Journal articles on the topic 'Smallholder market access constraints'
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1
Kongai, H., J. Mangisoni, G. Elepu, E. Chilembwe, and D. Makoka. "Smallholder orange farmer access to markets in Uganda." African Crop Science Journal 28, no. 2 (July 27, 2020): 267–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/acsj.v28i2.11.
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Orange (Citrus sinensis L.) is a major dietary component globally, responsible for supplying nutrients and phytochemicals of biological and health influence such as minerals, vitamins, fiber, flavonoids, limonoids, and carotenoids and antioxidant. It accounts for more than 50% of the citrus fruits produced world-over. It is a popular fruit in sub-Saharan Africa, though its level of consumption per capita is by global standards very low. In Uganda, orange production is mostly concentrated in eastern and northern parts; mostly grown by small holder farmers who are plagued by a milliard of production and marketing constraints. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of institutional, infrastructural and socio-economic factors on smallholder access to orange markets in Uganda. The study was conducted in Kaberamaido, Kumi and Soroti Districts in eastern Uganda, using cross sectional data, during 2011-2012. Probit model results showed that the key institutional factor that affected smallholder access to markets was institutional belonging; the infrastructural factors entailed ownership of mobile phone and location of household; while age of household head, household size and output price constituted the socio-economic factors. Mobile phone, household size and age of household head elicited the highest effect on the probability for smallholder market access, and the magnitude of effect is shown by flexibilities of 0.5, -0.06 and 0.02, respectively. Tobit model estimates showed that market information, and household location constituted institutional and infrastructural factors affecting market access, respectively; while age of trees, output, output price and occupation of household head constituted the socio-economic factors. The critical factors that affect the extent of market access include location, market information, primary occupation of household head and quantity of output as shown by flexibilities of -0.6, 0.5, 0.5, and 0.03, respectively. Based on the Probit and Tobit model estimates, market information, mobile phone and quantity of outputs constitute critical institutional, infrastructural and socio-economic factors that affect smallholder market access. Therefore, opportunity for unlocking the potential for smallholders to access orange markets exists in boosting the level of output and facilitating linkage to markets.
Key words: Citrus sinensis, infrastructural, institutional
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Merkel, Roger. "Smallholder Livestock Commercialization." Indonesian Bulletin of Animal and Veterinary Sciences 29, no. 1 (October 10, 2019): 43. http://dx.doi.org/10.14334/wartazoa.v29i1.1952.
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The world’s population is expected to grow by over 30% by 2050, putting tremendous strain on agriculture to produce the estimated additional one billion tons of cereal grains and 200 million tons of meat to feed that population. Most of the population growth will occur in Africa and Asia where the majority of smallholder farms are located. Commercialization of smallholder farms can lead to increased productivity. Producer identified constraints to commercialization include infrastructure, poor knowledge of market prices, limited access to banking services and loan opportunities, and poor extension services, among others. To overcome these constraints will take actions by various sectors. Producer must become more market oriented and take advantage of current technologies to improve production. Government organizations should develop ways to build farmer capacity in market and production activities. Research institutes and universities must conduct research to drive innovation, help farmers to apply technologies, and develop means to enhance producer knowledge. Making loans and banking services available to farmers is a main role of the private sector. The private sector can also partner with producers on marketing and market access.
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Kyaw, Nyein, Soojung Ahn, and Sang Lee. "Analysis of the Factors Influencing Market Participation among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Magway Region, Central Dry Zone of Myanmar." Sustainability 10, no. 12 (November 27, 2018): 4441. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su10124441.
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Smallholder farmers face numerous constraints that restrict their access to markets and prevent them from taking advantage of market opportunities. This research aimed to examine the factors affecting the market participation of smallholder farmers and find ways to improve the income and livelihood of smallholder farmers, focusing on Myothit Township in Magway Region, Central Dry Zone of Myanmar. For the primary data, we surveyed 150 smallholder rice farmers which were selected using a random sampling technique. Using the Heckman two-stage selection model, we analyzed the factors influencing smallholder rice farmers’ decisions regarding participation in the agricultural market. This study revealed that the decision to participate in the rice market was dependent on different factors such as the household head age, education status, household size, total produce of rice, price of rice, household income, ownership of livestock, membership of farmer organization, access to roads, distance to market, access to extension services, and market information. The results of this study have implications as to what factors need to be addressed to encourage smallholder rice farmers to participate in the market. We suggest that Myanmar government and policymakers need to establish balanced policies for small-scale farmers and manage them in an appropriate way so that agricultural development can be induced, contributing to poverty reduction, food security, and economic development.
