Rural Population Growth Research Articles

Benefits and challenges of agroforestry adoption: a case of Musebeya sector, Nyamagabe District in southern province of Rwanda

ABSTRACTRwanda's natural forest is under pressure due to increasing rural population growth and subsistence farming. The Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture has therefore introduced agroforestry technology in forest-dependent communities to minimize the pressures on the forests and improve local people's livelihoods. This new technology has, however, not seen massive adoption in the country. This study examined the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of the agroforestry technology introduced particularly in Nyamagabe District and the challenges facing its adoption. Results showed that the agroforestry practices are contributing to an increase in income of agroforestry adopters compared to non-agroforestry adopters, and are improving soil fertility, reducing deforestation, and conserving soil and water in the district. However, results showed that, due to lack of skills and technical know-how, capital and quality seeds, some farmers are declining to adopt the new agroforestry practices. The respondents perceived that by providing subsidies to farmers, regular training, and informal education, establishing tree nurseries to improve the production of quality seeds, and also involving farmers in decision-making will increase agroforestry adoption. The government and other stakeholders should consider the views expressed by the farmers and take the necessary steps to address these challenges facing agroforestry technology adoption.

Protection status and national socio‐economic context shape land conversion in and around a key transboundary protected area complex in West Africa

AbstractTransboundary cooperation is being promoted as an effective way to conserve biodiversity that straddles national borders. However, monitoring the ecological outcomes of these large‐scale endeavours is challenging, and as a result, the factors and processes likely to shape their effectiveness remain poorly identified and understood. To address this knowledge gap, we tested three hypotheses pertaining to natural vegetation loss across the W‐Arly‐Pendjari protected area complex, a key biodiversity hotspot in West Africa. Using a new methodology to compare land cover change across large remote areas where independent validation data is unevenly distributed across time, we demonstrate widespread agricultural expansion outside protected areas over the past 13 years. Protected areas with high protection status appear considerably more effective at preventing land conversion than other protected areas. We moreover report marked differences in cropland expansion rates between countries, which we suggest may be linked to differences in rural population growth. Altogether, our results suggest that there can be considerable spatial heterogeneity in anthropogenic pressure across transboundary protected area complexes and call for more comprehensive assessments that capitalize on the current availability of remote sensing information.

Anthropogenic forest loss and malaria prevalence: a comparative examination of the causes and disease consequences of deforestation in developing nations

Malaria represents an infectious disease keenly tied to environmental conditions, as mosquitoes represent the disease vector. Many studies are beginning to document that changes in environmental conditions, such as deforestation, can greatly alter the density and activity of mosquito populations and therefore malaria rates. While numerous epidemiological studies examine the links between forest loss and mosquito proliferation in distinct locales, comparative assessments across multiple sites are lacking. We attempt to address this gap by imparting a cross-national analysis of less-developed, non-desert, malaria endemic nations. Using a structural equation model of 67 nations, we find positive associations between deforestation rates and malaria prevalence across nations. Our results also suggest that rural population growth and specialization in agriculture are two key influences on forest loss in developing nations. Thus, anthropogenic drivers of environmental degradation are important to consider in explaining cross-national variation in malaria rates.

Rural Settlement Development and Environment Carrying Capacity Changes in Progo River Basin

Generally the broader rural settlement the heavier population pressure on agricultural land. It indicates that carrying capacity of the rural environment threatened lower. The spatial distribution of the threat in a river basin is quite important as one of the river basin management inputs. Therefore, this article aims at exposing result of research about influence rural population growth and rural settlement land changes to environment carrying capacity. This research was carried out in the rural area in Progo river basin consists 56 sub districts (34 sub districts part of Jawa Tengah Province, and 22 sub districts part of Yogyakarta Special Region). The whole sub districts are such as unit analysis, and research method is based on secondary data analysis. Several data consist Districts Region in Figure 1997 and 2003 (Temanggung, Magelang, Kulon Progo, Sleman and Bantul) such as secondary data analysis. Data analysis employs of frequency and cross tabulation, statistics of regression and test. Result of the research shows that population growth of the rural areas in Progo river basin are about 0.72% annum; or the household growth about 3.15% annum as long as five years (1996-2003). Spatial distribution of the population growth in the upper part of the Progo river basin is higher than in the middle and lower part of the basin. The number proportion of farmer in every sub district area in this river basin have increased from 69.95% in 1997 to 70.81% in the year of 2003. It means that work opportunities broadening are still sluggish. However, the number proportion of farmers in the upper part of the Progo river basin is lower than in the middle and lower part of the basin. The rates of settlement land areas changes (0.32 ha/annum) as long as five years (1997-2003) is not as fast as the rates of agricultural land areas changes (0.47 ha/annum). Spatial land settlement areas changes in the lower (6.1 ha/annum) and middle parts (2.4 ha/annum) faster than upper part of the river basin, as a consequence the different accessibility to urban area. Environment carrying capacity of every sub district areas in this river basin becomes lower as long as five years (1997-2003). In the upper part of the basin however, the index of environment carrying data (0.13) higher than in the lower part of this river basin (0.09), especially in the several sub districts surrounding urban area. The environment carrying capacity of Progo river basin depends on the land settlement and the growth of household number changes. However, influence of the land settlement area changes is stronger than the growth of household number changes to the environment carrying capacity. This result of research shows that spatial and temporal characteristics of settlement environment degradation in the lower and middle parts wider than in the upper part of Progo river basin in the coming twenty five of years.

