ABSTRACT
The case histories recorded in this chapter present a stratified sample of all plotholders on the two irrigation schemes in the labour input survey. All plotholders were numbered, and against each number the family’s net income was entered. Then a sample of one to three persons was drawn from each income group on both schemes without taking into account tribal affiliation or any other social characteristics. 1 It so happened that of the six Mvura plotholders three of the better ones came from purchase areas, and that of the eight from Zuva the three best are all Pfumbi. The Shangaan all fall into the lower income groups. Two of the eight Zuva plotholders selected are women. One is a Shangaan, one is of mixed Venda-Ndebele ancestry. This chapter sets out to confirm the previous findings that social characteristics are very important in determining the agricultural success or failure of African peasants.
