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1
Baser, Heather Jane Carleton University Dissertation International Affairs. "Lima and women farmers in Zambia." Ottawa, 1987.
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Mwefyeni, Ephraim Chali. "The effect of agricultural service provision on performance of smallholder farmers in Zambia." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97172.
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Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.Zambia, a country in Sub Saharan Africa, is home to over 13 million people. Of this population, 61 percent are found in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihood, making the sector a key area for the development of the country. Agriculture remains a key sector because of its huge potential and the number of people that are dependent on it. However, smallholder farmers face many challenges, which include inadequate market and price information, inability to access credit, inadequate extension services, low input supply and low usage of hybrid seed amongst others. Given this situation, the study undertook to use quantitative research methods to determine the effect of agricultural services on smallholder performance in Zambia. It also focused on determining whether the sources of agricultural services affect performance. The results of the study reported that sources of fertilizers, maize seed and loans had a significant influence on yield of maize achieved by farmers. Access and utilisation of fertilizer, seed and maize price information had also shown that there was a relationship between these variables and yield produced. With these results, it is imperative to understand and manage the level of government involvement in the provision of agricultural services so that private sector participation is not discouraged.
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Kinkese, Theresa. "Climate change impacts and farmers' responses in Chilanga District, Zambia." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27524.
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Climate change and variability are predicted to threaten agricultural production in Southern Africa. For example, Zambia's agriculture remains vulnerable to climate change and variability due to the small-scale farmers' dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Some studies in Zambia have shown the quantitative negative impacts of climate variability on agriculture; however, there is limited knowledge on how farmers perceive the impacts and adapt their agricultural systems. To fill in the knowledge gap mentioned above, the aim of the present study was to evaluate farmers' observations of climate variability impacts and their responses. The study then evaluates the integration of farmers' climate variability observations and adaptation strategies into local district plans. Such integration is deemed critical to ensure agricultural strategies promoted by extension officers are locally relevant and are adopted by the farmers. The study is based on semi-structured interviews and literature review. Thirty-one (31) farmers from Mwembeshi, Chilanga District, Zambia, participated in the study. The findings of the survey indicate that farmers in Mwembeshi are aware of their vulnerability to climate variability impacts. As a result of the observed impacts, they have developed several adaptation strategies. Through this study, extension agents were also interviewed in order find out what adaptation strategies are promoted to the farmers. The findings of the research indicate agricultural extension agents follow national agricultural adaptation strategies (top-down approach). As a result, local agricultural development plans would not specifically integrate/respond to climate variations impacts observed by the farmers. In order to engage local farmer impacts of the climate variability and their adaptation strategies into the local plans, the research suggests a more flexible (or bottom-up) approach to local development planning. Such an approach would allow the integration of local farmer observations of climate variability and their adaptation strategies into district plans. The study also found that extension agents have limited knowledge of climate variability and change, which negatively affects knowledge transfer to farmers on the subject. Therefore, training the extension officers in the subject would most likely increase farmers' knowledge on climate variability and adaptation decision.
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Siwale, Mwaya. "Factors affecting access to finance by Smallholder Farmers in Zambia." Master's thesis, Faculty of Commerce, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30388.
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About seventy-seven percent of Zambia’s citizens who are engaged in primary activity in the agriculture sector are poor (Economies, 2017). One of the ways in which the poverty levels can be reduced is by lessening constraints of access to finance in agriculture sector. The implications of the low access to credit in the agriculture sector is reduced productivity, high food insecurity and perpetual poverty particularly in Zambia’s rural areas. Most of the studies conducted focused on identifying factors which limit participation in agriculture finance from the bank’s perspective and not farmers. Therefore, this study sought to fill the gap and assess variables directly related to smallholder farmers access to finance. It further examines the dynamism of access to finance depending on location, gender and transport infrastructure. The data employed in the study was obtained from a survey conducted in 2013 by IAPRI and UNZA with a sample size of 1,231 households in six districts of Zambia. Agricultural credit for small holder farmers (SHFs) in rural areas is mostly provided in the form of cash or in kind through supply of inputs to these SHFs. This data was modeled based on the logistic regression. The results showed that 14.1% of the SHFs had access to finance. Among these farmers only 13% were female. In addition, secondary education, access to finance information, farm size, access to collateral and distance between the location of the farmer and the financial services, were significant factors in determining access to credit. A recommendation proposed to policy makers based on results presented include sensitization on various finance facilities available to rural farmers so that they are aware and can make necessary efforts to access the finance. Rural education is directly related to access to finance, therefore government should promote education for its citizens. Lack of collateral has been identified as a factor that gravely hinders access levels by most. Government should implement standardized policies that ensure availability of credit to farmers with little or no collateral. In conclusion, improved credit permeation in agriculture sector promotes sustainable and inclusive growth in Zambia and will eventually eradicate absolute poverty.
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Kasanda, Ednah. "Gender and decision-making in agriculture: a case study of groundnuts farmers in Zambia." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/35785.
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Master of AgribusinessDepartment of Agricultural Economics
Vincent R. Amanor-Boadu
Zambia’s government and its development partners continue to be challenged with how to adequately address the seeming gender inequity in Zambia’s agricultural sector. Women in Zambia’s agricultural sector face challenges in accessing resources and opportunities that could enhance their welfare. In addition, cited inequitable distribution of power in decision-making have been assumed to hamper women’s ability to enhance their own economic wellbeing. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence women’s decision-making in agriculture and how these factors contribute to their wellbeing can provide insights into how to develop programs that help improve their economic wellbeing. This thesis assessed the decision-making and production activities by women in Zambia’s agriculture using the groundnuts subsector as a case study. It used data from the nationally representative Rural Agricultural Livelihood Survey 2015 (RALS15), drawing a sample of rural groundnut farmers and employed a statistical and econometric analysis to explore the relationships of specific factors on women in the groundnut subsector. The following are the key findings: i. Women make up 38% of the producers in Zambia’s groundnuts subsector but accounted for 49% of the total number of people controlling groundnut selling decisions. Women accounted for 48% of the total people controlling how income from groundnut sales are used. These distributions would challenge the prevailing perception that women have a decreasing control over decision-making as one moves from production to utilization of the income from production, at least in the case of the groundnut subsector in Zambia’s agricultural sector. ii. The factors influencing women’s control over production include the gender of the household head, region, affiliation to women’s groups, distance between the homestead and extension service access point, distance between the homestead and the field plot, the woman’s education and household’s production assets. For example, a percentage increase in the distance to field plot reduced the women’s control by one-seventh of a percent. Similarly, the more educated the woman is, the less their control over groundnut production is. iii. Furthermore, groundnut commercialization did not seem to influence female control over production. The foregoing challenges some of the conclusions from previous research regarding women’s control over production decisions. It is possible that the position of groundnuts in Zambian agriculture could be an explanatory factor the results. However, it was not tested. Therefore, it is suggested that future studies explore the relationship between the crop and the empowerment women experience from its production.
