Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe (original) (raw)
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Zimbabwe, with a view to identifying key policy entry points for increasing farmer incomes. Market linkages have been identified as key to the successful integration of grain legumes into the smallholder farming systems of southern Africa. Data for this article is derived from a baseline household survey in Guruve district of Zimbabwe. Using a sample of 187 smallholder farmers, we employed the Heckman's Probit model with sample selection to firstly, identify the factors affecting a farmer's decision to participate in soybean markets and secondly, evaluate the factors that affect the intensity of a farmer's participation. Study findings show that the use of inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties are significantly correlated with participating in soybean markets. Results also show that ownership of radios has a positive effect on the household's decision to participate in the soybean market. Further results show that male-headed households are less likely than female-headed households to participate in soybean markets because legumes are seen as women's crops in Zimbabwe. We conclude that in order to leverage smallholder farmers' market participation in soybean markets, it is important to improve access to inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties and improving access to market information. We recommend that authorities could improve access to market information to improve farmers' decision making on soybeans market participation.
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This thesis identifies determinants of market participation of smallholder sorghum and millet farmers and proposes strategies for improving their market participation. The study used survey data from 195 smallholder communal and resettled farmers, and agribusiness firms dealing with sorghum and millet. The farmers were selected from three sorghum and millet producing districts of Zimbabwe. The firms were located in Bulawayo and Harare. Data was collected through faceto-face interviews with the sampled farmers and firm representatives. The thesis also explores the way the small grains have been marketed and the extent of field crop contracting in Zimbabwe. In addition, literature on determinants of market participation for other commodities was reviewed. Recommendations were then drawn on strategies for improved market participation for smallholder farmers. Transaction cost related factors are an important component of marketing that determines the extent of market participation for ...
Asian journal of advances in agricultural research, 2024
This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author DK supervisor of the study, economic analysis. Author ASS supervisor of statistical analysis. Author SID supervisor of the economic analysis. Author DDD supervisor of research analysis. NM Student, managed the literature, data collection and analyses. All authors did the literature review, read and approved the final manuscript.
Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2020
Vegetable production is mainly practiced by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia and it is their main source of income, employment opportunities and improving food security. Although farmers are producing more surplus vegetables, they are not much linked with markets and thus their opportunity to diversify their livelihoods from vegetable production is very much limited. Thus, this study was required to identify factors affecting market participation among smallholder vegetable farmers in southwest Ethiopia. To get the sample respondents two-stage sampling procedures were employed and finally, 240 vegetable producers were selected. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources. To achieve the stated objective probit model was used and its result indicates that age of household head, household family size, education level of household head, labour market, market information and distance from the market place were statistically influencing market participation among smallholder vegetable producers. To enable smallholder's participation in vegetable marketing government interventions is needed to strengthening institutional service, communication and infrastructure facilities. This study may be valuable input for smallholder farmers, policymakers and other stakeholders in revealing the gab in the performance of the current vegetable production system to realize the national development policy.
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Most of the studies on market participation of smallholder farmers in Africa are either localized within country or at best, country-specific. Empirical studies which are either sub-regional or regional within sub-Saharan Africa are limited. Moreover, investigations carried out so far on smallholder farmers' market participation have not been detailed about key issues relating to market participation. So, this study is carried out to bridge this gap. Using data from a cross-section of over 1,800 households across the Kano-Katsina-Maradi Pilot Learning Site of the sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Programme in West Africa, we analyzed the determinants of market and intensity of market participation. The double-hurdle model was the main tool for data analysis. Basically, we found that market information and extension access and the use of some improved crop varieties positively and significantly influenced crop market participation. We also found (in most cases) that the value of crop sold and participation in research activities positively impacted on the intensity of market participation. The findings here are of policy importance. There is therefore the need to strengthen and empower the relevant institutions concerned in order to improve the smallholder farmers' access to market and in effect, increase their intensity of market participation.
