Accroître la productivité agricole et favoriser le développement agricole sont nécessaires pour atteindre l’autosuffisance alimentaire et réduire la pauvreté dans les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne. La littérature a identifié plusieurs obstacles au développement agricole, notamment des contraintes environnementales etinstitutionnelles, ainsi que des contraintes d’accès aux ressources agricoles et non-agricoles. Une question demeure cependant, celle des politiques à mener pour promouvoir le développement agricole dans cette région du monde. Cette thèse aborde trois questions importantes relatives au développement agricole en Afrique subsaharienne, et au Burkina Faso en particulier. Elle étudie l’impact des institutions et des politiques sur les contraintes rencontrées par les agriculteurs et les ménages, ainsi que les outils capables de favoriser l’émergence d’institutions qui participeront au développement agricole. Le premier chapitre de cette thèse étudie le rôle des normes et des institutions dans la formation des organisations paysannes, et la participation des femmes dans ces organisations. Je montre que les femmes sont moins susceptibles de participer aux organisations d’agriculteurs. Le niveau relativement faible de la participation des femmes dans les organisations d’agriculteurs s’expliquerait par leur manque d’accès aux ressources, y compris aux informations, ainsi qu’au manque d’incitations reçues par les femmes. Le deuxième chapitre étudie les conditions d’émergence des marchés fonciers agricoles dans la région des Hauts-Bassins dans la zone cotonnière du Burkina Faso. Je mets en évidence le rle joué par les marchés fonciers dans l’égalisation des dotations foncières dans la région Les marchés fonciers permettent aux migrants d’avoir accès à la terre dans cette région du Burkina Faso. Enfin, le troisième chapitre de cette thèse cherche à comprendre la faible utilisation d’engrais chimiques par les agriculteurs. La faible utilisation d’engrais chimiques s’expliquerait par des facteurs autres que la rentabilité, notamment le manque d’accès des agriculteurs aux engrais et au crédit. S’appuyant sur la littérature théorique en économie et dans les autres sciences sociales, ainsi que sur plusieurs bases de données, cette thèse contribue à la compréhension des contraintes et opportunités pour le développement agricole en Afrique subsaharienne. / Increasing agricultural productivity and fostering agricultural development are necessary for agriculture to play an effective role in food security and poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa. The literature has identified several barriers to agricultural development, including environmental constraints, institutional constraints, as well as resource constraints. However, how to promote agricultural development in Sub-Saharan Africa remains a challenging issue. This dissertation addresses three important issues relating to agricultural development in Sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly in Burkina Faso. The dissertation considers how institutions and policies can have an impact on the constraints faced by individual farmers and households, and how to foster the emergence of institutions that will work for agricultural development. The first chapter of this dissertation investigates the role of norms and institutions in the formation of farmer organizations, and women’s participation in farmer organizations. The findings indicate that female farmers are less likely to participate in farmer organizations. The results suggest that the relatively low level of female participation in farmer organizations is explained by women’s lack of resources including information as well as a lack of incentives to participate. The second chapter studies the emergence conditions of land markets in the Hauts-Bassins region Burkina’s cotton zone. The chapter’s findings highlight the equalizing role of land markets in this region. Land markets enable migrants to gain access to land in this region. Last, the third chapter of this dissertation seeks to understand the relative, apparent low use of chemical fertilizers by farmers. The low uptake of chemical fertilizers might have been driven by factors other than profitability, including a lack of access to fertilizers and credit. Building on the theoretical literature in economics as well as the literature in other social sciences, and on various datasets, this dissertation contributes to enhancing the overall understanding of the issues faced by farmers in Sub-Saharan African countries and points towards further research in the economics of agricultural development as well as in the general economic literature.