Identification Spatial Effects of Space Economy in Peripheral Areas of Sanandaj

Areas around cities are crystallization space organization with natural, social, economic and physical revelation in geographic context to another that inform in context of dynamic interaction of human and environment within economical and social system. In capitalism organizations space formation in order to goals of circulation and accumulation capital and in finally adapted to administrative and political structure and economic base each geographical place in priorities of accumulation of capital will form forms, structure and functions of different. The type of this research is descriptive-analytical and is based on the process of combining multiple methods. Therefore, this research attempt to evaluate the spatial effects of space economy revolution in the peripheral areas of Sanandaj. In this regard, It were identified criteria for space economy revolution in four dimensions social, economic, physical – environmental and infrastructure to identify the most important spatial effects of space economy revolution in the study area, with using multi – criteria decision analysis methods FTOPSIS in each dimension have been recognized. The results show that of the most important spatial effects of Space Economy Revolution in the economic sector include rising land prices, buying and selling land for farming and gardening, reduction in the area under cultivation, increased investment in real estate sector (buy and sell housing). The most important social effects of Space Economy Revolution in social dimension are rural population growth, increasing rural – urban migration and most important physical – environmental effects of Space Economy Revolution in the peripheral villages of Sanandaj include garden and agricultural land conversion to second home, destruction of natural landscapes of villages, and the spread of illegal construction. And in the infrastructure facilities and services dimension, the effects of Space Economy Revolution in the peripheral villages of Sanandaj include improving infrastructure of services, improving access to communication services and development of financial services such as Post Bank and Corporations.

Large cities in Poland in face of demographic changes

Abstract The growth of rural population, to the detriment of cities in Poland is caused mainly by agglomeration processes, including suburbanisation. Consequently, intense and sudden changes in demographic structure of large cities and surrounding regions are observed. The paper presents demographic changes in the largest Polish cities. The aim of the study was to verify whether the phenomenon of population aging was more distinct in large cities than in surrounding municipalities. We also aimed to answer the question of how changes in demographic processes should shape the social policy pursued by authorities in large cities. Discussion covers activities rising out of demographic challenges to meet the needs in the field of “services” for children and increasing demand for ventures related to care for the elderly. The analysis includes selected areas of the education, health care and social assistance fields.

An Integrated Spatial Model of Population Change in South Carolina Counties

Existing studies of population change have grown to consider spatial dependence. The current literature highlights the importance of location when modeling population change. The evidence clearly suggests that population change in one area is dependent on population change in neighboring areas. What is missing in the existing literature is an analysis of which specific features in surrounding areas impact the local area. We employ a model using spatially lagged explanatory variables (SLX) to model population change in South Carolina. In addition to the normal impacts of the explanatory variables in a standard OLS regression, the SLX model measures the impact of the independent variables in contiguous areas. It also allows for eparation of spillovers from rural counties versus those from urban counties. We find that the impact of neighboring counties is distinctly different for rural versus urban counties. Local urban population growth is influenced by neighboring counties, both urban and rural. However, local rural population growth is influenced only by neighboring rural counties. For rural counties, the share of retirees and recreational activities in surrounding rural counties are significant in explaining population change. For urban population growth, birth rates, income, and single female pregnancy rates in neighboring urban counties are significant. Retiree share and single female pregnancy rates in neighboring rural counties are also significant in explaining urban population change.