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Mfune, Elizabeth. "Effects of an agribusiness collapse on contract growers and their communities : a case study of Makeni Cooperative Society, Lusaka, Zambia." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007627.
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This study assesses the effects of an agribusiness collapse, on the contracted growers and their surrounding communities in Lusaka Province, Zambia. In 2004, Agriflora Limited, a Trans-Zambezi Industries Limited (TZI) agribusiness in Lusaka Zambia was sold off. Agriflora Limited was one ofthe largest fresh vegetable exporters in Africa. It had contracted almost 500 small-scale farmers with 1-4 hectares of land within 50 km radius of Lusaka to grow vegetables for export. Makeni Cooperative Society was one of the targeted groups of growers. It grew baby corn, mangetout peas, and sugar snap and fine beans for export. The case study relied on both primary and secondary data. I undertook two months of ethnographic fieldwork utilising observations, in-depth interviews and informal discussions with some community members in Makeni. I also reviewed the literature on contract farming schemes (documenting both the negative and positive effects for growers) in developing countries. The case study showed that the impact of the collapse of Agriflora on the growers has been severe indeed; there has been a significant reduction in production with only a few farmers producing for export. Those that are producing are limited to one crop, baby corn. The effect on the local labour market (farm workers) has been quite drastic with a drop in employment. A new agribusiness company, York Farm, was sourced by the government for the contract growers of Makeni. York Farm has signed a procurement contract under which only sale and purchase conditions are specified. This means that, services such as extension services are no longer provided. It was also found that despite the price for baby corn at York Farm being better than what Agriflora used to offer the farmers, farmers are not producing peas which have a higher turnover than baby corn because York farm does not buy peas from the farmers. However, the farmers are hopeful that they will soon start producing peas after they pass the Eurep gap requirements. Furthermore, the farmers are still interested in contract farming as they are convinced that it can lead to higher farm incomes. While the neoliberal critique of the pre- Structural Adjustment agricultural policies was based on the need to improve rural farming income and productivity, my study shows that the contract farmers are not the "traditional" peasant farmers but retired civil servants or former public sector employees who lost their jobs during the contraction of the sector. In conclusion, my field work revealed that the collapse of Agriflora has had negative effects on the growers of MCS in terms a significant decrease in crop production, decline in farmer income, lack of technical assistance such as extension services, transportation problems (to take produce to the new market-York Farm) and reduced contraction in employment opportunities for farm workers.
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Muyangwa, Nambwenga. "The impact of agriculture finance on small and medium agribusiness in Zambia: the case of Zambia National Farmers' Union - Lima Credit Scheme." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25493.
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The aim of the study is to assess the Impact of Agricultural Finance on Small and Medium Agribusiness in Zambia focusing on Lima Credit Scheme of the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) in sampled districts. Survey questionnaires were administered to 120 farmers selected from 8 districts. Two focus group discussions were held and key informants drawn from ZNFU, Zambia National Commercial Bank and representatives of the Agribusiness chamber and Insurance companies were interviewed. The study hypothesis that the LCS intervention has had no favourable impact on beneficiary farmers and Agro-Businesses in Zambia was proved to be null. To the contrary, the findings indicate that LCS had favourable impact on beneficiary farmers and Agro-Businesses in Zambia. Thus, the study findings show that to a greater extent the scheme had positive impact that include; increased knowledge among Lima Credit scheme beneficiaries through trainings in various topics such as financial literacy and crop husbandry, increased economic wellbeing of the LCS beneficiaries, more households procuring oxen drawn agricultural implements, higher production levels of maize and soy-bean, greater participation in the market by SSFs, increased income, among others. In addition to the descriptive analysis, the factor analysis too showed that the first factor access to production inputs based benefits suggests that in this component farmers accrued benefits from LCS which include access to market information, increase in area planted, increase in volumes sold and incomes. The second factor improved income based benefits suggests that respondents in this component acknowledges that as a result of increased incomes, they have recorded improved access to health, able to reinvest in other businesses, increase yield per hectare, able to pay loans on time, able to acquire agriculture Assets-Ox drawn, access to commodity markets and improved access to education. Unique to the scheme is the insurance cover on the loan amount that mitigates defaults resulting from natural cause such as drought and floods. The study concludes that Lima Credit Scheme had favourable impact on beneficiary farmers and Agro-Businesses in Zambia.
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Nyxén, Emmy. "Collecting rainwater, a comparison between Zambia and Sweden : Can farmers learn from each other?" Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Biologi, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-30872.
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This thesis investigates if rainwater collection methods in Zambia are efficient compared to methods used in Sweden. Since the climate changes will affect the rainwater distribution in Sweden, with heavy rainfall, storms and droughts, the comparison is necessary to provide methods for future collection and usage of rainwater in Sweden. The investigation includes the collection of rainwater and two methods for the supply of water onto the ground and the plants. The results show that a correctly built dam will create a good supply of water and thus makes a positive impact for the farm. A proper dam can be the key success factor for water supply all year around. One of the key elements for the dam is the collection of rainwater. The results show that in Zambia it is crucial to obtain a solid capacity of water. The results have shown that the techniques used in Zambia can make a positive impact for methods in Sweden for the collection of rainwater.Denna uppsats undersöker om metoden som används vid uppsamling av regnvatten i Zambia är effektivt samt om det går att använda i Sverige. Eftersom klimatförändringarna kommer att påverka regnvattendistribution i Sverige, med skyfall, stormar och torka är jämförelsen nödvändig för att undersöka metoder för framtida insamling och användning av regnvatten i Sverige. Undersökningen insamlings kapacitet av regnvatten. Resultaten visar att en korrekt byggt damm kommer att skapa en god tillgång på vatten och därmed gör en positiv inverkan på verksamheten. En ordentlig damm kan vara en viktig framgångsfaktor för vattenförsörjning året runt. En av de viktigaste faktorerna för en bra damm är riklig insamling av regnvatten, resultaten visar att i Zambia är det viktigt att erhålla en effektiv vattenförvaring. Resultaten har visat att de tekniker som används i Zambia kan ge en studien studerar metoder i Sverige för insamling av regnvatten.
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Njobvu, Idah. "Impacts of Maize Policy Changes on Small Scale Farmers' Vulnerability to Exploitation in Nyimba District, Zambia." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Geografisk institutt, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-17030.
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Taking cognisance of the fact that SSFs the major producers of maize in Zambia were most affected by the 1991 agricultural policy reforms, from 2005 onward, the state became very active in the maize market and production systems in order to mitigate their problems. The main objective of this study is to investigate to what extent the maize policy changes have contributed to the SSFs’ vulnerability to exploitation. This information will be of use in the policy formulation process to ensure that the formulation of policies take a holistic approach to mitigation of the SSFs’ vulnerabilities. The study draws from political economy, peasant rationality and risk aversion theories to explain the phenomenon under study. Qualitative research methodology was used to collect and analyse both the secondary and the primary data. The study indicates that the prevailing dual system where the state marketing system exists side by side with the private sector has resulted in forms of exploitation which can broadly be classified as petty and structural forms of exploitation. Several factors could be said to exacerbate SSFs’ vulnerability to exploitation such as FRA’s delay in opening its marketing season; delays in paying the SSFs’ for their maize by government/FRA; lack of monitoring of the FRA buying agents’ activities; SSFs’ passivity, and incomplete information.