This study investigates the factors affecting agricultural production of farm households in the National Regional State of Tigray, Ethiopia. The major primary sources of data for the study were farm household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The study revealed that the annual average crop production of respondents was found to be below the standard annual food requirement recommended by the international organizations. The proportion of irrigated land to total cultivated land was only 11per cent. The proportion of irrigated land in the two districts is lower than 11.27 per cent at the regional level. The utilization of chemical fertilizers for the majority of the respondents was below the recommended standard for the region. Although the farmers were interested in using improved seeds, the supplied varieties were not based on their preferences. Extension agents were mainly engaged in activities which were not related to their professions. The farm income model result showed that landholding size (p<0.0001), possession of oxen(p<0.0001), amount of fertilizer(p=0.010), improved seeds(p=0.002), irrigation(p=0.028), soil quality(p=0.019), village distance to the district market(p=0.066), average distance of plots from the homestead (p=0.023) and crop rotation(p=0.016) were determinant variables. Farmers were engaged in off-farm activities to fulfill the cash requirements in credit constrained conditions. The laws of the region do not allow farmers to be out of their localities for more than two years and the farmerswere restricted to renting out only half of their land. This discouraged farmers from off-farm participation for fear of land confiscation. In the Probit model, the determinant variables of off-farm participation were: irrigation (p=0.001), age (p=0.007), amount of money borrowed (p=0.078), village distance to the wereda market (p=0.055), fear of land confiscation (p=0.023) and access to electricity (p=0.044). It is recommended that if farmers are to use chemical fertilizers, they should be supplied with High Yielding Varieties (HYV)and enough water through access to irrigation. Furthermore, farmers should be allowed to have long term off-farm employment to augment the farming sector. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

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Um dos maiores desafios para os sistemas produtivos atuais é manter ou aumentar a produtividade por área com a menor adição de insumos, sendo o consórcio entre espécies ditas ‘‘commodities’’, como soja e milho, com espécies forrageiras e/ou cobertura, uma alternativa. Porém, sistemas integrados de produção apresentam uma maior complexidade em função das interações que ocorrem entre os componentes. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho busca avaliar o cultivo de milho consorciado com outras espécies, em safra e safrinha, para entender como estes sistemas podem se adequar dentro do sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária. Sabendo também que a soja tem papel fundamental na rotação de culturas e é uma excelente fonte de renda para os produtores rurais, buscou-se estudar sistemas de cultivo em que se torne possível o cultivo de soja dentro do zoneamento agrícola estabelecido para a cultura no sudoeste do estado do Paraná. O trabalho é dividido em três estudos: Estudo I: Rendimento de forragem e produtividade de milho safra em cultivo consorciado com espécies forrageiras; Estudo II: Desenvolvimento e produtividade de milho safrinha cultivado em consórcio com espécies de cobertura, e potencial de acúmulo de biomassa destas espécies; Estudo III: Potencial produtivo de silagem e grãos, de híbridos de milho com diferentes ciclos, e produtividade de soja safrinha sob estas áreas. Ambos estudos foram conduzidos na Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná – câmpus de Dois Vizinhos, durante a safra agrícola 2015/2016 e safrinha 2016. A condução dos Estudos I (safra) e II (safrinha) foi realizado com utilização do híbrido de milho 30F53YH, com 45 cm de espaçamento entre linhas, e cultivo de Crotalária spectabilis, Cajanus cajan, Urochloa brizantha e Urochloa ruziziensis em consórcio. Nestes estudos, foi avaliado o potencial produtivo de massa verde e seca das espécies cultivadas, e o potencial produtivo da cultura do milho. Para o período safra, foi avaliado também a qualidade bromatologica da silagem oriunda destes sistemas de produção e após a retirada do milho para silagem, foi cultivado sorgo (Sorghum bicolor) para comparação