Urban and rural population growth in a spatial panel of municipalities

ABSTRACTUrban and rural population growth in a spatial panel of municipalities. Regional Studies. Using Bayesian posterior model probabilities and data pertaining to 3659 Brazilian minimum comparable areas (MCAs) over the period 1970–2010, two theoretical settings of population growth dynamics resulting in two spatial econometric specifications in combination with a wide range of potential neighbourhood matrices are tested against each other. The best performing combination counts five determinants producing significant long-term spatial spillover effects. Ignoring these spillovers, as many previous population growth studies have done, is shown to underestimate their impact and thus the effectiveness of policy measures acting on these determinants.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM EFFICIENCY: A SUB‐STATE LEVEL ANALYSIS FOR ORISSA (INDIA)

In recent years, there has been renewed emphasis on efficiency in resource utilization in the healthcare sector. Most studies in the Indian context have focused on state level analysis. This paper explores sub‐state level health system efficiency in Orissa, a low‐income state in India. Our analysis estimates the efficiency of the healthcare system at sub‐state level using 2012 district level data. We explore the reasons for relative performance of different districts using a frontier estimation technique. There is a substantial difference in performance between the most efficient district of Jharsuguda and the least efficient district of Balangir, resulting from inadequate utilization of available health care resources. Our study also identifies complementarity of private health care resources and the role of other factors, such as sanitation facilities, village electrification, and rural population growth. Our results suggest a need for better utilization of budgetary resources, both under the state department of health and the National Rural Health Mission, to increase health manpower and improve quality through training and better management resources in order to improve district health systems in Orissa.

Population growth, land allocation and conflict in Mali

ABSTRACTThis study analyses the linkages between rural-to-rural migration as measured by rural population growth and land-tenure conflict in southwestern Mali. Land-tenure rules in Mali are characterized by legal pluralism, leading to ambiguity about who has legal access to land and thereby increasing land-related conflicts. Data from 69 communes (townships) show that communes with less land per person tend to have more land-related conflicts. However, localities that have effective means of allocating land and resolving land-tenure disputes have fewer conflicts. A negative association between population growth rates in the destination areas of major migratory flows and the frequency of land-tenure disputes suggests that migrants are ‘voting with their feet’ in choosing to move to communes that have more effective land-conflict resolution processes. Encouraging more cross-community learning about which conflict-resolution processes work well and developing local conventions that allow village-level decision-making regarding land-tenure conflicts may, therefore, help improve migration outcomes for both the migrants and the host communities.

Ludność na obszarach wiejskich województwa opolskiego – przeszłość i perspektywy demograficzne

In the foregoing course of demographic processes in rural areas of the Opolskie Voivodship the population outflow within migration to towns (similar to the situation in the whole country) and the most intensive emigration in Poland stunted the growth of rural population. Despite the positive natural change which lasted till the end of the 20th century the number of rural population was showing lower dynamics and shorter growing period than urban population, characterized by the lack of replacing generations much earlier comparing to rural areas. In the first half of the 21st century it is predicted that in rural areas of the Opolskie Voivodship the population will decrease from 484 thous. in 2011 to 385 thous. people in 2050 (about 20%), however this will still be a less pronounced decrease than in urban areas (about 32%). As a result, the Opolskie Voivodship will experience the greatest depopulation in Poland (about 26% in comparison to de facto population in 2011). However, it should be mentioned that the category of de facto population is not particularly useful in analyzing population size in a region characterized by intensive, temporal migrations abroad, as it takes place in the Opolskie Voivodship. The number of de facto population in this voivodship is overestimated in comparison to its real population size. Thus, demographic prospects concerning the category of resident population rather than de facto population would be more appropriate for managing the development of a region effectively, which is currently threatened by intensive, temporal migration outflow.

Rural Household Poverty and Its Determining Factors: A Poverty Analysis Using Alternative Measurement Approaches