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Kunda, Chibuye Florence. "Evaluation Of The Smallholder Farmers‟ Production Model For Jatropha Curcas L. In Chibombo District In Zambia." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/79266.
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The early 2000s witnessed a global awareness on adoption of renewable and environmental friendly energy with anticipated socio-economic benefits in developing countries. In Zambia, investments in biofuel feedstock mainly focused on smallholder production using out-grower schemes. Jatropha curcas. L. (Jatropha) was the main bioenergy crop adopted for production in the out-grower schemes. In addition to producing biofuel, Jatropha, branded a “poor-mans” crop, was claimed to improve rural livelihoods, grow on marginal land, have minimum input requirements and adapt to varied climatic zones and soil types. Nonetheless, recent studies have reported abandonment of Jatropha production the world over, including Zambia. This study therefore investigated the barriers to continuity of Jatropha production in Chibombo District of Zambia. Using snowball sampling technique and household survey, 110 smallholder farmers were selected for the study. Data on the effectiveness of out-grower schemes for Jatropha production among the smallholders who have continued or discontinued with Jatropha production were collected using face-to-face questionnaire administration and interviews. Furthermore, an assessment of the environmental and socio-economic implications of producing Jatropha using out-grower schemes, the costs and benefits involved in jatropha production and the effects of out-grower production of Jatropha on food security and land tenure were conducted. The collected data were analysed using non-parametric (summated rating scales principles, Chi-square) statistics. From the findings, more than ninety percent of the respondents reported that they have not earned any income from the sale of Jatropha due to lack of market. Additionally, all the respondents have not used Jatropha oil as a source of energy. Consequently, 97.3% of the respondents have discontinued production of Jatropha. It was also established that out-grower production of Jatropha had caused significant deforestation with 24.5% of the respondents opening up new forest land for Jatropha production. However, more than 90% of the respondents reported that Jatropha did not affect their food production and that they still have their land i.e. customary land rights are still held in the community. The general conclusion was that out-grower production of Jatropha in Chibombo District was ineffective. In addition to the environmental and socio-economic factors, abandonment of Jatropha production in Chibombo was mainly driven by lack of market for the produce. This was merely as a result of non-commitment of the sponsoring firm to the contractual agreements between the sponsoring firm and the smallholders. These occurrences were due to non-existent of policies and legal frameworks that regulate out-grower schemes. To achieve optimal performance of out-grower schemes in production of Jatropha for bioenergy in Zambia, there is need for a supporting policy environment and legal frameworks that enforce compliance to the contract agreements, create market opportunities and regulate prices for the produce, and monitor activities of the concerned parties.Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
Geaography, Geoinformatics And Meterology
MSc
Unrestricted
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Mazuba, Phedelis. "Ex-ante and ex-post adjustment mechanisms to seasonality among the smallholder farmers in Mwanachingwala, Zambia." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/40357.
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In rain-fed farming systems, a poor harvest can have broad and overwhelming effects on affected households. Smallholder farmers have to ensure that they have adequate food from one harvest to the other and enough inputs for the next farming season. Households consume more just after the harvest and the consumption levels decline as they move away from the harvest season.
The study identified the ex-ante and ex-post adjustment mechanisms to seasonal food and input requirements. Special consideration was given to determine whether the probability of using a given adjustment mechanism to seasonality is the same in good, normal, poor and very poor years and whether household wealth has an influence on the use of adjustment mechanisms. Attention was also given to determining whether agricultural production and household wealth are reflected in observed seasonality in consumption.
The study used cross-sectional data from 225 randomly selected households. The study relied on non-parametric methods of data analysis because the required dependent variables could not meet the parametric assumptions.
The analysis showed that the probabilities of using some ex-ante and ex-post adjustment mechanisms for both food and input requirements by the non-poor households are not the same in good, normal, poor and very poor years. However, the poor households’ probability of using any of the identified ex-post adjustment mechanisms to seasonal input requirements is the same in all the years.
The study established that household wealth affects the use of ex-ante and ex-post adjustment mechanisms to seasonal input requirements and ex-post adjustment mechanisms to seasonal food requirements after good, normal, poor and very poor harvests. The study further revealed that agricultural production is reflected in household seasonal consumption. However, the study failed to find a relationship between consumption and agricultural production in the post-harvest season after good and normal harvests. The study also showed that household wealth is reflected in food consumption in all the seasons of normal, poor and very poor years. However, no relationship was found between food consumption and household wealth in the post-harvest and rainy seasons after good harvests.
The study further revealed that there is always a seasonal fall in consumption levels among households of all wealth strata despite the use of adjustment mechanisms. The situation worsens as we move from the good years towards the very poor years.
The study suggests that the use of one size fits all type of interventions to minimise the seasonality problem cannot adequately achieve the required results for all households. It is important to know the way households from each wealth stratum respond to the seasonality problem and why they respond in such a way. Programmes that encourage strategic planning, agricultural production and wealth creation are necessary to reduce the seasonality problem. Furthermore, mechanisms which ensure that the benefits from government interventions reach the poor households are necessary.Dissertation (MSc Agric)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
gm2014
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
unrestricted
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Somanje, Albert Novas. "Climate change adaptation measures in agriculture : a case of conservation agriculture for small-scale farmers in Kalomo District of Zambia." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15725.
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In most of the developing countries, small scale farmers (SSFs) are usually the primary agricultural producers of staple crop. Furthermore, they highly depend on rainfall for their rain-fed agricultural production. SSFs have limited capacity to adapt to extreme climate variability, thus rendering them to be among the most vulnerable to climate change. Some recent studies show that agricultural production and productivity is being negatively impacted by climate change and variability in most parts of Southern Africa. This is likely to continue for decades into the future, unless corrective or adaptation measures are implemented to reduce the impact on agriculture. Conservation Agriculture (CA) is one of the climate change and weather variability adaptation measures being promoted for SSFs in Kalomo District of Zambia. CA is not only being promoted to improve production and productivity for food security for the majority rural population, but also as an adaptation measure for sustainable agricultural production. The present study analysed the CA practices being promoted in Kalomo district of southern Zambia and the associated challenges in the management and implementation, as well as, how best these challenges can be addressed. Semi-structured interviews and literature review were used as methodologies of data collection for the study. The findings of the study indicate that among the three principles of CA, minimum tillage is mostly practiced compared to crop rotation and retention of crop residue. Within minimum tillage, ripping was found to be practiced on a larger scale compared to making basins. The major challenges include planning and human resource development, financial resource and policy constraints and cultural barriers to adoption of CA.
