Small-scale Commercial Farmers Research Articles

Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Adoption of Mobile Phone Applications for Improved Small-scale Commercial Agriculture in Makonde District, Zimbabwe

Mobile applications have provided a new way for agricultural transformation. This is set to revolutionise the agriculture sector with easy access to vital agricultural information on weather, market trends, pest, and disease management, and best agriculture practices to enhance agricultural productivity and profitability. However, there is a dearth of studies on the adoption of mobile applications in agriculture. It was important for this study to understand the impact of farmers’ demographic characteristics on the adoption of mobile applications in small-scale commercial agriculture. The study applied the quantitative research approach, a sample size of 213 small-scale commercial farmers, a descriptive cross-sectional research design, and the structured household questionnaire survey instrument, purposive random and stratified sampling techniques to collect primary data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study revealed a higher adoption rate of mobile applications among young farmers than old farmers. The study indicated that female small-scale commercial farmers adopted mobile applications than male farmers. The study revealed that the majority of small-scale commercial farmers were literate. Further, the study highlighted that married farmers exhibited a greater tendency to adopt mobile applications than single, divorced, separated, and widowed. Furthermore, the study revealed that the majority of small-scale commercial farmers were engaged in agriculture as their primary occupation. The study argued that young farmers, female farmers, educated farmers, married farmers, and farming as a primary occupation positively influenced the adoption of mobile phone applications for improved small-scale commercial agriculture. The study recommends that policymakers and implementers should consider socio-demographic characteristics as critical determinants of the adoption of mobile phone applications for improved small-scale commercial agriculture to tailor strategies that promote the adoption of mobile applications based on different farmer age groups

Learning from adversity: Small-scale commercial farming in Nepal amidst COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed various shortcomings in Nepal’s small-scale commercial farming system. Farmers who were transitioning from subsistence to a market-dependent model faced significant challenges during the pandemic. This has raised concerns about the well-being of these farmers, the sustainability of their farming practices, and their capacity to withstand future shocks. Our paper aims to assess the current resilience of small commercial farmers and identify factors that can enhance their ability to weather external disruptions like COVID-19. We use the case study in Ravi Opi, a farming village located in Dhulikhel Municipality, Nepal to explore the challenges experienced by the small commercial farmers during the pandemic and the strategic responses adopted at the household and institutional levels. Our analysis reveals that the small-scale commercial farming system demonstrated ‘buffering capabilities’ and ‘adaptability,’ but not ‘transformability.’ This is primarily because farmers adopted short-term responses that are necessary for addressing immediate crises, rather than responses that would facilitate longer-term transformation. We argue that there is a lack of adequate state support for farmers in Nepal, which worsened during the pandemic. As a result, farmers resorted to leveraging their community connections for help, which provided short-term relief, and aided in addressing only immediate but not their long-term needs. Our observations underscore the risks associated with the current approach used by subsistence farmers to transition into commercial farming. Based on our findings, we propose that longer-term initiatives involving the government and other stakeholders are essential to strengthen the supply network and promote community-based agriculture extension services. We posit that these initiatives can potentially enhance farmers’ resilience and their ability to withstand future disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Small-Scale Farming Intervention Plan for Inclusive Economic Development in Rural South Africa

Small-scale commercial farming firms play a critical role in achieving the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the rural economies of Sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa has a sizeable number of households engaged in small-scale agriculture to supply rural market demand. Small scale commercial agriculture has become a key source of revenue, employment, and food security for communities in rural areas. As such, the South African government has been assisting small-scale farmers financially via the Micro-Agriculture Finance Institutions of South Africa and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. This support aims to alleviate poverty, create jobs, and improve food security by promoting small-scale commercial farming, primarily in rural areas. Despite this assistance, there is no clear strategy for achieving significant and evidence-based development. This study outlines a four-step intervention strategy for promoting small-scale commercial farming as a strategy for rural economic development in South Africa. These steps include defining a small-scale farming development strategy, and delineating production, performance, policy, and control measures.