In developing countries like Ethiopia, our day-to-day formal and informal discourses are rarely out of poverty issues that can be linked directly or indirectly. Despite the determined effort of government and development agencies to reduce poverty and ensure sustainable development, poverty remains an everlasting challenge in the world. This study aims to examine rural household poverty and its determining factors using alternative poverty measurement approaches, in the case of Gozamin Woreda, East Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region. It used both objective and subjective based poverty analysis approaches, where the survey-based analysis and PPA of the study depend on randomly selected 242 and 42 sample households respectively. Using the cost of basic needs approach (CBN), the poverty line of the study area is estimated as 19.16 Birr per day per adult equivalent. The study engaged Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke (FGT) group of poverty measures to assess the incidence, depth, and intensity of poverty, and decomposition was made across sample Kebeles and socio-economic variables. OLS, logit, and censored (Tobit) regression models were also applied to identify determining factors of household consumption expenditure, poverty incidence, depth, and severity. Accordingly, 35.12 % of the population lives under poverty and it is closely estimated as 33.33% using PPA. Poverty becomes sever challenge in the Dega agro-ecological areas of the Woreda, where 57.37% of the population lives under poverty. Family size and agro-ecological location (from Kolla to Dega) have a significant negative effect on consumption expenditure, but positively affect poverty incidence, gap, and severity. Access to credit service, cooperative services, health extension services, and off-farm activities have a significant positive effect on consumption expenditure; while negatively affect the incidence, depth, and severity of poverty. PPA findings revealed that perception of the community towards poverty is beyond the conventional, income/consumption-based definition. Therefore, development policies and poverty reduction strategies should respond to rapid rural population growth. Moreover, Dega agro-ecological areas need particular attention all the way through poverty reduction efforts.

In-depth analysis of the impacts of rural population growth on the natural environment: a GIS and remote sensing approach

The rural population of Zimbabwe has been growing rapidly since the country gained independence in April 1980. This increased pressure and degradation of the land; hence there was a need to sustain the growing population and its subsequent impacts on rural areas. This led to the implementation of the land reform programme in 2000, which intended to provide more land for settlement and crop production. Although this was successful to a certain extent, investigation is required to determine the changes in spatial and temporal variations in landcover for better management and allocation of natural resources to sustain the rural population and economic development. This study, therefore, used multispectral remote sensing Landsat images to determine landcover changes in one of the rural areas of Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe, using a maximum likelihood classifier. A post-classification change detection technique was also used to produce change through cross-tabulation. The findings of this study have demonstrated significant changes in landcover over the years (i.e. 1990–2010). For instance, it was observed that agricultural fields and human settlements increased dramatically during the period. Overall, the results of this study suggest that remotely sensed data provides an ideal platform for constant inventorying of natural resources.

Acreage Response of Cotton in Benin: Macro-level Response and Some Policy Implications

Cotton is very important for the economy and for poverty alleviation in Benin. However, cotton lint production started having a decreasing trend since 2003, and this is due to the decline in cotton acreage. Thus, to help inform policy decisions on how cotton production could be boosted, this study estimated acreage response of cotton by the means of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) over the period 1971-2011. In this regards, the model is estimated using the Hendry Error Correction Model. The results reveal that, in the long run, cotton acreage depends positively and significantly on the exchange rate, total number of tractor used, and lagged real producer price of cotton seed, and negatively and significantly on lagged producer price of rice paddy. In the short run, cotton acreage is significantly driven by rural population growth, and lagged real producer price of cotton seed, and is negatively influenced by lagged producer price of rice paddy. These results suggest that Benin could improve cotton production by putting in place measures to increase area devoted to cotton production, reduce labor shortages, eliminate inefficiencies in cotton sector management, and promote tractor use. Moreover, the central bank could maintain current exchange rate policy and reinforce it.

The value sphere of native and newcomer youth in their subjective assessment of the environment of a megalopolis