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Nkowani, Kenneth. "Modelling land/resource use options open to small holder farmers in the northern region of Zambia : a multiple objective programming approach." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/15538.
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The Farming Systems of the Northern Region of Zambia are analysed along with other options in the context of farm family resource structures by use of Single and Multiple Objective Mathematical Programming Models. The Multilevel Systems Approach used in this research, where individual Farm Level Decision Models are aggregated into a Regional Resource Planning Model is presented and the resulting model structure is described. The models are used to investigate land/resource use options open to smallholder farmers in the Northern Region of Zambia. In addition, the models attempt to explore an approach which takes preferences from the farm level through to regional level planning and decision-making. With regard to the modelling approach, multiple objective programming was found to be a useful tool at both individual farm and regional levels. Perhaps, the greatest value to this type of research is that the application highlights the key relationships that exist between technologies, productive activities, constraints and smallholder farmers' preferences in meeting specified goals and in determining the conflicts and trade-offs that would occur if certain decisions were made. It is concluded that, for the land/resource use options considered, smallholder farmers could made significant socio-economic gains by integrating crop and tree production, but inadequate working capital and family labour are major constraints by sacrificing either energy output or net income from tree crop activities. Opportunities exist for raising living standards in the rural areas if the liquidity position of the farmer at the beginning of the growing season can be improved. In an average rainfall year, an increase in cash availability would enable the farmer to purchase fertiliser, hire labour and buy other inputs - all of which would serve to increase the food security and improve the general welfare and life style of the people in the long run.
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Mwangana, Namulula. "Evaluating trade-offs between agricultural productivity and long-term ecosystem services provision among maize farmers practising conventional and conservation agriculture in Kafue Zambia." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/60844.
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Maize is a staple crop and underpins food security for Zambia. Maize productivity in Zambia is almost half the potential due to low uptake of conservation agricultural practices. This study tests the hypothesis of the trade-offs between agriculture productivity and long-term ecosystem services (ES) provision among maize farmers practising conventional agriculture on the one hand, and those practising conservation agriculture on the other hand, in Kafue district, Zambia. In addition, challenges which affect conservation agriculture uptake are assessed. Besides these challenges, the study notes that adoption of a new technology is also influenced by its efficiency, and therefore technical efficiency scores were estimated using the Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA) to compare efficiency levels of the two agricultural systems. Kafue was purposefully selected as it is among the first districts where conservation agriculture was introduced. Through purposive and random sampling, the households surveyed were split into two distinct groups namely conservation agriculture (CA) farmers (treatment group) and conventional agriculture (CV) farmers (control group).
The analysis significantly shows that farmers practicing CA have more knowledge than CV farmers about the capacity of conservation agriculture to reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, retain nutrients, mitigate pests and weeds and increase crop yield. However, both farming groups knew that CA helps conserve soils and that soil maintenance is important for food production. On the other hand, significantly, CV farmers knew more than CA farmers that CV reduces crop yield and increases soil erosion. On the other hand, CV farmers expressed a higher level of willingness to adopt CA practices than CA farmers who are unwilling to expand their area under CA. The study further shows that at least 55% of farmers practicing CA find inadequate labour to be the main challenge faced in CA. It appears that a policy that improves the farmers' knowledge on CA would help improve the uptake of CA.
CA farmers were significantly more knowledgeable than CV farmers about the detrimental effects of CV, such as increasing air and water pollution, thus raising the need for training among CV farmers with emphasis on the effects of their farming system on the environment which affect the supply of ecosystem services.
Efficiency is also a means of improving productivity hence the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) was employed to estimate technical efficiency levels in maize production. Using SFA, the study found that the technical efficiency of maize among CV farmers is 71.3% on average while that of CA farmers is 57.9% on average. Moreover, the study found that there was a significant difference (t=3.9854, P=0.0002) in the technical efficiency scores of the both CV and CA farmers. Nevertheless, the study also found that 77% of output variation among CA farmers can be explained by variation in technical efficiency. However, 33.4 % of total maize output can be explained by variation in technical efficiency among CV farmers. This means that CA farmers have a higher potential to increase their current output than CV farmers.
Finally there was no significant difference in fertiliser usage between CA and CV farmers (t=1.3825, P=0.1700). Further, from SFA fertiliser responsiveness to maize output showed that a 1% increase in the use of synthetic fertiliser leads to 0.678% and 0% increase in maize output per hectare for CA and CV respectively at both 1% and 10% level of significance at the expense of water and air quality. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a higher trade-off between maize production and water and air quality under conventional than under conservation agriculture.Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
MSc (Agric)
Unrestricted
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Mwila, C. "The adoption of improved agricultural technology on farms in Zambia : A comparative analysis of factors affecting the use of hybrid maize technology among farmers of Mpika and Mkushi districts." Thesis, University of Bradford, 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.372176.
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Abrahamse, T. "Perception of pests and pest management and pest control decision making in developing agriculture : The Tonga farmers of the Mazabuka District, Zambia, 1981-1982, a case study." Thesis, University of Westminster, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.233084.
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Malvido, Perez Carletti Agustina. "Effects of agricultural cooperatives on members in developing countries: Studies on pricing and inclusion." Doctoral thesis, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.18452/21248.
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Aus theoretischer und empirischer Sicht ist zu diskutieren, ob die Genossenschaften positive Auswirkungen für ihre Mitglieder haben. Das Forschungsziel dieser Dissertation ist die Erklärung und Bewertung der Auswirkungen, die landwirtschaftliche Genossenschaften auf ihre Mitglieder in diesen Kontexten haben. Die Leitfragen lauten: (1) welches sind die sozioökonomischen Merkmale der Landwirte, die Mitglieder von Genossenschaften sind? und (2) welche spezifischen Auswirkungen haben landwirtschaftliche Genossenschaften auf ihre Mitglieder? Die Fragen werden in einer systematischen Literaturarbeit und drei empirischen Artikeln behandelt.
Die systematische Literaturrecherche zeigt die empirischen Belege für positive Effekte von Genossenschaften finden sich in den Kategorien Zugang zu und Nutzung von landwirtschaftlichen Betriebsmitteln, Einkommen, Preise sowie Status und Entscheidungsmacht von Frauen.
Im zweiten und dritten Artikel werden die Eigenschaften der Mitglieder und Preiswirkungen von Genossenschaften im argentinischen Wein- und Milchsektor untersucht. Landwirte, die an Genossenschaften verkaufen, erhalten in den untersuchten Fällen niedrigere Preise für ihre Produkte als Landwirte, die an anlegerorientierte Unternehmen verkaufen.
Das vierte Papier analysiert Mechanismen, die zur Inklusion benachteiligter Haushalte in sambischen Maisgenossenschaften beitragen. Inklusion entwickelt sich in Genossenschaften, die Engagement zeigen und entweder vulnerable Mitglieder mit Finanzdienstleistungen versorgen, soziale Identität fördern oder benachteiligte Mitglieder dafür entschädigen, dass sie keinen Zugang zu subventionierten Betriebsmitteln haben.
