Abstract
Market participation by smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa is characteristically low, with most of these farmers having limited access to both input and output markets. This paper investigates the factors associated with output market participation by smallholder farmers in Upper Guruve District, Zimbabwe. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 200 households for the survey, with the collected primary data analyzed using STATA version 15 through a Multinomial Logistic regression model. The key determinants to output market participation included gender, age and experience, area cropped to soyabean, input and output market prices, profitability and access to market and extension support services. The study demonstrates the need for market information dissemination so as to promote and increase soyabean productivity. Government intervention should also focus on providing an enabling environment for improved private sector involvement and gender empowerment since women are currently marginalized in soyabean production and market participation. This paper is critical for guiding policy-making and development of strategies to increase soya production for the benefit of both farmers and the economy in general. Keywords: Soyabean, Output Market Participation, Smallholder Farmers, Zimbabwe DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-2-02 Publication date: January 31 st 2021
Highlights
The national production of soyabean in Zimbabwe has declined from an all-time high of about 170,000 metric tonnes in 2001/2 to less than 60,000 metric tonnes in the 2018/19 cropping season
Number of years the household has been engaging in soyabean production Acquiring information on soyabean Planted area of soyabean Number of people living per each household
This implies that woman participate more in the village market since the soyabean crop is mostly grown by women in Upper Guruve District
Summary
The national production of soyabean in Zimbabwe has declined from an all-time high of about 170,000 metric tonnes in 2001/2 to less than 60,000 metric tonnes in the 2018/19 cropping season. Many households and farmers in Upper Guruve District in Zimbabwe bank on soyabean to have a balanced diet since there exists high costs on alternative protein rich crops. The findings of the research are anticipated to inform agricultural policymakers on suitable policies to increase soyabean market participation by smallholder farmers, expand soyabean production output and increase productivity levels, and either generate or contribute towards the re-crafting of more appropriate policies. Cluster sampling was www.iiste.org used to select ten (10) villages, five from each ward, based on numerous criteria that included predominant crop production systems within the villages, how representative villages were of the district soyabean production patterns, and their proximity to regional aggregate markets. Quantitative data was largely collected using a semi-structured household and intra-household survey questionnaire focusing on smallholder soyabean production and market participation. The multinomial logistic regression model, as detailed below, was used for detailed data analysis
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