IntroductionThe modern world is a civilization of cities. The development of society, technology, culture, wealth, and new knowledge are today primary functions of cities but not of other socio-territorial formations. Cities are now centers of freight logistics, information, and social streams. Therefore, fullness of city life -- especially if we speak about a large city with multiple events and a large number of alternatives for work, leisure, education, sources of information, services, and other benefits (Kogan, 1990) -- makes this type of settlement most attractive location for many groups of people. This attraction is also evidenced by population growth of large Russian cities (including as a result of internal migration) and sparser rural population (Volkova, Sokolov, & Terentyev, 2015).The development of modern cities depends on their human resources -- that is to say, on their populations. Therefore, to attract and retain in city class -- young people -- city has to create conditions for its future development. To this end, many cities have implemented targeted programs of social support for young people and formation of specific conditions of urban environment conducive to maximum fulfillment of capacity of their young residents. Thus, in strategic development plan of municipality of Ekaterinburg (Strategic development plan of Ekaterinburg through 2020, 2010), one of priorities is development of conditions for active self-determination and self-realization of young people as carriers of innovation. However, socioeconomic-development strategy for Moscow (Strategy for socio-economic development of Moscow through 2025, 2012) emphasizes that one of major challenges will be reduction of population of 20-35 year-olds by a third; as a result, Moscow will become a city with a strongly deformed age structure. In connection with these trends special attention in development strategy of Moscow is paid to mechanisms for creating special conditions to attract people necessary for a megalopolis: representatives of the creative class, highly qualified specialists, as well as active, talented youth.A significant proportion of young people migrate actively inside country. For example, more than 70% of high school graduates from small settlements moved to Central federal region. And, in 2013, 114,347 people from rural settlements arrived in cities of Ural federal region; of them 39,754 people were from other regions of Russian Federation and 74,593 migrated inside Ural federal region[1] (Migration inside Russia by territories of arrival and departure, 2014).141The experience of living in certain places affects perceptions and environmental preferences of people. They may prefer or look for what they are accustomed to (Hauge, 2007). When they transfer their residence experience in other areas to urban environment, certain risks of pseudourbanization are created. But also arriving in cities are young people with increasing experience of interaction within an urban community; they are changing themselves more and more, and city and its way of life have already become for them a measure for evaluating environmental living conditions. The acquired experience of life in a city creates individual stories of young people as citizens who identify themselves with city. Identity with place is formed through a combination of human-ascribed meanings and values of a particular location (for example, a city) and various features (Lalli, 1992). Thus urban environment becomes for young people a place of opportunities for self-realization. This process takes place with a background of risks of urban life, and goals that young people set reflect their need-motivational bases of personality.A city concentrates opportunities, but young people are quite aware of obvious disadvantages of artificial, highly dynamic environment of a city (Kruzhkova, 2014); this environment runs counter to natural conformity built up for thousands of years by rural way of life that was typical for majority of population of Russia one hundred years ago (Bondyreva & Kolesov, 2004). …

English

Rural markets are gold mines paved with thrones. With mammoth size of 833 million populations residing in 640867 villages, rural India offers huge untapped potentiality for any marketer. There is wide disparity in village population range from less than 200 to more than 10000. The main occupation of majority of rural population is agriculture and allied activities that signify main source of income. Rural consumers spend more on food items as against urban counterparts who spend more on non-food items. About 54 percent of rural households possess telephone, 46 percent possess bicycles and 33 percent possess television. Central and State governments invest massive amounts on rural development through several programmes. At this juncture, a modest attempt is made in this paper to comprehend rural market environment through rural population growth, villages by population range, occupation, income and expenditure pattern of rural population, rural households by possession of assets and rural development programmes.   Key words: Expenditure, hinterland, income, mammoth, villages.

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ON MARKET POTENTIAL OF ETHIOPIAN RURAL MARKET

Ethiopia has taken great strides to reduce poverty and increase the welfare of its largely rural, agricultural-based population. Ethiopia, a country with rural based economy mainly from Agriculture sector which contributed with the range of 42.5 percent to 67.25 percent of the GDP for the past two decades (1990-2012). Similarly, the percentage of Rural population against the total population of the country accounts a larger coverage; with 87.38 percent for the year 1990, 85.26percent during 2000 and 82.46 percent for the year 2013. There is a steadfast growth in the total rural population from 41 million in 1990 and reached to 77.59 million in 2013 with average annual percentage growth rate of 2.8 for the past twenty three years. Very importantly, the major exportable products of the country is generated from the marketing of Agricultural produce such as coffee, khat, live animals, oilseeds, flowers, sesame, and also leather products. Above all, the consumption pattern and preference of rural consumer is changing due to the dynamic nature of marketing. However, marketers are failing to reach this largest target market of the population. This is mainly because, marketers are focusing on designing a product for urban market and when it becomes obsolete, it moves to the rural market. Indeed, it is unethical to override the marketing preference of the rural consumer. Recognizing the marketing requirements of the majority of the population would helps to bring a vibrant economic impact in the development of the nation. The present paper highlighted the major challenges and opportunities of Rural Marketing in Ethiopia, identified ways to explore the untapped Ethiopian Rural Market and identified possible recommendations and policy implications that would help to bring an improved development in the rural Ethiopia. Accordingly, the present article seeks the attention of Policy makers, Investors, Higher education curriculum developers and marketers to this vital area of development, to respond the call of the untapped Ethiopian Rural Market.

How Should Uganda Grow?