Die Gesamtergebnisse zeigen, dass Genossenschaften im Allgemeinen mit den am stärksten benachteiligten Landwirten zusammenarbeiten. Sie erzielen verschiedene positive Wirkungen für ihre Mitglieder. Dennoch gibt es auch einen relevanten Anteil von Fällen, in denen es nicht genügend empirische Belege für ihre Auswirkungen gibt.From both theoretical and empirical perspectives, whether cooperatives provide their members with benefits remains open to debate. The research objective of this thesis is to explain and assess the effects agricultural cooperatives have on their members in developing contexts. The guiding questions are: (1) what are the socio-economic characteristics of farmers who participate in cooperatives? and (2) what are the specific effects of agricultural cooperatives on their farmer members? The questions are addressed in a systematic literature review and three empirical papers. The systematic literature review finds that what is known about cooperatives is based upon a very limited set of cases. The most conclusive evidence of positive effects corresponds to the categories access to and use of inputs, income, prices and women’s status and agency. The Paper Two and Three explore member characteristics and price effects of cooperatives and Investor-Oriented Firms in the Argentinean non-varietal wine and dairy sector, respectively. Farmers selling to cooperatives receive lower prices than farmers selling to Investor-Oriented Firms in the studied cases. Since cooperative members differ from other farmers in terms of size, assets and the cost of accessing the market, it can be concluded that cooperatives deal with more disadvantaged farmers at the expense of lower prices. The Paper Four analyses the mechanisms that contribute towards inclusion of disadvantaged households in Zambian maize cooperatives. Inclusion develops in cooperatives that show commitment and either provide financial services to vulnerable members, promote social identities or compensate disadvantaged members for not being able to access subsidised inputs. The overall results show that cooperatives generally work with the most disadvantaged farmers. They create multiple positive effects for their members. However, there is also a meaningful share of cases with a lack of sufficient evidence of effects.
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Symons, Julia. "Soil fertility constraints to small-scale agriculture in north-west Zambia /." Link to the online verion, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/1062.
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Kabengele, Godfrey. "Comparative assessment of matching grants and microcredit interventions in improving livelihood of peasant farmer in Mazabuka District, Zambia." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28989.
Full textAbstract:
Financing peasant farmers using sustainable and effective approach can reduce poverty level significantly among peasant farmers. Development Institutions and government deploy various financing models to fund peasant farmers as a means of intervention to alleviate poverty. This study assesses and compares two financing model i.e. matching grants and microcredit in order to know which model has greater impact in improving livelihoods of peasant farmers so that it can be advocated for as a model best suited to fund peasant farmers. The respondents for the study are peasant farmers who have accessed funding from Vision Fund Zambia a microcredit institution and Smallholders Agriculture Promotion Program an Institution that provides matching grants. The study is based on assessing livelihood improvement of peasant farmers using Care International framework that is focusing on capabilities, economic activities and assets. A total of one hundred and forty six respondents were selected using simple random procedure. The data was analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). Using descriptive statistics and focus group discussions, the finding shows marginal difference in livelihood improvement between microcredit and matching grants on assets and capabilities of the respondents. Matching grants exhibit higher impact on economic activities of the recipients as compared to microcredit. The study recommends that institutions offering matching grants must consider streamlining the process of project approval and disbursement while microcredit institution must tailor their services to client's needs and charge interest taking into consideration the vulnerability context. Overall matching grants are a better model for financing poor and vulnerable peasant farmers.
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Namulindwa, Rebecca Kiwanuka. "Participation of smallholder farmers in Zambia's dairy value chain through interlocked contractual arrangements and its impact on household income." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/65926.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis examines factors influencing smallholder dairy farmers’ participation in interlocked contractual arrangements, the nature and level of participation, the role of interlocked contractual arrangements in promoting smallholder farmers’ participation in markets and the impact of participation on household income. The study seeks to contribute to the ongoing debate about the prospects of these arrangements in enhancing smallholder farmers’ access to restructured and liberalised agrifood markets and whether they truly benefit from participating. The study was carried out in 2014 in the milk shed areas of three districts of Zambia where interlocked contractual arrangements were present. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data from representatives from two financial institutions, four milk collection centres and three milk-processing firms. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 266 households engaged in dairy farming. A multi-stage sampling design was used to select these households. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and econometric regression models. Detailed analysis was carried out by employing measures of dispersion and central tendency, as well as data normality tests. The double-hurdle model was used to identify determinants of smallholder farmers’ participation in interlocked contractual arrangements, while propensity score matching was used to assess the impact of participation on household income. Determinants of smallholder farmers’ decision to sell milk through interlocked contractual arrangements include ownership of improved breed animals, milk price, access to dairy marketing information, income from other sources and landholding size. While most of these factors also affected the proportion of milk sold, the following were important as well: household head education level, cattle-rearing culture, relative supplier’s dependency on buyer and existence of trust in the exchange relationship. Factors adversely affecting farmers’ participation include high stock feed cost, poor breeding programmes, low milk prices, a long time lag for contract review, low participation of women and youths and inadequate involvement in decision-making and transparency in grading. Results further show that ownership of a milk-processing plant and membership to a dairy cooperative enhance smallholder farmers’ involvement in value chain activities but not in key business decision-making. Interlocked contractual arrangements have enhanced smallholder farmers’ participation in the mainstream dairy value chain and access to resources and services, through reduction of information asymmetry and related costs and risks. They have achieved this through the concurrent use of contracts, transaction-specific investments, trust and relational norms. Support from development agencies and public and private sectors is also critical in addressing the multiple market and institutional failures that prevent smallholder farmers from participating in markets. Although results show that smallholder farmers are not excluded from participating in interlocked contractual arrangements, the intensity of their participation is low. Meanwhile, processors are willing to collaborate more with smallholder farmers because of their low side-selling risk. Whereas interlocked contractual arrangements offer prospects to enhance access to financial services and stock feed, much more needs to be done to increase the number of participating farmers. Results also reveal that participation in interlocked contractual arrangements enhances milk revenue but not household income. While interlocked contractual arrangements enhance smallholder farmers’ access to markets, they are not a panacea for addressing the high rural poverty rates. Thus, reorientation from overemphasis on contract farming to a mix of other strategies, such as livelihood diversification.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2018.
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
PhD
Unrestricted
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Tengstam, Sven. "Essays on smallholder diversification, industry location, debt relief, and disability and utility /." Göteborg : Dept. of Economics, School of Economics and Commercial Law Nationalekonomiska institutionen, Univ., 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2077/18846.
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Kirk, Else. "Gender relations and the beneficiary: an impact study of the resource mobilisation initiative of Nyimba District Farmers Association as supported by MS Zambia." Diss., 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1824.
