Exploring challenges facing Small-Scale Agribusiness and Non-Farm Enterprise Local Action Groups in Nyandeni and Amahlathi Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

The Local Action Group approach has gained recognition in South Africa in the last decade as a solution to rural development challenges. Although rural development has shown relative success in the Eastern Cape Province, poverty remains a major concern. Yet, the challenges hindering the success of these groups as a facilitator of rural development are not well documented. Thus, the goal of this study is to document the challenges facing Local Action Group initiatives in the small-scale agribusiness and non-farm enterprise sectors and provide context-based solutions. The paper took a mixed methods approach, using purposive and snowball sampling techniques to select 400 households. Questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides were concurrently utilised to collect data. The results show that financial inadequacy, lack of markets, lack of community cooperation, drought and lack of business management skills. Thus, there is need for upscaling stakeholder mobilisation and instilling a sense of project ownership and cooperation among community members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]