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Ngu, A., and N. H. A. Bahar. "The potential of timber-agroforestry to meet Sarawak’s forestry demand." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1053, no. 1 (June 1, 2022): 012019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1053/1/012019.
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Abstract Many forest communities in Sarawak, and globally, practise some form of smallholder management system including agroforestry. Yet, agroforestry practitioners predominantly focus on non-timber crops as the major source of income while the timber output remains underutilized and understudied. Smallholder timber agroforestry systems, therefore, have huge potential to equitably meet the increasing demand for both timber and food while reducing the pressure on natural forests. We investigate the readiness of agroforestry smallholders in Sarawak to supply timber commercially, and the opportunities and challenges they face. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Sarawak forestry stakeholders including agroforestry farmers, timber industry actors, civil society organizations, academia, and government agencies. Descriptive statistics are used to analyse the data. Our results demonstrate that smallholders in Sarawak lack technical silvicultural and horticultural knowledge and formal timber market access, despite majority smallholders expressing interest in timber production. The underutilization of smallholder timber is linked with conservation and protection objectives. Legal constraints, limited capacity building and lack of market information were cited as major barriers for smallholders. Key recommendations to lower barriers for smallholder participation include provision of resources and an enabling legal framework that harmonizes agriculture and forestry demands while being inclusive of smallholders’ perspectives and realities.
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Adams, Abdulai. "Analysing the determinants, constraints and opportunities of smallholder farmers access to input markets: evidence from northern Ghana." Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development 56, no. 2 (July 8, 2020): 133–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.17306/j.jard.2020.01286.
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Smallholder farmers face multiple constraints in accessing input markets. This study seeks to understand the dynamics that influence input markets in northern Ghana and the opportunities that exist for smallholder farmers to increase their productivity and welfare. Using a random sample of 448 households, the study applied the probit and non-parametric methods in identifying the factors that influence farmers’ access to input markets and the key constraints faced by them. The results show that access to extension services, access to finance, distance to the nearest input market, and input source are significant factors that would be likely to influence farmers’ access to input markets. Lack of finance, poor road network, and low prices of output are the main critically ranked constraints limiting farmers’ access to input markets. Policy initiatives should be geared toward strengthening extension service delivery, farmer education on inputs, improving feeder roads, and encouraging private sector participation in input markets. Available opportunities to leverage on and improve farmers’ access to input markets include the governments’ input subsidy programmes, existing large-scale agricultural projects, private agricultural companies with contract farming models, and extensive network of input dealers and aggregators in the communities. These findings are relevant for farmers, input dealers and policy makers working to improve farmers’ access to input markets.
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Annor, Baah Prince, Akwasi Mensah-Bonsu, and John Baptist D. Jatoe. "Compliance with GLOBALGAP standards among smallholder pineapple farmers in Akuapem-South, Ghana." Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies 6, no. 1 (May 16, 2016): 21–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jadee-05-2013-0017.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the adherence, constraints and key factors associated with smallholder pineapple farmers’ compliance with Global working group for Good Agricultural Practice (GLOBALGAP) standards in the Akuapem-South Municipal area, Ghana. It utilizes the modeling of socio-economic, farm, market and institutional factors influencing smallholder farmers’ compliance with GLOBALGAP standards. This paper aims to enhance smallholder farmers’ compliance with food safety standards in particular GLOBALGAP so they can continue to participate in international food trade. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses mainly primary data solicited from 150 randomly selected smallholder farmers. Descriptive statistics are employed in estimating compliant farmers’ rate of adherence with standards requirements and identifying constraints of farmers while a probit regression model is used to determine the factors influencing GLOBALGAP compliance decision of farmers. Findings – Findings of the study show that compliant farmers’ rate of adherence with the standard is about 90 percent and this is below the minor musts compliance criteria of 95 percent. The results also indicate that lack of access to farm credits, high cost of farm inputs and high cost of labor are the major constraints to GLOBALGAP compliance. Factors found to positively influence farmers’ compliance decision are number of pineapple farms, access to off-farm income, access to market information and extension services. However, compliance is negatively influenced by age. Research limitations/implications – Majority of Ghanaian smallholder pineapple farmers are not GLOBALGAP certified. The study was limited to Akuapem-South because most farmers produce pineapple for the export market and are certified under the Option II GLOBALGAP group certification. Originality/value – This paper brings to bear issues confronting food safety standards compliance among smallholder farmers in developing countries, particularly Ghana.