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The central objective of this dissertation is to gain an understanding of the effect by the market within the household on a specific developmental initiative whose aim was poverty reduction. This dissertation analyses how individuals gain access to resources, and how they enforce their entitlements during the on-going implicit and explicit negotiations inherent in daily rural life.
The research tested the suitability of several concepts previously untested in the southern African context. The concept of hearth-holds, proved valuable as a unit of analysis which recognizes the importance of female-directed social units. The relevance of the fall-back position in terms of locality of kin, as well as perceptions of legitimacy, were crucial in affecting how far they were willing to go and what they felt they could demand in everyday household bargaining situations. The deficiency of using romantic ideas of conjugal relations and equal opportunities to explain practice was apparent.
Spouses strategise within the terms of their conjugal contracts, at times adhering to the dominant patriarchal bargain, at times covertly defying or overtly challenging it, and following another bargain.
Placing women as the custodians of morality, works to the relative advantage of men by isolating women from accessing certain opportunities. Female heads of households, manage to legitimise their access to resources by virtue of being custodians of their children. Custodianship of cash funds, and the dominant decision making model used for resource related decisions in the household, clearly impacted on the relevance of different strategies in the bargaining process. The strategic entry points in this process of reduced transparency and violence were relevant in most households studied. The latter was effective in reinforcing and shaping the conjugal contract, despite in effect breaking it. Drinking facilitated this process by creating a temporary suspension of the rules.
Concrete recommendations for developmental practitioners involve incorporating the hearth-hold concept and promoting the communal planning, budgeting and monitoring approach, as well as to specifically target individuals who need their intra-household bargaining power boosted. A clear policy on affirmative action in gate keeper roles, as well as gender disaggregated documentation of beneficiaries, should be institutionalised.Development Studies
M.A. (Development Studies)
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Chiona, Martin. "Towards enhancement of B-carotene content of high dry mass sweetpotato genotypes in Zambia." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/614.
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The enrichment of B-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, in the local sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars is an attractive option in order to improve vitamin A intake in Zambia. The study was conducted to: 1) identify sweetpotato genotypes high in B-carotene content and high root dry mass (RDM) and to determine their combining ability, as measured through their progeny performance; and 2) screen progeny for root characteristics, yield, B-carotene content, and RDM. Firstly, a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was conducted to determine the consumer preferences for sweetpotato. These preferences would form the basis for selecting desirable genotypes. Secondly, five selected parents were crossed in a full diallel for genetic variance studies. A selected subset of the diallel progeny were evaluated in three environments. Thirdly, 15 polycross progeny were evaluated for stability in five environments using additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI). The PRA revealed that consumers preferred high RDM combined with high fresh root yield. The diallel crosses recorded significant general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects for B-carotene, RDM, harvest index (HI) and root fresh yield (RFY). The ratios of GCA to SCA variances were large (0.68-0.92). Two high B-carotene parents exhibited positive high GCA effects, indicating that additive gene effects were predominant in the inheritance of B-carotene. Reciprocal mean squares were not significant for RDM but they were significant (p=0.01) for B-carotene content. The estimate of narrow sense heritability of RDM (76.3%) was high; but heritability of B-carotene (20.9%), HI (29.1%) and RFY (34.9%) were much lower. These results suggest that rapid genetic gains should be possible with mass selection breeding techniques based on the phenotype of the parent for RDM but progress will be slow for B-carotene content HI, and RFY. The AMMI analysis identified progeny G2 (B-carotene content = 5.0 mg 100 g-1 and RDM = 37%), G6 (B-carotene content = 4.7 mg 100 g-1 and RDM = 37%), and G8 (B-carotene content = 4.7 mg 100 g-1, RDM = 35%) from the polycross as stable across environments for both B-carotene content and RDM. Genotype G3 was best suited to one of the test environments and had the highest B-carotene content (9.421 mg 100 g-1) and a high RDM (35.47%).Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.
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Siwila, Davy. "Perceptions of genetically modified maize (as food aid) by the people in Chongwe and Magoye districts, Zambia." Thesis, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/5476.
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Zambia is one of the Southern African countries that experienced drought between 2001
and 2003. As a result the country had low levels of maize harvest, which is the country's
main staple food. The Zambian population depends on maize for both household food
security and cash. For this reason the Government of Zambia appealed for help from the
international community in order to meet the shortfall of maize with a view to feeding its
starving population, particularly in the rural areas. In response to the government's appeal,
World Food Programme, (WFP) a United Nations Food agency brought assistance in the
form of 27,000 tonnes of genetically modified (GM) maize into the country in July 2002.
The Zambian government, however, rejected GM maize in both grain and milled forms, citing
health, environmental and trade concerns with the European Union. Thus the focus of the
research was to understand, on one hand the government's action of rejecting GM maize as
food aid, while on the other hand accepting that drought-stricken small-scale farmers would go
hungry as a result of this decision. Understanding the perceptions of government action was
therefore essential to understanding the situation the situation fully. In other words, was it a
good scientifically based government decision, or was it one made for political gain?
Moreover, the purpose of this research was to present arguments about the safety and benefits
of Genetic Modification technology for the world, particularly the developing countries. The
findings of the study were that the levels of GM technology awareness in Zambia low among
technocrats and too low among the rest of the population. To this end, government officials,
relevant NGOs and small scale farmers were interviewed. In addition, small scale farmers in
Chongwe and Magoye participated in focus group discussions.
The findings were that although the Chongwe community experienced drought in their
area, they were of the view that the government was justified in rejecting the GM maize
from 2001-12 because they did not want to contaminate their land which they regarded as
very suitable for farming.
On the contrary, the Magoye people were among the communities that had been anxious to
get food and were therefore not happy with the government's decision. The hunger suffered
at the time in this community caused them to loot the government stores of GM Maize
(provided as food aid) before the government could recall the stocks. The issue of access to
the GM maize was apparently more important than debating on the potential impacts that
might have occurred to their community.
Other findings were the Zambian government's decision to reject GM maize (as food aid)
impacted negatively, both economically and socially, in these areas. The majority of small-scale
farmers experienced food shortages and resorted to various coping strategies such as
picking wild-fruits and roots in the bush in order for them to survive.Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.
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Ferreira, Maria Eduarda Bruel de Salles. "Combining Scenario Workshops and Participatory System Dynamics Modelling to Study Food Security. A case study with farmers in Zambia." Master's thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10362/29986.
Full textAbstract:
Food security, which affects mainly developing countries, is a worldwide problem that has called the attention of the economic, political and scientific community. Achieving food security is a very complex process that involves not only the ability of farming but also a constant adaptation to natural phenomena, as for example, rainfall patterns. Limited knowledge and access to information and technologies, restrict the capacity of local farming communities to achieve food security. Furthermore, there is a lack of suitable methods and tools for involving stakeholders, such as farmers, in the development and assessment of food policies and their long-term system-wide effects.