de rendimento de biomassa em safrinha, em relação ao sistema de cultivo em consorciado com Urochloa brizantha e Urochloa ruziziensis remanescente do período safra. No Estudo III, foi avaliado os híbridos 30F53YH e P1680YH com ciclo precoce e superprecoce respectivamente, e após a colheita destes materiais para silagem e grão, cultivou-se soja em safrinha, avaliando os componentes de rendimento. Observou-se que o cultivo de milho, no período safra (Estudo I), o consórcio com Urochloa brizantha, Urochloa ruziziensis, Crotalária spectabilis e Cajanus cajan não afetaram o desenvolvimento inicial das plantas de milho, resultando em plantas com características morfológicas componentes de rendimento e produtividade semelhantes ao cultivo de milho solteiro, sendo observado produtividade média de 10.756 kg ha-1. Também no Estudo I, observou-se que o acúmulo de biomassa para silagem, da cultura do milho, é superior no cultivo solteiro (67.290 kg ha-1) em relação aos tratamentos de consórcio analisados. Já entre as espécies cultivadas em consórcio, a utilização de Urochloa ruziziensis resulta em maior acúmulo de biomassa seca, com produção de 1.084 kg ha-1. A silagem oriunda do cultivo de milho solteiro e dos tratamentos de consórcio, apresenta qualidade bromatológica semelhantes entre os tratamentos, exceto para os valores de fibra em detergente neutro, os quais são diferentes para a silagem de milho solteiro (33,82) e milho consorciado com Urochloa ruziziensis (37,10). O cultivo de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor) em safrinha, sob áreas de silagem de milho em safra, resulta em maior acúmulo total de biomassa sob uma mesma área (47.834 kg ha-1 de massa seca), diferindo em relação a Urochloa brizantha e Urochloa ruziziensis, que acumularam respectivamente 29.917 e 32.089 kg ha-1 de massa seca no total sob uma mesma área. Em safrinha, a maior produção de biomassa seca entre as espécies consorciadas, é observada para o tratamento utilizando Urochloa ruziziensis (1.546 kg ha-1). Já as características morfológicas das plantas de milho e os componentes de rendimento, apresentam diferenças para o cultivo em consórcio e o milho solteiro, em safrinha. A produtividade do milho em safrinha, foi reduzida quando este é cultivado em consórcio com Urochloa ruziziensis, com produção total de 7.662 kg ha-1. O híbrido de milho 30F53YH com ciclo precoce, apresenta maior produção de massa verde (67.290 kg ha-1) e seca (19.481 kg ha-1) para silagem, e também produtividade de grãos (11.195 kg ha-1), em relação ao híbrido P1680YH com ciclo superprecoce. Como os híbridos eram para silagem e grão, e apresentavam ciclos diferentes, resultaram em quatro épocas de semeadura de soja, sendo: 17/12/2015 para soja sobre milho P1680YH silagem, 04/01/2016 para soja sobre milho 30F53YH, 17/01/2016 para soja sobre milho grão P1680YH e 29/01/2016 para soja sobre milho grão 30F53YH. Observou-se que o cultivo de milho, com ciclo superprecoce para silagem, proporciona ao produtor do Sudoeste do Paraná, o cultivo de soja em safrinha, dentro do zoneamento estabelecido para a cultura. A produtividade da soja em safrinha, reduz à medida que é retardado a semeadura, sendo observado produtividade de 3.490 kg ha-1 para semeadura em 17/12/2015 e 2.681 kg ha-1 para semeadura em 29/01/2016. Todos os sistemas avaliados podem apresentar vantagens para os sistemas de produção, sendo alternativas viáveis ao produtor, dependendo da espécie utilizada, época de semeadura e sistema de produção realizado na propriedade, sendo possível integrar a produção de grãos com a pecuária, ou ainda fornecendo um aporte de biomassa para proteção e conservação do solo. / One of the greatest challenges for the current productive systems is to maintain or increase productivity per area with lower inputs being the consortium between commodities, such as soybean and maize, with forage species and/or cover crops an alternative. Moreover, integrated production systems are more complex due to the interactions that occur among its components. In this context, the present work aimed to evaluate the intercropping of corn with cover crops at the main and second summer crop willing to understand how these systems can be used in the crop-livestock farmers. It is also known that soybean plays an important role in crop rotation and is an excellent source of income for farmers, it was sought to study cropping systems in which it is possible to grow soybeans within the allowed sowing data established for the crop in the southwest of Paraná. The study