Economic challenges limiting small-scale commercial farming development in rural areas of South Africa

Small-scale commercial farming has been recognised as a congruent strategy for local economic development. However, there are entrepreneurial challenges that are aggravated by the state of the economy, natural factors and weak agrarian edification system limiting growth in this sector. The fact that small-scale commercial farming is prioritized in the development agendas of the majority of African nations reflects how important it is in promoting food security and job creation. A number of agronomic limitations, including a limited farming entrepreneurship skill, severe climate change, drought, limited access to cash, and water shortages, have been recognized as major obstacles to the growth of small-scale commercial farming. As a result, the study presents the obstacles to entrepreneurship and small-scale commercial farmers in South Africa's rural areas. Two hundred and seventeen small-scale commercial farmers were chosen using a multi-stage sample technique. Quantitative data were collected through a survey in which structured questionnaires were used. Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 26 and Microsoft Excel version 2016 software were used as data analysis tools. Friedman means ranking technique was used to categorize the challenges in ascending order. Pearson chi-square was used to determine the relationship between the variables. The computed results revealed that financial, water, access to the market, crops and animal diseases were the most prevalent challenges. Subsequently, these farmers have poor financial management, marketing, packaging, cross-breeding and human management skills and this is exacerbating the challenges faced. Based on the results of this investigation, the paper recommends that the establishment of training programmes to improve entrepreneurship skills should be offered to these farmers, depending on the type of farming. Agricultural policies should be based on current evidence and should also be based on regular assessments. This improves the readjustment of relevant policies for the development of small-scale commercial farming. The study recommends that building of strong government intervention, farming stakeholder participation in policy formulation and adequate support for small-scale commercial farmers’ schemes in rural areas should be prioritised. Key words: Challenges, Small-scale commercial farming, economic challenges, entrepreneurial constraints, rural areas

Evolution of Zimbabwe’s Maize Innovation Ecosystems: Building an Institutional Innovation Infrastructure that Supports Food Security

This article focuses on some of the historical innovation institutional infrastructures in Zimbabwe that supported the genesis of a vibrant maize sector, and analyses institutions for technology, policy, skills, knowledge development and attendant financing mechanisms. We discuss the country’s maize innovation ecosystems, focusing on the technological capabilities in breeding and extension services, the architecture of financial institutions to support agriculture, and bridging institutions that supported technology adoption and innovation diffusion. In the process, we highlight elements of co-evolution, co-specialisation, collaboration and linkages amongst innovation communities for maize over a period spanning the pre- and post-independence eras. Our discussion covers the uneven colonial institutional, technological and financial support availed to white commercial farmers and how the shift in focus of government policy and support post-independence, resulted in the centre of gravity shifting to communal farmers, who now contribute the bulk of maize production. We discuss the critical roles played by Agritex (a technology broker and accelerator) and a state procurement agent (the Grain Marketing Board) as a market creator and signalling tool, as well as how specialised agriculture financing by state and commercial banks supported the rise of maize as a food security crop. Our key argument is that there were focused knowledge and technology flows between government research institutions, the private sector and others, such as the Seed Maize Association, which was involved in seed multiplication and marketing to the white commercial farmers pre-independence. This relationship shifted after independence in order to support small-scale commercial farmers, who were mainly black farmers.

Utilizing small-scale commercial farming to enhance local economic development in South Africa

Utilizing small-scale commercial farming to enhance local economic development in South Africa

Transaction Cost of Sunflower Seed Production in Tanzania: Application of Transaction Cost Economics Theory

This paper analyses the effects of transaction costs of production of the sunflower seeds by small scale farmers in Tanzania. The study utilises cross-sectional farm household data collected from a randomly selected sample of 120 small scale farmers in two central regions of Singida and Tabora in Tanzania. The results showed that transaction cost variables associated with information search and negotiation had negative effect on total output of sunflower seed production while contractual enforcement cost had positive effect on sunflower production. The effects were however not supported statistically (at p<0.05). Transaction costs associated with inputs information, access to means of communication and transportation, had significant negative effects on sunflower seed production. We recommend that policies aimed at improving rural road infrastructure, market information systems, small scale asset accumulation, human capital and promotion of farmer association could reduce transaction costs and enhance sunflower production by small scale commercial farmers.

Analysis of technical efficiency of small-scale commercial farmers in Vhembe district

Small-scale commercial farmers are regarded as the strategic avenue to achieve meaningful development in rural areas of South Africa. The government acknowledged that the inclusion of small-scale commercial farming in its development strategies. The paper aims to measure the efficiency of small-scale commercial farming enterprises in Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. Quantitative data were collected from 217 small-scale commercial farmers using structured questionnaires. The data were standardized using a farming enterprise budget system and analysed using the maximum likelihood and stochastic frontier analysis. The results revealed that aggregate output was positive and significantly influenced by age, education level, farm experience, farm labour, and government grants. However, the projected stochastic production frontier model combined with the efficiency parameters showed that labour and credit computed a negative effect on technical efficiency. The results indicated that the average level of technical efficiency ranged between 20% and 96% with a mean of 54%. This indicates that there is potential to increase production among small-scale commercial farmers in the study area by 46 % through efficient use of existing resources. As such, the local government should provide necessary supports such as formal agriculture training, access to credit and information to increase productivity.

