This thesis identifies determinants of market participation of smallholder sorghum and millet farmers and proposes strategies for improving their market participation. The study used survey data from 195 smallholder communal and resettled farmers, and agribusiness firms dealing with sorghum and millet. The farmers were selected from three sorghum and millet producing districts of Zimbabwe. The firms were located in Bulawayo and Harare. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with the sampled farmers and firm representatives. The thesis also explores the way the small grains have been marketed and the extent of field crop contracting in Zimbabwe. In addition, literature on determinants of market participation for other commodities was reviewed. Recommendations were then drawn on strategies for improved market participation for smallholder farmers. Transaction cost related factors are an important component of marketing that determines the extent of market participation for smallholder farmers. Results of the multiple regression and the probit models showed that transaction cost related factors, such as previously agreed prices (PRICEAGREE), confidence and trust in the buyer (CONFIDENCE), the difference in price knowledge (PRICEKNOW) and delayed payment for sold grain (DELAYPAY) have a significant impact on the quantity of grain sold and the extent of smallholder farmer participation in the market. Discriminant analysis was used to identify factors discriminating sorghum and millet sellers and non-sellers. The division was made according to whether or not a household sold sorghum and/or millet during the period 2004/05 to 2006/07. Of the fourteen potential discriminating variables, six explained group differences with statistical significance. The six important variables in the discriminant function analysis were: number of donkeys owned by a household, crop production levels, source of household income, method of transporting grain to the market, district and area cultivated. Five of the six discriminating variables point to wealth-ranking factors (household asset endowments) implying that poorer households are unable to participate in markets effectively. Farmers identified issues that need to be addressed for sorghum and millet production and marketing to be improved. The identified issues offer guidelines for priority areas to focus on when addressing limitations that are currently inhibiting farmer market participation. The major issues which included; seed unavailability, lack of access to draft power, lack of access to fertilizer, establishment of irrigation schemes; provision of transport to the market, production of marketable surplus and establishing a local market, all point to the need for external assistance to farmers. A review of literature confirms that contracting is an effective way to coordinate and promote production and marketing in agriculture. Sorghum and millet can be grown under contract successfully. The presence of successful contracts for other commodity crops is an indicator of the potential to increase marketing of sorghum and millet through contracting. However, for contracting to succeed, it is necessary to improve sorghum and millet productivity with an assured quality of the grain. The conclusion is that small grains are important food crops for smallholder farmers in drier environments but their productivity is low. Hence, to enhance farmer access to markets, it is necessary to increase the productivity of sorghum and millet and thus, enable smallholder farmers to produce adequate marketable surplus. Interventions by government and private sector should aim at addressing the major factors that determine market participation. Important to note is that, if poorer households are unable to effectively participate in markets, then interventions to increase households’ productive assets or the public goods that support agricultural production and marketing may be necessary. Based on the study findings, the thesis proposes possible key intervention ingredients for successful contracting of sorghum and millet in Zimbabwe. An enabling environment and legal framework created by government and private sector, addressing identified priority areas, primarily will largely determine the level of market participation of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. Copyright / Dissertation (MScAgric)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地域研究) / 甲第21897号 / 地博第243号 / 新制||地||90(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科東南アジア地域研究専攻 / (主査)教授 水野 広祐, 教授 岡本 正明, 教授 高橋 基樹 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Area Studies / Kyoto University / DGAM

Based on cross-sectional data drawn from 135 treated and 68 control farmers in Tanzania, and 133 treated and 71 control farmers in Zambia, this study uses propensity score matching to test whether conservation agriculture (CA) improves smallholder farmers’ welfare, in response to the policy objective of enhancing their resilience in the face of climate change. Farmers in Tanzania assess CA as having statistically significant impacts on increasing total agricultural yield, adaptation to climate change impacts, resilience to droughts, increasing maize production, enhancing household food security, increasing number of meals per day, increasing household income, accumulation of productive assets , addressing gender disparity and social cohesion, and improving soil health . However, CA had no impact on reducing the forest area cleared per year and total agricultural costs. Farmers in Zambia assess CA as having statistically significant impacts on increasing total agricultural yield , adaptation to climate change impacts, resilience to droughts, increasing maize production, enhancing household food security, increasing number of meals per day, decreasing number of food insecure months, increasing household income, accumulation of productive assets, addressing agricultural calendar bottlenecks, increasing total agricultural costs, addressing gender disparity and social cohesion, and decreasing soil health. However, CA had no impact on reducing forest area cleared per year. Policy could use such evidence to leverage CA adoption in support of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Africa Agenda 2063, although its potential to sequester carbon and provide ecosystem services comes into question. / Dissertation (MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / AERC-CMAAE / African Conversation Tillage Network / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics) / Unrestricted

