Improving market access for vulnerable small-scale farmers in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa: some policy lessons

The lack of access to markets for small-scale farmers, particularly on communal lands, remains a major constraint on the effective implementation of land reform policy. This study identifies pathways to viable markets within frameworks that simultaneously promote environmental restoration. Conducted in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa between 2014 and 2023, the research adopts a case study approach and applies a complex-systems framework to analyse data from business reports, academic literature and surveys. The findings reveal a dynamic socio-economic system, with early indicators demonstrating improved restoration outcomes, increased livestock sales and rising rural household incomes between 2014 and 2021. However, performance declined after 2022 due to factors including pricing pressures and growing competition. Despite these challenges, the study shows that restorative land management practices can provide innovative solutions to market access constraints, offering valuable insights for strengthening land reform and agricultural extension policies.