is divided into three studies: Study I: Corn and forage yield in the intercropped system with forage species; Study II: Development and corn yield grown in a consortium with cover species, and biomass accumulation potential of these species; Study III: Production potential of silage and grains of corn hybrids with different cycles, and soybean yield in the second summer crop under these areas. The studies were carried out at the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná - Câmpus de Dois Vizinhos, during the 2015/2016 crop season and the second summer crop in 2016. Study I (crop) and Study II (second crop) was carried out using corn hybrid 30F53YH intercropped with Crotalaria spectabilis, Cajanus cajan, Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa ruziziensis in 45 cm spacing between corn rows. In these studies, the green and dry mass productive potential of corn crop and cover crops were evaluated. Bromatological quality of the silage from these production systems was also evaluated. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) was used to compare the yield of biomass after corn silage in relation to the treatments cultivated in consortium with Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa ruziziensis. In Study III, 30F53YH and P1680YH hybrids were evaluated for silage and grain yield and after it, soybean was grown as a second crop, evaluating yield components and its yield potential. It was noticed that corn intercropped with Urochloa brizantha, Urochloa ruziziensis, Crotalaria spectabilis and Cajanus cajan at the study I did not affect the development of corn plants, neither its morphological and yield components characteristics resulting in similar yield as the crop grown alone, with an average grain yield of 10.756 kg ha-1. Also, in Study I, it was observed that the accumulation of biomass for silage, of the corn crop, is higher in the single crop (67.290 kg ha-1) in relation to the treatments under consortium. Among the species cultivated in consortium, the use of Urochloa ruziziensis results in a greater accumulation of dry biomass, with a yield of 1.084 kg ha-1 of dry mass. Silage from corn crop grown alone showed similar bromatological quality in relation to the treatment under consortium, except for neutral detergent fiber values, which are different, showing value of 33,82 and 37,1 respectively for the treatment with corn alone and intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis. Cultivation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) as a second summer crop, after corn silage results in a greater accumulation of biomass under the same area (47.834 kg ha-1 of dry mass), differing in relation to Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa ruziziensis, which accumulated respectively 29.917 and 32.089 kg ha-1 of total dry mass. In the second crop, the highest production of dry biomass among the intercropping species is observed for the treatment using Urochloa ruziziensis (1.546 kg ha-1). On the other hand, the morphological characteristics of corn plants and yield components show differences for intercropping and corn cultivated alone. The yield of maize in the second crop was reduced when it was cultivated in a consortium with Urochloa ruziziensis, yielding 7.662 kg ha-1. Corn hybrid 30F53YH with early cycle, showed higher green (67.290 kg ha-1) and dry mass (19.481 kg ha-1) biomass for silage, and so for grain yield (11.195 kg ha-1), in relation to the hybrid P1680YH with a shorter cycle. As the hybrids were for silage and grain production, and presented different cycles, they resulted in four soybean sowing periods, being: 17/12/2015 for soybean on corn P1680YH silage, 01/01/2016 for soybean on corn 30F53YH, 17/01/2016 for soybeans on corn grain P1680YH and 01/29/2016 for soybeans on corn grain 30F53YH. It was noticed that corn hybrid grain P1680YH cultivated for silage, allows farmers to cultivate soybean as a second summer crop inside the sowing data established for the crop in the southwest of Paraná. Soybean yield reduces as sowing is delayed, being observed yields of 3.490 kg ha-1 for sowing on 12/17/2015 and 2.681 kg ha-1 for sowing on 01/29/2016. All the evaluated systems shows advantages to the production systems, being viable alternatives to the farmer, depending on the species used, time of sowing and production system realized, being possible to integrate the grain production with the cattle raising, or even providing a contribution of biomass for soil protection and conservation.