Emerging from Below? Understanding the Livelihood Trajectories of Smallholder Livestock Farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

In the context of current agrarian reform efforts in South Africa, this paper analyses the livelihood trajectories of ‘emergent’ farmers in Eastern Cape Province. We apply a rural livelihoods framework to 60 emergent cattle farmers to understand the different capitals they have drawn upon in transitioning to their current class positions and associated vulnerability. The analysis shows that, for the majority of farmers, no real ‘transition’ from subsistence farming has occurred. However, they draw limited resilience from increased livestock holdings, continued reliance on social grants and connections with communal villages. A transition into small-scale commercial farming is apparent for a small number of farmers through the deployment of financial, human and social capitals. However, in following these trajectories, most of these farmers have been made more vulnerable to shocks and stresses than previously. We suggest that key to mitigating this vulnerability will be access to low-risk financial capital, more targeted support, and strategies to support farmers that might not transition from subsistence production.

Ethno-veterinary medicines and livestock production in mushagashe small scale commercial farming area, masvingo

This paper examined ethnoveterinary medicines and practices as cultural heritage in Mushagashe Small Scale Commercial Farming Area in Masvingo province. It applied both quantitative and qualitative approaches to gather data. A Semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and participant observation were used. SPSS version 16 and Excel software were used to analyse quantitative data while themes were developed for qualitative data. Results show that the knowledge of common diseases, diagnosis and medicines was dominated by males (80%). 50% of the age group above 60 years, was more knowledgeable, followed by the (35 - 60 years) age group (35%), while the least (15%) were between 25-35 years. Those in the 25-35 years category ridiculed and regarded traditional medicines as archaic. The age group 36 - 60 years (62.5%), were reluctant to share their knowledge, while herbalists were secretive as a way of socially patenting it. Only 10% respondents were aware of the toxicity levels while the majority (70%) considered traditional medicines as safe and effective. The study concluded that ethnoveterinary supersede modern veterinary practices in the area, but lacks pharmaceutical validation and documentation. It recommended the aligning of government policy on intellectual property rights and the validation to promote commercialisation. Keywords: Ethnoveterinary medicines, Indigenous knowledge systems, Livelihoods, Traditional medicines, Cultural heritage.

Perceptions and practices on antimicrobial use by the farmers of the Chikomba District, Zimbabwe

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on antimicrobial use (AMU) of livestock farmers are poorly understood in Zimbabwe despite their essence in combating the development of antimicrobial resistance. The aim of the study was to assess these patterns based on suggested KAP variables. A questionnaire-based survey of (n=60) Small Scale Commercial Farmers (SSCF), (n=60) Large Scale Commercial farmers (LSCF), and (n=60) resettled farmers (A1) was undertaken from January to March 2019. Participants were purposively selected from 10 wards based on willingness to participate in the study. Logistic regression, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation were performed in SAS (2003) version 6. Overall AMU practice scores were above 50% despite detecting violation of manufacturer's specifications. AMU was correlated with farmer's knowledge, r (178) = 0.42, p =0.000 and attitude, r (178) = 0.54, p =0.000. Farming scale, type of livestock kept and level of education influenced AMU (P 0.05). Farming scale influenced above 50% of the farmers to change label dosages, withdrawal periods, treatment frequencies, and consult friends on AMU. A similar pattern was noted on the effect of main livestock species kept on changing treatment frequencies and the use of human antibiotics. AMU without prescriptions increased with a decreasing level of education (P = 0.010). Knowledge on AMU was high for LSCF (average 58%), low for A1 (average 33%), and SSCF (average 46%). Attitudes were positive for LSCF (average 67%) and SSCF (average 57%) and negative for A1 (average 49%). We concluded that there is a serious violation of antimicrobial manufacturer's specifications by farmers in the Chikomba district which is associated with poor knowledge and attitudes on prudent ways of AMU

Difficult roads leading to beautiful destinations? Articulating land Reform's contribution to rural livelihoods in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

A key objective of the land reforms in South Africa was for the process to lead to the emergence of a cohort of black small-scale commercial farmers who would realize substantive agricultural production levels through irrigation and actively contribute to the local and national agricultural value chains. The available evidence suggests that this objective has been difficult to attain and the contribution of land reform to livelihoods of the beneficiaries has been negligible in the Limpopo province. This study deployed qualitative research methodologies to gather both secondary and empirical data that enabled analysis of the extent to which the land reform program has contributed to the livelihoods of small-scale emerging farmers in the surroundings of Bela-Bela Municipal Area, Limpopo Province. The study found out that financial resources are a big challenge, with most of the farmers being unable to raise the capital needed to invest in the farming enterprise. In addition, most of the ‘emerging farmers’ do not have the know-how and experience needed to run a commercial farm. Overall, the study enabled us to conclude that the land reform projects have not only had limited impact on the livelihoods of the majority of the beneficiaries, instead, the reforms have left the country-side facing a real risk of increasing food insecurity. This suggests that a wide-ranging programme of land reform is a necessary but not sufficient condition for meaningful transformation of the livelihoods of the households involved. More groundwork still needs to be done by government and other development agencies to ensure availability of proper post-land transfer support systems for the emerging farmers.