Income per capita in Uganda has doubled in the last 20 years. This remarkable performance has been buoyed by significant aid flows and large external imbalances. Economic growth has been concentrated in non-tradeable activities leading to growing external imbalances and a growing gap between rural and urban incomes. Future growth will depend on achieving sufficient export dynamism. In addition, growth faces a number of other challenges: low urbanisation rate, rapid rural population growth and high dependency ratios. However, both the dependency ratio and fertility rates have begun to decline recently. Rural areas are also severely overcrowded with low productivity subsistence agriculture as a pervasive form of production. Commercial agriculture has great possibilities to increase output, but as the sector improves its access to capital, inputs and technology it will shed jobs rather than create them. These challenges combined tell us that future growth in Uganda will require a rapid rate of export growth and economic diversification. The country faces the prospect of an oil boom of uncertain size and timing. It could represent an important stepping stone to achieve external sustainability, expanded income and infrastructure and a greater internal market. However, as with all oil booms, the challenges include avoiding the Dutch disease, managing the inevitable volatility in oil incomes and avoiding inefficient specialisation in oil. Policies that set targets for the non-oil deficit could help manage some of these effects, but a conscious strategy to diversify would still be needed. The best strategy is therefore to use the additional oil revenue and accompanying investments to promote a diversification strategy that is sustainable. To determine how to encourage such a transformation, we draw on a new line of research that demonstrates how development seldom implies producing more of the same. Instead, as countries grow, they tend to move into new industries, while they also increase productivity in existing sectors. In this report, we analyse what those new industries might be for Uganda. To do so, we first look to those products which balance the desire to increase the diversification and complexity of production, while not over-stretching existing capabilities. These include mostly agricultural inputs, such as agrochemicals and food processing. In addition, Uganda should concurrently develop more complex industries, such as construction materials, that are reasonably within reach of current capabilities and will be in great demand in the context of an oil boom. Here, the fact that Uganda is landlocked and faces high import costs will provide natural protection to the expanding demand in Uganda and neighbouring countries. We conclude with a discussion of the government policies that will support Uganda in developing new tradeable industries.

Acessibilidade e aglomerações na Região Norte do Brasil sob o enfoque da Nova Geografia Econômica

O objetivo deste artigo é quantificar e analisar os determinantes do crescimento populacional desigual dos municípios da Região Norte do Brasil, de 1980 a 2000, fundamentado na Nova Geografia Econômica (NGE). Utiliza-se como variável explicativa um índice de potencial de mercado desenvolvido para a Amazônia, o qual substitui a equação dos salários da NGE. As equações são estimadas aplicando o método de econometria espacial. Constatou-se que os municípios mais pobres da Região Norte têm no fator isolamento geográfico um dos determinantes da sua condição econômica. As dificuldades de acesso impedem esses municípios de escoar sua produção, basicamente oriunda da agropecuária, aos mercados potenciais. Confirmou-se também que houve redução nos custos de transportes, que culminou na melhoria da acessibilidade e na formação das aglomerações populacionais.

Estimation of Optimal Land Use Allocation Among Small Holder (A1) Farmer Households in Zimbabwe. A Case Study of Long Croft Farm, in Mazowe District

This study aimed to develop an optimal land use plan for Long Croft farm (LCF) by assessing the available land resources. It evaluates the potential of the land resources for recommending optimum, sustainable and appropriate land utilisation in agriculture development. Possible ways in improving farming systems and more efficient utilization of the scarce available agricultural resources especially arable land were determined. The study used quantitative analytical approach in optimal land use allocation analysis. A total of thirty six structured questionnaires were used to gather data necessary for analysis. Every household at Long Croft farm was taken as a sampling unit and the area consisted of 36 A1 farmer households. The Linear programming model with an objective function that seeks to maximise net farm income subject to land, labour, capital and consumption constraints was run using Microsoft excel premium solver. The results of the study showed that A1 households are insecure with respect to their land holdings; they cannot use their land as collateral security which is affecting farmer access to credit. The households are also much constrained in land, labour, capital and consumption and as such their land allocation has been found to be not optimal. The LP (linear programming) model has depicted maize, soya beans and sugar beans for LCF when they are no factor markets. However introduction of factor markets (land and labour markets) and farmer performance groups depicted production of small grains and maize. The land reform programme promulgated by the government in 2000 should have focused on equitable right of use, optimising sustainable production, protection of natural resources/ environment against degradation and increase the effectiveness of economic growth of rural and urban population. Most of the fast track land reform developmental activities were done without proper resource surveying for optimum and sustainable resource utilization, especially land, hence great competition and losses of good agricultural uses to inefficient agricultural uses. Resource surveying, land evaluation and land use planning should be employed in Zimbabwe’s agriculture to boast production.