This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, May 31, 2023
Zimbabwe is an agricultural based economy contributing an average 20% to the gross domestic produ... more Zimbabwe is an agricultural based economy contributing an average 20% to the gross domestic product (GDP). The sector has been facing a number of challenges including low productivity, erratic rainfall, poor soil fertility, low investment, shortages of farm power, poor physical and institutional infrastructure. Tobacco is one of the major crops grown in Zimbabwe normally accounting for more than 50% of agricultural exports, 30% of total exports and nearly 10% of GDP. The advent of COVID-19 significantly affected tobacco production. The government instituted measures such as restrictions on transportation and movement of people, lockdowns, curfews, limited gatherings and closure of schools and universities. The study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on smallholder tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe. The results revealed both positive and negative effects of COVID-19 on tobacco farmers. On the positive side, there has been an increased adoption of information communication technology among farmers. The negative effects of the COVID-19 included reduction in tobacco hectarage, distortions in supply chains, shortage of labour supply, increased cost of production and difficulty in accessing extension services. Extension workers were also not able to offer training to farmers, negatively affecting new tobacco farmers given that they had limited know-how on cultivation of the crop and to, later on, cure it. The non-contracted farmers adopted coping and resilience strategies that ensured that they minimised losses and debts. These farmers were worried about the persistence of the pandemic and how long it would take them to take their produce to the markets. The implication of the study is that shocks to the agriculture sector have serious ramifications on farmers and the downstream industries. There is need for the government to build resilient mechanisms for the farmers and ensure timely bailouts so that production and marketing are not disturbed.
Evaluation of Financial Performance of Center Pivot Versus Furrow Irrigation Systems in Sugarcane Production at Green Fuel Estate in Chipinge, Zimbabwe
Big Data in Water Resources Engineering (BDWRE)
The study was conducted at Green Fuel Chisumbanje Estate in Chipinge, Zimbabwe. The study evaluat... more The study was conducted at Green Fuel Chisumbanje Estate in Chipinge, Zimbabwe. The study evaluated financial performance of Center pivot versus Furrow irrigation systems in sugarcane production. Secondary data were obtained from the Estate, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, Agricultural Bank of Zimbabwe, Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe, First Capital bank, Zimbabwe National Water Authority and FAOSTAT. Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) was used to assess financial performance. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was done to measure the responsiveness of financial performance to changes in market interest rate. CBA results showed that the Center pivot system is more financially viable [Net Present Value (NPV) =USD36 472; Internal Rate of Return (IRR) =50% and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) =1.26] than Furrow the system (NPV=USD24 414; IRR=49% and BCR=1.06). Furrow system was found to be less desirable (BCR falling from 1.06 to 0.99) than Center pivot system (BCR falling fr...
This study aimed to develop an optimal land use plan for Long Croft farm (LCF) by assessing the a... more 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. Keywords: land, land use types, land use planning, optimal allocation 'land use allocation must try to reconcile multiple conflicting interests as rationally and transparently as possible, which, among other things, involves evaluating land units not only with regard to their suitability for competing uses but also with regard to such factors as contiguity among units assigned to the same use, and the compactness of the single-use land masses so created'. Therefore, optimal land use allocation approaches involves designing the alternatives and searching for the best decision among an infinite or very large set of www.ccsenet.org/jas
Assessing the readiness of Zimbabwe in adoption of an agricultural commodity and derivatives market- a review paper
With the increased fragmentation of the Zimbabwean agricultural system it has become apparent for... more With the increased fragmentation of the Zimbabwean agricultural system it has become apparent for stakeholders to look for new ways to managing market risk to enhance farm profits. Globalisation has also increased the pressure for regional and global integration hence the possibility of a commodities and derivative exchange has been under serious consideration by the Government and stakeholders. This review has shown that while financing the exchange is central to its implementation, more studies need to be done to assess, the level of interest by farmers, infrastructural, the logistical, warehousing, capacity building and legal parameters. A specific study on viability of the exchange is also required. The review has also shown that the success of such an exchange in sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of SAFEX is limited due to the main issues of volumes of trade and strong government interventions in the market.
The study’s aim was to determine socioeconomic factors that influence sustainable intensification... more The study’s aim was to determine socioeconomic factors that influence sustainable intensification amongst smallholder tobacco farms in Karoi district, Zimbabwe. The study was conducted during the period November 2018 to February 2019. A descriptive approach was used in the study. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The main aspects measured by the questionnaire were household demographic characteristics, assets owned, livestock ownership, income and expenditure, agricultural production and marketing information. A sample of 91 respondents was chosen using the stratified random sampling technique, with the strata being the four wards in Karoi district. Descriptive statistics together with a multivariate regression model were used to analyse the determinants of sustainable intensification among the smallholder tobacco farms. The main findings suggested a significant relationship between sustainable intensification and use of improved seed (P=.01), household-h...
Using firm-level data, this study explores the microeconomic factors affecting global value chain... more Using firm-level data, this study explores the microeconomic factors affecting global value chain (GVC) participation in Zimbabwe. GVCs are important as a result of the fragmentation of global production across countries. As expected, firm size and credit financing are important determinants in fostering GVC participation. However, and quite surprising, foreign-owned firms in Zimbabwe participate less in GVCs when compared to domestically owned firms. Using data for 549 firms, this study postulates that if firm participation in GVCs is to be enhanced, access to credit for firms should be frictionless and firm growth-enabling environment and policies should be established. Summarily, the study postulates positive trade and financial linkages. Thus, access to credit and firm size are important in promoting intra-firm trade.
This study aimed to develop an optimal land use plan for Long Croft farm (LCF) by assessing the a... more 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. Keywords: land, land use types, land use planning, optimal allocation 'land use allocation must try to reconcile multiple conflicting interests as rationally and transparently as possible, which, among other things, involves evaluating land units not only with regard to their suitability for competing uses but also with regard to such factors as contiguity among units assigned to the same use, and the compactness of the single-use land masses so created'. Therefore, optimal land use allocation approaches involves designing the alternatives and searching for the best decision among an infinite or very large set of www.ccsenet.org/jas
as soon as possible after acceptance. Copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof... more as soon as possible after acceptance. Copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof will be undertaken on this manuscript before final publication of the Version of Record (VoR). Please note that during production and pre-press, errors may be discovered which could affect the content.
The study was conducted in 2011 at Hamamavhaire and Mhende irrigation schemes in Chirumanzu distr... more The study was conducted in 2011 at Hamamavhaire and Mhende irrigation schemes in Chirumanzu district in Zimbabwe to determine the typology of the farmers using different irrigation technologies. A structured household survey was carried out on a sample of 79 respondents drawn from farmers using the sprinkler (n=32), flood (n=39) and drip (n=8) irrigation systems. The information gathered was analysed and interpreted using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics in the form of the chi-square test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The main findings showed that there are significant differences (P < 0.05) in yield per hectare (for green maize, maize-grain, wheat and sugar-beans) across the three irrigation systems. Farmers using sprinkler irrigation were found to be better-off in terms of livestock ownership and household assets compared to those using drip and flood irrigation. The study recommended that there is need to provide agricultural training to farmers in irrigation schemes to enhance their productivity.
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