This research promotes an analysis of the social function of land ownership in Brazilian law. It argues that the concept of the social function of rural property is contained in the concept of productivity, but can not be without this social function, so that the term "productive property" contained in Art. 185, item II of the Constitution of 1988, is related to both economic and social aspects. It can be deducted from the systematic interpretation of Articles 185 and 186 of the Constitution, in line with the program constitutional under Articles 1, 3 and 170 of the Charter, through which is promoted the true meaning of the multidimensionality of the social function of rural property. So, the elements of the social function of landownership - the economic (rational and appropriate use), the environmental (appropriate use of natural resources and preservation of the environment) and social (observance of the rules that regulate labor relations and exploration that favors the welfare of owners and workers) - integrate the concept of productivity, so that it is at the same time, container and content of the social function of property. / Esta pesquisa promove uma análise da função social da propriedade rural no direito brasileiro. Sustenta-se a tese de que no conceito de função social da propriedade rural está contido o conceito de produtividade, o que não pode haver sem uma função social, de modo que a expressão "propriedade produtiva" contida no art. 185, inciso II, da Constituição Federal de 1988, diz respeito tanto ao requisito econômico quanto à sua dimensão social. É o que se pode deduzir da interpretação sistemática dos artigos 185 e 186 da Constituição, consentânea com o programa constitucional previsto nos artigos 1º, 3º e 170 da mesma Carta, através da qual se promove o verdadeiro alcance da multidimensionalidade da função social da propriedade rural. Assim, os elementos da função social da propriedade agrária o econômico (aproveitamento racional e adequado), o ambiental (utilização adequada dos recursos naturais e preservação do meio ambiente) e o social (observância das normas que regulam as relações de trabalho e exploração que favoreça o bem-estar dos proprietários e trabalhadores) integram o conceito de produtividade, de modo que ela é, ao mesmo tempo, continente e conteúdo da função social da propriedade.

In Brazil, the contemporary peasant stemmed from a chapter of resistance to conservative proposals, passing through the slavery period, through the frustrating Law of Lands (1850), through the Getúlio Vargas´ developmental government, until the current engagement in the period of agribusiness predation of human and natural resources. This research had the backcountry peasants as subjects in focus to understand one of their reproduction strategies in their |territory|, which is the commercialization. The settlements of Curralinho with 30 families, Dom José Brandão with 41 families and Flor da Serra with 41 families were examined. All of them located on the territory of Sergipe´s high-hinterland, in the county of Poço Redondo. The study´s range proved to be pertinent by understanding that the local problems correspond and reproduce a global and structural field dynamics in the Sergipe´s hinterland. The peasant, person who has not had as historical heritage, an active participation in markets, has accumulated through time certain challenges for his/her insertion. Therefore, the study´s objective is to analyze how the peasant commercialization contributes to the social reproduction of the settled peasants in the county of Poço Redondo. As well, it is also the study´s objective to analyze how the territory is defined and relates to other sectors in society, developing itself through the commercialization that, concretely, we divide into direct sales, indirect sales, and with the institutional markets, by means of state´s public policies. For that, two methodological steps with different amplitudes were used: the first one was a more general look into the participative methodologies, reunions, group dynamics and participative diagnosis; the second one was developed in thirty selected questionnaires. / No Brasil, o camponês contemporâneo procedeu de um capítulo de resistência às propostas conservadoras, passando pelo período da escravidão à frustrante Lei de Terras (1850); pelo governo desenvolvimentista de Getúlio Vargas até à atual participação pelo período do agronegócio predatório dos recursos humanos e naturais. Esta pesquisa teve o camponês sertanejo como sujeito contemporâneo, enquanto foco para entender uma das suas estratégias de reprodução no seu território, que é a comercialização. Foram examinados os assentamentos de Curralinho, com 50 famílias; Dom José Brandão, com 41 famílias; e Flor da Serra, com 41 famílias. Todos localizados no território do Alto Sertão sergipano no município de Poço Redondo. A abrangência do estudo mostrou-se pertinente ao entender-se que os problemas locais correspondem e reproduzem uma dinâmica global e estrutural do campo no sertão sergipano. O camponês, sujeito que não teve enquanto herança histórica a habilidade com a participação ativa nos mercados, acumulou ao longo do tempo certo desafios para sua inserção. Portanto, o objetivo do estudo é analisar como a comercialização camponesa contribui para a reprodução social dos camponeses assentados no município de Poço Redondo. Assim como a maneira como se define o território e se relacionam com os outros setores da sociedade, desenvolvendo-se através da comercialização que, concretamente, dividimos em vendas diretas, vendas indiretas e com os mercados institucionais, através das políticas públicas do estado. Para isso duas etapas metodológicas com amplitude diferentes foram utilizadas: a primeira, um olhar mais geral através das metodologias participativas em reuniões, dinâmicas grupais e diagnósticos participativos; a segunda através de trinta entrevistas selecionadas e induzidas.