MSCAGR (Agricultural Economics) / Department of Agricultural Economics / Agricultural cooperatives are important tools for enhancing the living standards of farmers in rural areas. It is therefore very clear that cooperatives are for the benefit of the farmers. However, the development of cooperatives in the study area is not at a desired level yet; hence, it is necessary to determine the farmers’ attitudes towards forming cooperatives. The research was carried out in Makhado Local Municipality, Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. Three irrigation schemes were selected for the study, which consist of a total of 215 smallholder farmers. However, only 152 smallholder irrigation farmers were used for the study. The mixed research design method was used for this study. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire. Interviews were also made using key informants (Extension Office). The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data. Cross tabulations and the logistic regression were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that the socioeconomic characteristics smallholder irrigation farmers has an impact on their willingness to form cooperatives. The study also revealed that the attitudes of farmers have an impact on their willingness to form cooperatives. The study further revealed that the constraints such as trainings, hired service providers, costs of inputs, access to agricultural information, access to adequate land and access to markets have an impact on their willingness to form cooperatives. The study recommended that strategies can be implemented on how cooperatives can be formed and enhance their success. The study also shows that future research can be done in youth participation in agriculture and cooperatives, cooperatives partnering with agricultural companies and other organisations. / NRF

The study analyzed the impact of the farm input subsidy programme (FISP) on the technical, allocative and economic efficiency and determining factors associated with these efficiencies of 12, 271 smallholder maize farmers from 2010 IHS3 dataset in Malawi. Descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier approach as and a Cobb-Douglas production function were applied. Yield responsiveness to production inputs was estimated by computing input elasticities. The findings indicate that technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers ranged from 15.7 to 78.9 with a mean of 61.3 percent reflecting a substantial level of inefficiency. The allocative efficiency scores were between 23.5 and 86.2 with a mean of 66.9 percent reflecting a substantial level of allocative inefficiency. The economic efficiency scores were between 14.1 and 74.6 with amean of 59.2 percent reflecting a substantial economical inefficiency. An estimated return to scale was 0.87 indicating that during the period under review, smallholder maize farming decreased by about 13 percent. The results of second stage Tobit regression estimations indicates that the FISP programme improved the efficiencies of maize farmers in Malawi. In addition, t farmers’ age, farming experience, education years, having an income generating activity and receiving remittance were also identified as significant drivers of production capacity of smallholder farmers maize. However, farmers’ marital status, family size and distance to the market had a negative impact on smallholder farmers’ capacity in maize production. Smallholder farmers in Malawi were experiencing a decreased return to scale meaning that they were technical, allocative and economically inefficient in maize production. From the findings, among other issues to be considered for the improvement of technical, allocative and economic efficiencies of maize production among smallholders farmers, the government should support only energetic farmers, make farm inputs available and accessible to farmers, continued advocacy on v adoption of family planning to reduce population growth to carter for scarcity of resources, increase and enhance extension services to help in educating these smallholder farmers in handling new technologies associated with modern agriculture, encourage them to engage in IGAs to complement FISP in purchasing farm inputs, increased and extended cash transfer program to economically empower these smallholder farmers.

The study was designed to assess the impact of irrigation schemes on livelihood strategies and food security status of smallholder maize farmers in North West Province of South Africa and covered three districts of the North West Province namely: Dr Ngaka Modiri Molema district, Bojanala district and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district. In this study, a descriptive survey design was used and a sample of farmers was interviewed from the list of farmers obtained from the extension workers. The targeted group was male farmers in irrigation farming and those who farm within the radius of the irrigation scheme. A questionnaire was designed as the primary tool for data collection and the process of collecting data involved face to face interviews and group discussions. Data collected were coded and entered into Microsoft Excel and then transferred to Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). To analyse data, descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The results of multiple regression analysis of relationship between irrigation farming and livelihood strategies showed that the independent variables were significantly related to livelihood strategies of the farmers with an F value of 8.067, p< 0.05 and R value of 0. 788 showed that there was strong correlation between the independent variable and the household livelihood strategies. Significant determinants were marital status (t= 2.43), number of household (t= 5.41), nonfarm activity (t=1.73) and income (t= 6.59). The probit model was used to determine the influence of the socio-economic variables on household food security status. The model has a good fit and significant with two explanatory' variables being significant while eleven variables were insignificant. The significant variables were income and Land. The results of Forster Greer Thorbecke showed that about (1.5%) of the respondents are living below the threshold of (R9.2) per day, while the per capital income of respondents that are below the poverty line needed to be increased by (0.5%) to meet the level of poverty line. The results also showed severity of (0.1%), this implied that the gap of respondents from the poverty line is very small. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Agric Economics) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2013