Background: Agricultural production by smallholder farm households is a means of livelihood for many rural households in developing economies, including Africa. Commercializing smallholder farmers in the agricultural sector is an indispensable path to boost economic growth and development of most developing countries, like Ethiopia. But, maize marketing has not been given due attention, which has potential production volume and marketability. Therefore, this study is designed to identify determinants of market participation decision and volume of supply among smallholder maize producer farmers in Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: Data for this study were collected through cross-sectional survey from maize producer farm households. The primary data were generated by household survey using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. A both purposive and random sampling technique was used to draw an appropriate sample of 546 maize producer households for this cross-sectional survey study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and double-hurdle econometric model. Results: The result of the survey indicates that out of total 546 maize producers, 381 households are maize market participants and 165 households are non-participants. First hurdle model results show that nine variables-education level, farming experience, quantity of maize produced, cooperative membership, distance to nearest market, amount of credit received, off/non-farming income, number of oxen and perception about lagged price-significantly affect the market participation decision among maize producer farmers. The second hurdle result confirmed that seven variables-sex, family size, land allocated for maize, number of oxen, distance to nearest market, livestock holding and perception about lagged price-significantly affect the level of market participation by maize producer farmers. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that understanding the factors and its extent is very important for policy-making to address the problem of market participation decision and level of participation among smallholder farm households. Therefore, the study suggests that important resource and socioeconomic factors must take into consideration to enhance the productivity and strength supportive institutions or infrastructural facilities in the study area to improve market participation decision and level of participation of smallholders.
African Journal of Business Management, 2016
Agricultural market participation in Mozambique has historically been very low. Despite a remarkable increase in pigeon peas production, the factors that influence smallholder participation in pigeon peas markets in Tete Province have remained unknown. The study therefore sought to determine factors that influence smallholder producers' participation in the pigeon peas market using the transaction cost theory. Multi-stage sampling was used to collect data from 73 households through semi-structured questionnaires and logistic and multiple regression models were used to assess factors affecting smallholder participation in the pigeon peas market. Proximity to main market, access to credit, regular attendance of farmer group meetings, trust among group members, age of head of household, household private assets endowment and adequate labour, access to extension services and provision of knowledge on pigeon peas production, and early planting positively influenced smallholders market participation. Time to travel to main market; ratio of active household members; working in other farmers' fields on casual basis; and food security limited smallholders' market participation. The study recommended the implementation of credit access schemes, investment in extension services, setting up of well-equipped village based markets, setting up platforms for regular interaction of producers to build social capital and interventions that enable building of private assets. The increasing importance of pigeon peas merits further research in other locations along the Zambia-Nacala Trade Corridor.
Constrained crop enterprise choices by smallholder farmers in semi-arid Zimbabwe
Cogent Social Sciences
Smallholder irrigation schemes are critical in sustaining livelihoods of communities in the drier areas of Zimbabwe. The performance of these schemes as food and incomes safety nets has been questionable over recent times. Using a multinomial logit model, the study examines factors affecting smallholder irrigation farmers' selection of crop enterprises in their crop mix decisions. The paper uses cross-sectional data from 136 small holder irrigation farmers at Nharira irrigation scheme in Bikita district of Zimbabwe. A self-administered questionnaire, which was supported by key informant interviews, was used for collecting primary data on crops produced, sales made and specific household variables such as incomes and age of principal decision makers. Secondary data on contested variables such as sales and incomes were referenced. The data shows that the age of household head, association to membership groups, number of buyers available in the markets and the prices of respective crops significantly (p < 0.05) affects the choice of enterprises. The results also show that small scale irrigation farmers' decision making is constrained by lack of effective information dissemination mechanisms ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Agricultural commercialization raises farm incomes and improves living standards in African farming populations. Despite its importance, it remains low in Africa. Limited studies in agricultural commercialization have explored different tools for analysis given the agricultural commercialization indicators with zeros and fractions. This paper addresses methodological issue and adds literature on factors affecting agricultural commercialization. Agricultural commercialization is explored in Zhombe North Rural District using 2017/2018 cross-sectional data collected from 165 households. The zeroinflated beta regression model was used to find the drivers of agricultural commercialization. Crop output market participation share served as a proxy for agricultural commercialization. Land size, fertilizer use, use of credit, and certified seed proportion had significant positive effects on agricultural commercialization. In contrast, household head age, food cropping land size, and off-farm employment significantly influenced agricultural commercialization. The results for the model are similar to the results in previous studies using the Tobit model. The study recommends policies that promote the availability and usage of inputs to improve agricultural commercialization in the study area.
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In Mozambique, agricultural production is dominated by smallholder farmers with cultivation on less than two hectare of land and the use of low inputs with production mostly targeted towards own house consumption with very little for agricultural marketing. This study aim to analyze the trends of market participation of maize and cowpea, examine the socioeconomic characteristics of maize and cowpea farmers affecting market participation and determine the effect of the factors influencing the household decision to participate in maize and cowpeas' market. The t-test and chi-square test is used to examine the socioeconomic characteristics of households affecting market participation and the analysis of factors influencing household decisions to participate in the maize and cowpea markets is achieved using the Cragg's Independent Double Hurdle Model which is estimated using probit model for the first stage (participation decision) and truncated normal for the second stage (quan...