Smallholder agriculture contributes to poverty alleviation through food price reduction and employment creation. Smallholder farmers have the potential of creating employment because they are labour-intensive. Most small holder farmers in the Amathole District practices dual farming system i.e. crops and livestock production. However these farmers are faced by a number of constraints amongst these are land tenure security, lack of capital, drought, diseases, lack of access to markets and production inputs. The objectives of this study were: to investigate land tenure security impact on-farm investment and on-farm productivity by the smallholder farmers; to assess constraints encountered by the smallholder farmers, to identify factors influencing on-farm investment by the smallholder farmers and to identify factors influencing on-farm productivity by the smallholder farmers. Eighty smallholder farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentages) and regression analyses. Data was for coded and processed for analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that generally, the household demographic characteristics have an influence on the decision to investment in the farm thus on farm productivity. These included age, gender, marital status, educational level and household size of the smallholder farmers. However the findings revealed that smallholder farmers were not much concerned with the land tenure security of the land as they see themselves as owners of these lands. The reason being that they always had access to their land and there were no perceived tenure insecurity threats. The majority of the smallholder farmers were not worried that they might lose their land in the future as they felt that their land tenure was secured. Although, the majority of farmers had some sense of security they still preferred a freehold tenure system as form of land tenure security. This suggests that there was a sense of insecurity among some of the smallholder farmers caused by their current tenure forms. Majority (66%) of the farmers held their land under freehold whilst leasehold and communal hold farmers constituted 5 % and 29 % respectively. Even though majority had freehold tenure system, they could not use their land as collateral when required for funding from the lending institutions because the title deeds were not registered in their names but those of deceased family members. As a result the majority was constrained by lack of credit and had low income. Lack of cash suggests that the farmers have difficulties in purchasing farm of the survey suggest that the household demographics and socio-economic variables may have an influence on the on-farm investment and on-farm productivity by the smallholder farmers. Furthermore, besides the challenges with land tenure, there are other factors that are likely to influence on-farm investment and on-farm productivity. The results of the survey revealed that smallholder farmers were faced with lot of challenges. These included lack of access to markets, grazing land, credit, farm implements, productions inputs and irrigation water. In addition to this the smallholder farmers were faced with both crops and livestock production constraints. Crop production constraints included lack of access to labour, transport, capital, storage facilities, pests, diseases, lack of management skills and severe drought. Livestock production was constrained by diseases, theft, attack by wild animals, lack of fence in the camps, labour, vaccines, dipping facilities too far and severe drought. For both crop and livestock production diseases and drought were major concerns for smallholder farmers since they were dependent on rainfall for their farming activities. With regards to improvements and investment there was little or not much investment that has been made by the smallholder farmers. One of the reasons mentioned by the farmers as the main cause for little or no investments is the lack of capital to make such improvements or investments. The study also employed empirical analysis through employing on-farm investment and on-farm productivity models of the study on the factors influencing the on-farm investment and on-farm productivity by the smallholder farmers in the study area. In both models, the independent variables were tested for their significance and it was found that some variables were significant whilst others were not. With regards to the dependent variable on-farm investment, household socio-economic factors such as household size, educational levels and farm size, had a positive influence in on-farm investment and were also statistically significant. On the other side, factors such as land tenure security, age, gender, household income and access to markets did not have any influence and were not statistically significant. From the perspective of on-farm productivity variables such as farm size, access to credit and access to extension services had a positive influence. However, variables such as land tenure security, age, household income, educational levels, access to implements, were negatively influencing onfarm productivity by the smallholder farmers. Key words: Land tenure security, smallholder farmers, on-farm investment & on-farm productivity

