africa

This book explores the influence of policies and politics on food security governance at a local government level. It unravels new, and as yet, unknown, dimensions on how policy and decision-making incoherences, fragmentations and disintegrations emerge with different stakeholders working in silos.
The book focuses on food security governance as it is grounded in different theories (Sabatier, the entrepreneurship theory, the incremental theory, the stakeholder theory and the network governance theory) to study policy coherence and integrated stakeholder collaboration and connections to improve food security through small-scale farming at local level. The existing theories are tested and emerging of the new constructs to shape the international communities' thinking on food security good governance. This book targets a Eastern Cape province in South Africa, wherein government has invested a lot of funding for small-scale farming with the aim to increase food security, create job opportunities and curb poverty amongst rural communities.
This cutting-edge and innovative book will appeal to students, researchers and professionals in the fields of agricultural economics, food studies, public administration and management, economics, sociology and human geography and will also be valuable to members of the local and international community.

List of contents

1. Introduction to Food Insecurity 2. Food Security Policy and Decision-Making Coherence and Fragmentations in Municipalities 3. Understanding Local Economic Development, Policies and Food Security 4. Bottom-Up vs Top-Down Approaches on Food Security: Stakeholder Inclusion 5. Fragmented Government Structures on Food Security 6. Policymaking and Policymaking Influence on Food Security Strategies 7. Political and Cognitive Factors, Policy Change and Food Security 8. Risks and Security, Resource Scarcity, and Political Conflicts Affecting Food Security 9. Business Opportunities and Economic Growth of Small-Scale Farming 10. Cross-Sectoral Cooperation, Coordination, and Communication Regarding Food Security 11. Reflections and Solutions to Food Insecurity

About the author

is an NRF C3 rated researcher and holds two PhDs in education and public management. He started his career as a geography teacher in a secondary school and joined the eThekwini Municipality as a Consultant to the City Manager on Research and a Management Advisor where he managed a myriad of projects and conducted change management interventions. Prof Ngcamu is currently an Associate Professor: Public Administration and Management at the University of South Africa. He is the former Head of Department: Public Management and Leadership at the Nelson Mandela University. He has published peer-reviewed journal articles, book, book chapters and peer reviewed conference papers. He has won various best researcher awards at different universities. Prof Ngcamu serves as the Chief Editor for a Journal of Public Administration and Development Alternatives (JPADA). He also serves in the Eastern Cape Education Advisory Council (ECEAC).
Dr Babalo Yekani is a distinguished emerging researcher who holds a PhD in Public Administration. He is currently a senior lecturer in the Department of Public Management and Governance at the Walter Sisulu University. His scholarly contributions include publications in DHET-accredited, peer-reviewed journals, as well as conference papers presented at esteemed academic forums. He actively contributes to the academic community as a peer reviewer for journal articles, book chapters and conference submissions across various reputable platforms. In addition to his academic roles, he supervises and has successfully mentored postgraduate students, demonstrating his commitment to academic excellence and capacity building. He conducted a notable research project for the office of the premier in the Eastern Cape titled Evaluation of the performance management system for municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province (2019). His impact extends beyond academia through involvement in numerous community engagement initiatives, including collaborations with the National School of Government and the Department of Education, where he facilitated training programmes to strengthen the capabilities of public officials. In recognition of his contributions to research and scholarship, Dr Yekani has received the Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Award and research seed grants, underscoring his role as a rising leader in public administration and governance.
Shorter bios:
Professor Bethuel Sibongiseni Ngcamu is an Associate Professor: Public Administration and Management at the University of South Africa.
Dr Babalo Yekani is a senior lecturer in the Department of Public Management and Governance at the Walter Sisulu University, South Africa.

Product details

• Authors: Bethuel Sibongiseni Ngcamu, Babalo Yekani
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 09.03.2026
• EAN: 9781041232063
• ISBN: 978-1-041-23206-3
• No. of pages: 198
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Social sciences (general); Sociology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Human Geography, Food & society, Agricultural science, Human Geography, Medical Sociology, Agriculture & Related Industries, Agribusiness and primary industries, Cultural studies: food and society