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Contract farming as a tool for the development of smallholder farmers in ZimbabweDuma, Moses 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Zimbabwe’s land-reform process has been widely debated and severely
criticised, yet seldom been analysed at greater depth. In the transition from startup
small-holding farmer to the long-run goal of commercial farmer, Zimbabweans
currently experience a phase of increasing “contract farming”. New farmers are
producing for contractors who buy up their produce at predetermined prices.
Ideally, these contractors or agribusinesses also help the smallholders to get the
seeds and fertiliser, obtain the necessary equipment, help with the production
technology and assist in other ways.
On the basis of interviews with 25 farmers and 12 agribusinesses in different
regions of the country, the study tries to asses the merits, risks and preconditions
for success of contract farming. The responses from both sides of this contract farming
system suggest that overall success will largely depend on the effective
co-operation between the two sides and the facilitation of the process by relevant
government departments and/or supportive NGOs. Ideally, the lessons to be
learned from these transitional reform processes are directly relevant for land
reform and agricultural development efforts in other African countries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Zimbabwe se grondhervormingsstelsel is in die jongste tyd wyd bespreek en
skerp gekritiseer, maar dit is selde in groter diepte ontleed. In die oorgang van
beginners-kleinskaal-boerdery tot die lang-termyn oogmerk van kommersiele
boerdery word die land tans gekenmerk deur ‘n vinnig toenemende proses van “kontrak-boerdery”. Nuwe boere produseer vir kontrakteurs wat hul produksie
teen voorafonderhandelde pryse opkoop. Op hul beste voorsien dié kontrakteurs
ook die saadgoed en kunsmis, verskaf die nodige toerusting, help met die
produksie-tegnologie en voorsien ander take.
Op die grondslag van diepte-onderhoude met 25 kleinboere en 12
landboubesighede in verskillende dele van die land, probeer die studie die
meriete, risikos en suksesvoorwaardes van hierdie stelsel van kontrakboerdery
te bepaal. Terugvoering van die twee kante van dié stelsel toon dat sukses
grootliks afhang van die effektiewe samewerking en interaksie van die twee
partye tot die stelsel asook ondersteuning deur die betrokke staatsdepartemente
en ander ondersteunende organisasies.
Lesse geleer uit hierdie studie van Zimbabwe se hervormingsproses behoort
direk relevant te wees vir soortgelyke hervormingsprosesse in ander Afrikastate.
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Contract farming in Zimbabwe : the Mutasa garlic projectMurwira, Epifania 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Contract farming is being given renewed attention on the African continent in the wake of reduced public expenditure for credit programmes. Many African countries have recognised the potential of contract farming in linking farmers to viable markets and stimulating agricultural production in the face of globalisation.
In Zimbabwe prior to 1998, smallholder farmers were poorly integrated in the cash economy and had extremely low incomes, largely due to poor access to productivity-enhancing inputs. Small-scale farmers were marginalised as the economy focused on the larger commercial farms. Currently, mainstream banks have been unable to provide funding due to their own capital inadequacy and the view that smallholder farming is a risky and unprofitable sector. There is also a shift in roles as the government moves from direct participation in agricultural production and marketing towards facilitation, legislation and enforcement. The private sector is now participating more actively in the agricultural sector, providing credit to smallholder farmers.
This research seeks to better understand the partnership between private and public sector players in Zimbabwe’s agricultural credit programmes, through a study of Leo Marketing and the Zimbabwe Agricultural Market Development initiative called the Agricultural Input Supply Programme (AISP). In this research, the Mutasa Garlic Project, implemented by the AISP, has been analysed to achieve the objective. One hundred smallholder farmers have been contracted to commercially produce garlic in the Mutasa district. Using a sample of 20 farmers, the study examined how this financing model contributes to improved access to productivity-enhancing inputs, viable markets and technical expertise for the farmers.
The analysis indicates that farmers have access to inputs but the model still needs improvement in distributing them efficiently to ensure that all farmers have their inputs in time for the planting season. Marketing and extension services in the project are operating well. The study reveals that there is potential for growth in the number of farmers contracted to the programme. As the contracting model continues to improve, the same model can be used for similar projects in surrounding districts.
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