Climate is an important factor of agricultural productivity and many rural dwellers in developing countries depend on agriculture and are highly affected by climate change and variability. The world is currently experiencing climatic changes and variability conditions which results in high temperatures, low rainfall patterns, shortage of water and drought persistence. Climate change and variability is affecting weather patterns and shifting seasons which results in serious repercussions on smallholder farmers. Smallholder farmers are extremely vulnerable to climate change and variability because their farming and production systems are climate sensitive and are not rebound to climate stresses. These adverse effects in developing countries arise from different climate change and variability-related causes, notable extreme weather events, food security, increased health risks in agriculture from vector home diseases, and temperature-related morbidity in environments. The study was carried in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. This study examines farmers’ awareness of climate change and variability and its effects on agricultural productivity in King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality using a Descriptive Statistics, Binary and Ricardian Model fitted to data from a cross-sectional survey of 200 farmers in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality. Both primary and secondary data was used. This research study estimates the effects of climate change and variability on King Sabata Dalindyebo agricultural productivity using a continental dimension of Ricardian analysis. Results revealed that local farmers were aware of climate change and variability and perceived changes in average temperatures and rainfall. The changes in average temperatures and rainfall had adverse effects on crop and livestock production. However, farmers’ awareness of climate change is not to an extent that they presume adaptation to climate change as a necessity and crucial. The results show that climate change and variability affects farm income and there is a non-linear relationship existing between climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) and farm income which depicts U-shaped. The study results indicated that climate change and variability affect agricultural productivity and have an effect on agricultural productivity in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality. In view of the research findings, several policy proposals are suggested. The study findings suggest that climate change and variability must be taken seriously and monitored. Policy makers and government officials must support farmers with information distribution,education, market access, well trained extension agents, credit and information about mitigation strategies to climate change and variability which includes institutional and technological methods, particularly smallholder farmers.

This work analyzes the geographical networks and the phytogeographical potential for beekeeping in Sergipe the light of geographical networks as a category of analysis, with the empirical cut territories planning: the High Wilderness, with highlights for municipalities Canindé de São Francisco, Poço Redondo, Porto da Folha, Nossa Senhora da Glória e Nossa Senhora de Lourdes; Agreste Central (Frei Paulo); Sul Sergipano (Estancia and Salgado); Centro Sul (Lagarto, Poço Verde and Tobias Barreto); and, Baixo São Francisco (Brejo Grande). The research took place from bibliographic, documental and census on the theme addressed; fieldwork from visits to productive territories that have phytogeographical potential for beekeeping; semi-structured interviews with the actors who are part of the network and beekeeping with representatives warehousing and cooperatives beekeepers, application of cartographic techniques for the preparation of maps, land and tabulation, and analysis and interpretation of information. The geographical networks of beekeeping are configured in networks of production, marketing, financial, technical, scientific and informational whose analysis reveals the existence of phytogeographical potential in forest remnants able to meet the practice and development of beekeeping in Sergipe. However, besides the weather, the factors of structural and organizational hamper the growth of this activity: the lack of synergy between actors constituents of the network, the lack of professionalism on the part of beekeepers, though they have technical knowledge, still practice activity amateur way, and insufficient processing units (House of Honey) built based technical standards set by government agencies, among others. To target the growth and strengthening of beekeeping are needed structural improvements, such as: scientific-technical support, financial and informational effective government bodies; structuring and creation of units of extraction and processing of bee products; structuring and organization of beekeepers´ associations and their inclusion in the Federation of beekeepers of Sergipe; strengthening commercialization via creation of warehousing in Sergipe, providing areas for Community production in areas with phytogeographical potential initiated by the government (federal, state and local), creation of partnerships between landowners and beekeepers via government agencies offering benefits to the owners , and , after the effective structuring of geographical networks, enabling the creation of a Technological Center beekeeping in partnership with the State of Bahia to meet the interior of Bahia and Sergipe since the geographical networks beekeeping sergipana beyond its boundaries in search of phytogeographical potential. These strategies provide the desired consolidation of Local Productive Arrangement (APL) in the context of state and Local Territorial System (SLOT) locally. / Esse