The purpose of this study was to assess the operations of smallholder sugar cane grower organisations based in the Komati River Basin of Swaziland. These organisations were formed at the beginning of this millennium. Some ten years later some have performed very well while others are struggling, and yet others are on the verge of collapse. The situation for some of these became so bad that their sustainability in the business was challenged. This did not augur well for the Government of Swaziland that established the project to address the issues of food security and poverty alleviation. This study was conducted as a case study with five organisations forming the cases. Data were collected from three levels within each organisation using primary and secondary data sources. Findings revealed that organisations were alike in many aspects including history, governance, strategic and human resource management. This was not surprising because for all of them capacity building is provided by Swaziland Water and Agriculture Development Enterprise (SWADE), Swaziland Sugar Association (SSA), and Mhlume Sugar Mill. Organisational structures were bureaucratic with limited participation in decision-making by employees and strict adherence to procedures and specialisation. This led to the conclusion that a mechanistic organisation management system was in place. Environmental resources were favourable according to chairpersons and their views were that they have the self-confidence and commitment for entrepreneurial development. The study concluded that a new series of studies need to be undertaken to explore the many unique research areas that are unearthed. Studies could narrow the focus but as far as possible consider the whole population of organisations in the K1DDP (19). Organisations also need to consider improving management and networking to reduce transaction costs.

The emergence of genetically modified organisms has sparked a multi-faceted debate, covering issues related to human health, ethics, and the environment. Discussions of the economics of GMO adoption are highly politicized and are influenced by large corporations and non-governmental organizations. This study aims to provide insight into the economic impacts of genetically modified organisms on individual farmers of cotton in India. The first GMO to reach commercialization in India was Bt cotton in 2002, which led to significant increases in revenue and yield among smallholder farmers. Using survey data collected between 2003 and 2009, I examine the economic impacts of Bt cotton and explore macro level changes in the Indian economy.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / Agricultural development programs under the former apartheid homeland system which was dissolved in 1994 could not successfully achieve their objectives. The current democratic government reviewed the policies and programs put in place during apartheid era which eventually led to the implementation of the Revitalisation of Smallholder irrigation Schemes (RESIS) in line with the Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP) and Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) programs. It was anticipated that RESIS would among others improve agricultural productivity, play a role in local economic development, improve food security, provide improved benefits and the livelihoods of the rural communities where the schemes are situated. The aim of the study is to assess whether the RESIS program has had an impact so as to make recommendations for future similar programs. The objective of the study is to assess the impact of RESIS program on the livelihoods of the participants and to shed light on whether such programs can be used for poverty reduction, which is a key objective in the programs of LDA. Tšwelopele irrigation scheme in Greater Tubatse Municipality within Sekhukhune District Municipality was selected as the area at which the study was conducted. A random sample of 50 beneficiaries was selected from a total of 75 RESIS beneficiaries and divided into two strata, namely, full-time farmers (both male and female) and part-time farmers (male and female) farmers. Interviews were conducted through completion of questionnaires responded to by the selected participants and key informants in the scheme. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to obtain the responses from the scheme participants and the data processed using SPSS. Based on the analysis of respondents‟ perceptions of the farmers, the study concludes that RESIS is perceived to have had a positive impact on the livelihoods of the beneficiaries. Gross margin analysis supports the farmers‟ perceptions.

<p>This paper deals with the economic development of Tanzania and especially with the development of the smallholders. My aim is to study whether the Structural Adjustment Programmes have helped to facilitate growth in the agricultural and export-sector and if the reforms implemented through the programmes have made agricultural specialization easier and improved the economic situation for the smallholders.</p><p>In this paper, I will discuss that there might be significant limitations in the favours received due to SAP and that the Structural Adjustment Programmes because of this may not be the model for agricultural development as it is claimed by the initiators; the World Bank and the IMF. On the contrary, I present the idea that SAP can be said to have failed in its undertaking and that the reforms might not be suitable for the smallholder sector. I will in the paper argue that SAP has not facilitated an agricultural specialization and that this has much to do with the increase of production costs that the smallholders have been faced with after the reforms. And because of this it could be argued that the Structural Adjustment Programmes might not be an appropriate development strategy for Tanzania, if the country is to achieve growth through specialization. Consequently, there might be reason to believe that the reforms not are overall suitable for the Tanzanian development, considering that a growth within the agricultural smallholder sector is crucial for Tanzania to achieve a long term economic growth.</p>