Biofortification of sweet potato for food and nutrition security in South Africa

South Africa has a diverse population, with some pockets of society being in a first world setup and other pockets in a third world impoverished setup. Food provision in impoverished societies is particularly crucial. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is a hardy crop and prominent in ensuring household food security; through its rich supply of energy, high yield potential and market value. In addition, orange-fleshed cultivars in particular are prominent in combating vitamin A deficiency due to high content of naturally bio-available β-carotene. This paper reviews interventions with regard to biofortification of sweet potato in South Africa towards addressing food and nutrition security. The focus was on the development of biofortified (high β-carotene content) cultivars and screening procedures for desired varietal traits; assessment of β-carotene, anti-oxidant and mineral content and the processing potential of orange-fleshed cultivars. Efficacy of orange fleshed sweet potato to improve vitamin A status was shown and positive effects of household production of orange-fleshed sweet potato, in conjunction with other β-carotene rich vegetables, on dietary intake, vitamin A status and food security were recorded. Dissemination efforts were initially focused on home gardens, which gradually expanded to subsistence production and enterprises. During 2014/15, over 1 million cuttings were disseminated and 5 to 40 small-scale commercial farmers in six provinces planted 0.25 to 1ha of orange-fleshed sweet potato as means for income generation. In order to exploit the nutritional benefits of sweet potato and its potential to reduce vitamin A malnutrition and food insecurity, it is recommended that policy makers set directives to incorporate orange-fleshed sweet potato in government programs related to health, rural development, social development and agricultural production. There is a great need for investment in promotion of orange-fleshed sweet potato, particularly to consumers and retailers. Private–public partnerships and investment by private companies will be crucial for upscaling the impact of orange-fleshed sweet potato on food and nutrition security.

Risk management strategies on small-scale commercial farms in three zobatat of Eritrea

In this study the perceptions of small-scale commercial farmers in Eritrea of the importance of various risk responses are ascertained and analysed to gain insight into their risk-management strategies. Data were elicited through a survey of 186 small-scale commercial farmers conducted in three zobatat (regions) of Eritrea. Factor Analysis is used to investigate heterogeneity in sample farmers’ responses. Results indicate that relatively more important risk responses include the use of internal and external sources of information, on-farm and off-farm diversification, choice of production system and product marketing arrangements. Farmers’ perceptions of risk responses vary according to farm type, geographical location, farm and farmer characteristics, as well as the existence of enterprise specific risk responses (e.g. livestock insurance) and differences in the marketing regulations of various agricultural products.

English

Persistent financial problems confront public extension organizations world-wide. Governments have embarked on funding arrangements, including commercializing the delivery of extension services to producers to ensure financial sustainability. These funding methods are innovative in the sense that they have not been used previously. They have to be accepted eventually by producers. The situational incompatibility aspects represent the barriers en route to the adoption of such innovations. This study therefore attempts to identify the perceived problem/barriers, commonly called independent variables associated with the adoption of innovations, such as the payment for the delivery of public extension visits. Further assessment is made of the important independent variables that contribute the most to the variance in the adoption of payment for the delivery of public extension visits. A non-probability survey of 97 medium and small-scale commercial crop farmers was conducted between September and October 2010 in three districts of the Free State Province. Findings indicate that farming orientation, group membership, desired number of visits and perceived credibility of the public extension service made the most contribution to explain the variation in the adoption of the payment for the delivery of public extension visits. Credibility of information source and desired number of visits made the single most important contributions. These findings have positive implications for funding extension service delivery. Key words: Situational incompatibility, medium and small-scale commercial farmers, payment for delivery of public extension, independent variables.

Utilization of Tephrosia vogelii in controlling ticks in dairy cows by small-scale commercial farmers in Zimbabwe.