trabalho visa analisar as redes geográficas e o potencial fitogeográfico para atividade apícola em Sergipe à luz das redes geográficas enquanto categoria de análise, tendo como recorte empírico os territórios de planejamento: o Alto Sertão, com destaques para os municípios de Canindé de São Francisco, Poço Redondo, Porto da Folha, Nossa Senhora da Glória e Nossa Senhora de Lourdes; Agreste Central (Frei Paulo); Sul Sergipano (Estância e Salgado); Centro Sul (Lagarto, Poço Verde e Tobias Barreto); e, Baixo São Francisco (Brejo Grande). A pesquisa ocorreu a partir de levantamento bibliográfico, documental e censitário acerca da temática abordada; pesquisa de campo a partir de visitas aos territórios produtivos que dispõe de potencial fitogeográfico para a apicultura; entrevistas semiestruturadas com os atores que fazem parte da rede apícola e com representantes de entrepostos e cooperativas de apicultores; aplicação de técnicas cartográficas para elaboração dos mapas; ordenamento e tabulação dos dados; e, análise e interpretação das informações. As redes geográficas da apicultura encontram-se configurada em redes de produção, de comercialização, financeira, técnica, científica, e informacional cujas análises evidenciam a existência de potencial fitogeográfico nos remanescentes florestais capazes de atender a prática e o desenvolvimento da apicultura em Sergipe. Entretanto, além das condições climáticas, os fatores de caráter estrutural e organizacional dificultam o crescimento dessa atividade: a falta de sinergia entre atores constituintes da rede; a inexistência de profissionalismo por parte dos apicultores, que embora tenham conhecimentos técnicos, ainda praticam a atividade de forma amadora; e quantidade insuficiente de unidades de beneficiamento (Casa do Mel) edificadas com base nas normas técnicas estabelecidas pelos órgãos governamentais, dentre outros. Para almejar o crescimento e fortalecimento da apicultura são necessárias melhorias estruturais, como: apoio técnico-científico, informacional e financeiro efetivos pelos órgãos governamentais; estruturação e criação de unidades de extração e beneficiamento dos produtos apícolas; estruturação e organização das associações de apicultores e sua inclusão na Federação de Apicultores de Sergipe; fortalecimento da comercialização via criação de entreposto em Sergipe; disponibilização de áreas para produção comunitária nos territórios com potencial fitogeográfico por iniciativa do governo (federal, estadual e local); realização de parcerias entre proprietários de terras e apicultores via órgãos governamentais oferecendo benefícios aos proprietários; e, após a estruturação efetiva das redes geográficas, viabilizar a criação de um Centro Tecnológico da Apicultura em parceria com o Estado da Bahia visando atender o sertão sergipano e baiano já que as redes geográficas da apicultura sergipana ultrapassam seus limites territoriais em busca de potencial fitogeográfico. Essas estratégias proporcionarão a consolidação do almejado Arranjo Produtivo Local (APL) no contexto estadual e do Sistema Local Territorial (SLOT) no âmbito local.

Text in English / The study analysed the effects of conservation farming in Zimbabwe using a mixed methodology approach. This analysis comes against the background of the recognition that climate change, as characterized by severe droughts, has played a significant role in reducing agricultural productivity, in the process leaving smallholder farmers and the nation of Zimbabwe exposed to recurrent food insecurity. Conservation farming was introduced as a climate adaptation strategy that was aimed at improving crop yields. The study focused on assessing the association between the adoption of conservation farming and a concomitant increase in agricultural productivity. This was key in understanding if there are benefits of using conservation farming as opposed to making use of the conventional method of farming. The study also investigated the nature of conservation farming being practiced in Umguza District; this was done in order to understand whether smallholder farmers are implementing all the key principles underpinning the use of conservation farming. The study further assessed the challenges and opportunities that exist through the use of conservation farming with the aim of coming up with sustainable solutions to the challenges affecting smallholder farmers. The study went on to assess the factors that determine the adoption and maximum utilization of conservation farming. Identification of these key variables was instrumental in the design of a localized conservation farming model. Study results revealed that conservation farming is an effective method of increasing agricultural productivity. The study also established that smallholder farmers are not implementing all the key principles of conservation farming and this was attributed to the failure to include the smallholder farmers in the design of conservation farming models. It was further revealed that smallholder farmers face various challenges that include access to inputs and limited support from the government. Implications of the study highlight the need for the community to be actively involved in the design of a conservation farming model localized to the unique context of smallholder farmers. A prototype for implementing a sustainable conservation farming model was developed in collaboration with the smallholder farmers as part of a solution based approach to dealing with the challenges affecting smallholder farmers. / School of Agriculture and Life Sciences / Ph. D.