The main goal of this research is to investigate how the use of mixed-methods – scenarios and participatory System Dynamics (SD) modelling – are capable of improving understanding and an integrative view of food systems, serving as a lever for supporting food security decision-making processes. Additionally, this research aims to answer the following two questions: i) How can scenarios and participatory SD be used together to study plausible futures of food security involving smallholder farmers in developing countries?; ii) What are the possible policy pathways to avoid undesirable situations and to stimulate desirable ones, in a context of subsidence farming in Sub-Saharan African countries?. For this specific purpose, a group of smallholder farmers in Zambia was analyzed as a case study.
First, a workshop was implemented in which a scenario of poor rainfall and no government help was developed. In order to achieve food security, participants had to find policy proposals and pathways to avoid or to overcome this undesired scenario. Subsequently, from the scenario workshop data, causal loop diagrams (CLD) were built using a systematic coding process. The next steps were to analyse policy proposals through a cross-impact analysis and develop an outline of pathways to study the complementarity and compatibility of such proposals. The 11 policy proposals were Charcoal Business; Livestock Business; Groundnuts Business; Gardening; Loan; Piecework; Land (productive land); Rental Business; Partnership; Legislation for Deforestation/Afforestation; and, Retention Basins/Drilling Boreholes. Finally, it was possible to design an innovative Action Plan that shows the pathways and the pace at which each proposal may achieve food security. It was concluded that scenario workshop and participatory SD may tightly coupled since these methods complement each other, stimulating system thinking and co-creation of knowledge. Scenario workshops are a disruptive and exploratory method, as it allows to elicit creative and plausible images from participants. Participatory SD supports decision-making processes by analysing policy proposals and its pathways, leading to the elaboration of joint action plans. In the Zambian case, from the 11 plausible policy proposals, it was found that Piecework enables a swifter path to achieve food security, while Rental Business would be the slowest. Additionally, it was found that some of the policy proposals could be reinforced if implemented together, while others, such as Charcoal Business and Legislation for Deforestation/Afforestation, did not show such potential. A follow-up survey with workshop participants showed that they were following the Action Plan, confirming the preference for the short-term policy proposal pathways.
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Chalwe, Able. "Manipulating morphological traits of cassava to enhance host plant resistance and biological control of cassava green mite in Zambia." Thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/10056.
Full textAbstract:
Understanding direct and indirect defense mechanisms that enhance host plant resistance (HPR) and biological control is critical for successful development of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. Cassava green mite (CGM) (Mononychellus tanajoa Bondar (Acari: Tetranychidae)) is a major arthropod pest of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Africa. Strategies to control CGM include HPR and biological control by use of exotic natural enemies particularly the predatory mite Typhlodromalus aripo DeLeon (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The success of the latter depends on continuous survival of the natural enemy which requires suitable host plants and weather conditions. Various plant morphological traits have been recognized as indirect defense mechanisms that enhance HPR to CGM, and/or attract T. aripo in cassava. It was envisaged that integration of HPR and classical biological control approaches through manipulation of such indirect defense traits would lead to a more sustainable management of CGM in view of anticipated climate change. Lack of information on farmers’ perception of CGM and preferred varietal attributes, and gene action controlling the inheritance of CGM resistance also limits success of resistance breeding and adoption of varieties. This research was undertaken to gather information on farmers’ perceptions of cassava varietal attributes and cultural practices in relation to CGM resistance, identify suitable sources of resistance and environments for future breeding; and to determine the nature of gene action controlling CGM resistance and the inheritance of plant morphological traits that enhance the ability of cassava to host and support continuous survival of natural enemies.
High fresh storage root yield (FSRY), high storage root dry mass percentage (SRDM%), earliness combined with extended underground storability, and resistance to foliar pests and diseases are the major factors that influence adoption and retention of genotypes by farmers. Moles, termites and CGM are the most widespread and most damaging pests. However, due to the non-conspicuous nature of CGM, its effects are under-estimated and are given limited attention by farmers. The majority of the farmers are familiar with CGM leaf damage symptoms but they cannot associate them with the actual pest. Participation of farmers in field training and field research activities helps them to know CGM. Crop rotation, intercropping, removal of shoot tips, selective pruning of infested shoots, and burning of cassava fields are some of the ways used by farmers to manage CGM. Farmers associate hairy broad-leaved, tall cassava genotypes and pink leaf pigmentation (anthocyanin) with low CGM damage.
There is substantial genetic variability in the Zambian cassava germplasm for CGM resistance and associated plant morphological traits such as leaf pubescence (Pbs), leaf retention (LR), stay green (SG), tip size (TS), tip compactness, and plant height (PH), stem diameter (StD), SRDM% and FSRY. Genotypes with wide or specific adaptability for these traits have been identified, and should be recommended for general or localized production and for use as sources of desired genes in crop improvement. Genotypes L9.304/147, 92/000, TME2, 4(2)1425, I60/42 and L9.304/175 combine wide adaptability with high levels of resistance to CGM. Genotypes Kapeza, L9.304/147 and 4(2)1425 are able to produce 13-15 t ha ¯¹ at 9 months after planting suggesting their potential for early bulking.
This study has shown that both additive and non-additive gene effects play a role in the expression of CGM resistance and associated plant morphological traits. The best combinations of parents for resistance against CGM were 4(2)1425 x L9.304/147 and Mweru x L9.304/147, while L9.304/147 x I92/000 displayed combined resistance to CGM and cassava mosaic disease (CMD). The resistance of cassava to CGM is positively correlated with Pbs, LR, and TS, SG, PH, StD. Overall, the study has shown that there is wide diversity in the expression of valuable indirect defense traits among genotypes, indicating that there is scope for integration of biological control and host plant resistance for CGM in Zambia. The release of genotypes that exhibit high level of intra-season and inter-season stability for enhanced expression of LR, SG, and Pbs will minimize the impact of CGM on FSRY and SRDM% that results from seasonal effects. Such genotypes should also provide habitat for and thus help to ensure the survival of T. aripo in cassava fields. The study has contributed to the promotion of food security through identification of early-bulking genotypes which also have good potential for extended underground storability of roots. Early-bulking, high FSRY and SRDM% and SRR resistance are farmer-preferred traits. Therefore, enhancement of such traits through plant breeding is likely to increase the adoption of new genotypes by farmers.Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.
27
Mbewe, Jeremiah. "Evaluation of pass-on the gift concept on the socioeconomic welfare of rural households: the case of SACHZEP and ELITE Projects in Katete District, Zambia." Diss., 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/26687.
Full textAbstract:
This is an exploratory study on “Evaluation of Pass-on the Gift Concept on the Socioeconomic Welfare of Rural Households: The Case of SACHZEP and ELITE Projects in Katete District, Zambia. The main research objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of the PoG concept on the socioeconomic welfare of rural households. A mixed methods approach was used involving 124 household in the survey interviews, 5 FGDs and 18 key informant interviews. Study findings showed relationships existing between type of livestock with compliance to pass on the gift (p-=0.001), food security (p=0.001), income security (p=0.007) and education at 9th grade level (p=0.002). No relationship exists between livestock type with shelter status of beneficiaries. Livestock type, water scarcity, IKS and practices, sharing of knowledge, skills and livestock affects PoG impact on socioeconomic welfare of rural households. PoG is compatible with indigenous knowledge systems and supports Human Centred Development approach.Development Studies
M.A. (Development Studies)
28
Mwape, Ernest. "Economic analysis of factor allocation by Zambian tobacco farmers." 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/18945.