The study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of Tephrosia vogelii in controlling ticks on dairy cows among small-scale dairy farmers in Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe. T. vogelii treatment concentrations and Triatix D acaricide dip were randomly administered to 40 dairy cows. The experiment was carried out for 5 months in summer when there is high tick challenge. Counting of ticks was done on a weekly basis after every application. It was observed that T. vogelii could effectively reduce tick numbers on dairy cows. The results indicated that there was no significant difference between T. vogelli and the conventional Triatix dip at 5% level. The indigenous practices are, therefore, recommended to the smallholder dairy production farmers where modern veterinary drugs are not easily accessible.

Sources and Perceptions of Risk Among Small-Scale Commercial Farmers in the Three Zobatat of Eritrea

This study surveyed commercial farmers from three zobatat of Eritrea to examine the percepted and actual sources of risk challenging their livelihoods. Findings revealed that whilst some risks were of concern to most farmers, others were more enterprise- or region-specifi c. Results of a factor analysis indicated that programmes designed to assist farmers in Eritrea to manage production and price risks should vary between enterprises and between regions. Policy implications arising from this article are that the Eritrean government should include and inform farmers in the development of agricultural tax and land policies, demobilisation and rehabilitation programmes. Farmers' understanding of foreign exchange rate controls could also alleviate their price risks in input and product markets. African Insight Vol. 36 (3&4) 2006: pp. 229-248

Occupational paths towards commercial agriculture: The key roles of farm pluriactivity and the commons

In South Africa, “black” and “coloured” farmers engaged in several occupational activities are often considered as being “not interested in farming” or “not serious”. However, in Namaqualand the large majority of “coloured” farmers and especially the most successful ones are pluriactive and have off-farm incomes. Investigations were therefore carried out in that region to better understand the role of pluriactivity. Observations focus on middle-income households from the mining sector entering into small-scale commercial farming. Based on surveys in both non-farm and farm sectors, the results show that, for many households, access to sufficient farm assets depends strongly on the employment situation of the sector of origin and requires a level of investment which can be reached only progressively. This obliges these households to rely on off-farm incomes and communal land at least during the early transitional stage. These results stress the importance of taking into account the diversity of paths and of differentiating the various stages in the transitional period between two occupational activities. Finally, the paper emphasises the importance of taking these specific situations into consideration in the management of the commons.

Transitional rural landscapes: The role of small-scale commercial farming in former homelands of Post-Apartheid KwaZulu-Natal

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 106(2): 87–102, 2006 The paper presents trends in past and present land use patterns in parts of a former homeland of KwaZulu-Natal, and discusses the changing role of farming. It suggests that an understanding of the transition in rural land must take into account the impact of rural-urban relations and the Colonial and Apartheid socio-spatial policies. A sequence of map data is analysed and compared with interviews with residents of the studied area and official data concerning actual and prospected development. The data demonstrate how population pressures and changing sources of income during the Apartheid period have resulted in a land use system dominated by home gardens and some attempts to develop small-scale commercial farming, while traditional subsistence farming has gradually decreased. On this background the prospects for small-scale commercial farming are discussed. It is argued that at least four aspects may explain why commercial farming is still marginal: the troubled land allocation system, the continued dependency on cash income for successful farming, the institutional obstacles to farmers from the homeland who wish to develop market relations, and the changing territorial logics that have characterized demarcation and land use in the post-Apartheid period.

Quality of Geranium Oils (Pelargonium Species): Case Studies in Southern and Eastern Africa

As several sub-Saharan African countries are entering into the commercial production of geranium essential oils, this work sought to characterize the oil quality of Pelargonium sp. based on organoleptic, physicochemical and chemical properties from different Southern and East African countries to highlight the importance of germplasm selection in the commercial production of oils and to develop base-line yield information. In 2002, Rwanda began to rebuild their essential oil industry, and locally available Pelargonium cultivars were introduced into cultivation trials. The organoleptic evaluation and chemical profile (citronellol 13%, linalool 18% and geraniol 35%) showed that these oils were not suitable for international markets, but may have an important role in domestic markets. In an effort to upgrade the essential oil industry to higher standards, new geranium plantlets of the Bourbon type were obtained from South Africa and distributed to several sites in Southern and Eastern Africa. The newly introduced cultivar yielded essential oils with a suitable organoleptic and chemical profile (citronellol 31%, linalool 3% and geraniol 7%). In Zambia, a commercial grower was also producing geranium oils that were later deemed not suitable for international markets. While in Madagascar, a country with a long history of producing geranium in small land units by many small-scale commercial farmers, those samples analyzed in this study were found to produce high quality oil similar to the Bourbon type. These results clearly demonstrate that the selection and introduction of a specific strain or chemotype with the acceptable organoleptic and chemical profiles are among the key factors needed to obtain high quality essential oils that will meet international expectations and standards, prerequisites for the successful establishment and sustainability of an essential oil targeted for the global trade.