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Mwape, Faustin. "Relative economic efficiency of emergent and commercial maize farms in Zambia." 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/16767.
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Kuntashula, Elias. "Robust strategies to isolate the causal effect of improved fallows on farmer welfare and onfarm environmental quality in Zambia." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/43136.
Full textAbstract:
This study attempts to explain the inability of resource constrained farmers in Zambia to invest in soil fertility enhancing improved fallows, a sustainable land use practice developed by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in the 1980s. Although several studies in the laboratory and field have shown that improved fallows positively impact on farmers’ welfare, the reliability of such conclusions comes into question given their use of improper identification strategies. Secondly, although there is general consensus that improved fallows additionally co-produce environmental services, the literature acknowledges that such services are not only imprecisely defined but also rarely quantified. Most estimates for environmental services have been confined to controlled field trials and laboratory experiments. Consequently, this research was designed to answer the following questions: 1) Would the use of randomisation procedures to estimate impact provide additional support to the foregone conclusions by most literature regarding the positive impact of improved fallows on farmer welfare? 2) Studies from on-station experiments show that improved fallows provide environmental services; do such conclusions hold for improved fallows planted on-farm where the near ideal experimental conditions are not guaranteed?
A structured questionnaire was used to interview 324 randomly selected small scale farmers in Chongwe district of Zambia between November and December 2011. The data was analysed using well-grounded and robust matching and switching regression counter factual analysis tools.
The rigorous econometric methods confirmed the positive impact of improved fallows on household maize yields, maize productivity, per capita maize yield and maize income. Insignificant impact results were however obtained when broader welfare indicators – overall per capita, crop income and value of crop production were considered. The study attributes these later results to two possible areas; first, most of the maize sold that contributes to crop income may be coming from other input sources such as the inorganic fertiliser that is common in the study area. Second, the non-use of the technology on cash crops (for example cotton) in subsequent periods after a year or two of maize cropping reduces the technology’s contribution to the households’ cash crop income portfolio. Had the study only used maize income or value of maize income to measure overall crop income (or value of crop production), or had it just made a simple comparison between adopters and non adopters, the likelihood of not finding any insignificant results on the efficacy of improved fallows would have been high. The study thus concludes that the use of improved fallows should be diversified to cover the entire cash crop portfolio especially a year or so after maize cropping when most of the nitrogen supplied by technology has been used up. More importantly, the study recommends use of better and more robust methodologies in evaluating impact of interventions.
The positive effects of improved fallows on on-farm environmental quality, controlling for farmers’ biophysical and socio-economic characteristics were confirmed. Estimates from OLS regression, matching and the more robust endogenous switching regression showed that the technology had a significant causal effect on households’ consumption of fuel wood obtained from natural forests. The technology can provide up to 1,086 kg or about 51% of annual household fuel wood requirements in the year the fallows are terminated. This amount is substantial enough to make a positive contribution towards reducing encroachment on public forests and thus control the rate of deforestation. In addition to promoting the technology for soil fertility improvement (the role which is widely accepted by the farmers), explicit extension messages conveying the technology’s capacity to provide various products that contribute to farmer welfare as well as provide on farm environmental quality should be made available.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
lk2014
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
PhD
Unrestricted
31
Malambo, Augrey Hicigaali. "The impact of economic liberalisation on the spatial patterns of peasant crop farming in Zambia since 1991 : the case of Chibombo District in central Zambia." Diss., 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/18095.
Full textAbstract:
This is a comparative study of the spatial patterns of peasant crop farming in
Chibombo District between the 1980s and the 1990s. The study lists and
discusses the agricultural support system, communication infrastructure and the
crop production and patterns of the 1980s within the environment of centralised
planning and then compares these to the structures and patterns of the 1990s in
an atmosphere of economic liberalisation. This comparison in crop production,
cropping patterns, institutional support systems and the communication
infrastructure in five sampled farming wards of Chibombo District, leads to the
conclusion that there is a marked change in the structures and patterns of the
1990s from those of the 1980s. Thus, in Chibombo District, the state of the
communication infrastructure in the 1990s is generally poorer than the
communication infrastructure of the 1980s, the agricultural support system of the
1990s is largely privately owned and found in fewer farming areas while the
agricultural support system of the 1980s was state controlled and more widely
spread, and crop patterns in some farming wards are different in the 1990s from
those of the 1980s. In the 1990s, crop production in farming wards with a
supportive environment has increased than it was in the 1980s but decreased in
those where a conducive environment lacks. In this line, the study makes
several recommendations for consideration on how to mitigate the problems that
the peasant farmers are facing or how to enhance the positive changes that
have occurred in Chibombo District.Geography
M.A. (Geography)
32
Chibwe, Edward M. "Using robust identification strategies to evaluate impact of 2010/2011 farmer input support programme on maize yields and asset accumulation in rural Zambia." Diss., 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/43301.
Full textAbstract:
The Zambian government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO), provides maize seed and fertilizers to farmers at heavily subsidised prices under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). MACO’s narrow evaluation of FISP, based on estimated production without quantifying the significant changes in production and other critical socioeconomic factors, fails to adequately highlight and service the benefits of subsidies to intended beneficiaries. Furthermore, MACO estimates of the impact of FISP never consider the question of how much beneficiary farmers would have produced in its absence, leading to potentially misleading assessments. The key question addressed in this study is whether using more rigorous econometric methods that account for heterogeneity in socioeconomic factors between participants and non-participants would still confirm the positive impact of FISP on maize productivity and poverty reduction, hence justifying the huge government expense on the programme. The study utilised cross-sectional data obtained from 497 randomly selected households, collected in 2011 from six provinces of Zambia to assess the causal effect of FISP on beneficiary households’ maize yields and asset accumulation. The data was analysed using well-grounded matching techniques that account for differences in observable characteristics between programme participants and non-participants. The study also tested for possible unobserved selection effects using the Rosenbaum bounds. The results indicated that participating in FISP increased maize yields and assets accumulation and hence might directly or indirectly positively affect beneficiary poverty levels. There were also no influences of unobserved characteristics on the estimated maize yield and asset level differences between participants and non-participants. On average, FISP increased maize yields by about 451 kg per hectare, with an improvement of about 0.5 on the wealth index (score used to rank households according to asset levels). The positive impact on maize yields and asset accumulation on the participating farmers therefore justifies government’s continued implementation of FISP.Dissertation (MScAgric)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
lk2014
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
MScAgric
Unrestricted