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Branca, Giacomo, Luca Cacchiarelli, Valentina D’Amico, Laifolo Dakishoni, Esther Lupafya, Mufunanji Magalasi, Chiara Perelli, and Alessandro Sorrentino. "Cereal-Legume Value Chain Analysis: A Case of Smallholder Production in Selected Areas of Malawi." Agriculture 11, no. 12 (December 2, 2021): 1217. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121217.
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This article analyses the cereal-legume value chain in Malawi through a comprehensive VC Map, a SWOT exercise and a policy analysis. VC participation entails a number of challenges for smallholders. Limited access to land, technology and inputs, inadequate knowledge of market functioning, insufficient access to credit and extension services, combined with more general problems of poor infrastructures, often prevent smallholder farmers from accessing profitable market opportunities. The effectiveness of national policies (e.g., public extension service support, inputs subsidy system) oriented to increase smallholders’ market access is often constrained by inadequate financial capacity, an inefficient public extension services system and limited involvement of privates in the extension services scheme. VC interventions should distinguish between VC-ready farmers, namely those provided with the minimum conditions of external and internal factors, and non-value-chain-ready farmers. Market-based interventions (e.g., enhancing VC coordination) are needed for enhancing market access of value-chain-ready farmers. Conversely, while non-market-based interventions (e.g., investments in basic infrastructure, increasing extension services, credit and inputs access) prove necessary to build the minimum asset thresholds for non-value-chain-ready farmers’ participation in the market. A smallholder-friendly VC development relies on the role played by VC actors and the need to harmonise and improve existing policies to remove inadequacies, conflicts and overlaps in the various institutions charged with implementation.
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Ddamulira, G., O. Isaac, M. Kiryowa, R. Akullo, M. Ajero, M. Logoose, A. Otim, et al. "Practices and constraints of tomato production among smallholder farmers in Uganda." African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 21, no. 02 (March 24, 2021): 17560–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.97.19905.
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Tomato(Solanum esculentum)is one of the most promising vegetables whose production is being intensified in Uganda. However, tomato yields remain low due to several constraints. The study aimed at identifying production and marketing practices, and constraints affecting tomato productivity in major tomato growing areas of Uganda. A survey was conducted in eight major tomato producing districts using a questionnaire to guide interviews for 240 farmers and 16 key informants. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results revealed that tomato production in Uganda is dominated by males who grow them on 0.68 acres of land on average. Mosttomatofarmers (78.4%) use mono cropping system with varietiesAsilla F1 (35.3%), Tengeru97(21.1%), Rambo (18.1%), NovelaF1(17.7%) and Riogrande (10.3%) dominating. The choice of tomato varieties used by farmers mainly depend on yield potential, pest and disease tolerance and market preference attributes such as long shelf life. In the study area, tomato is mainly fertilized using foliar fertilizers, followed by Diammonium phosphate and cattle manure. The key pests affecting tomato include caterpillars, thrips, worms and whitefly, while bacterial wilt, blight, leaf spots and viral infections are the major diseases. Majority (95.7%) of farmers use chemical sprays(pesticides and fungicides)and 4.3% of farmers used other control methods. The other methods of pest and disease control included rogueing, hand picking, ash, organic extracts, urine and frequent weeding. Average tomato yield was 4,846.3 kg/acre lower than the potential yield of 6000kg/acre. Thirty five percent of farmers market their tomato individually on-farm, 32.8% sell in rural markets, while 32.2% send to the nearest urban markets. The study revealed intensive chemical use accounting for 20% of the production costs, high seed costs (11%) and drought (10%) as the major production constraints impeding tomato production; and price fluctuations, low prices, high transport costs, post-harvest loss on farm, and poor market access as the major marketing constraints. The research findings will aid in the development of new market-oriented, highly productive tomato varieties with improved access to seed and designing initiatives to address production and marketing constraints, which will eventually enhance tomato production.
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Bold, Tessa, Selene Ghisolfi, Frances Nsonzi, and Jakob Svensson. "Market Access and Quality Upgrading: Evidence from Four Field Experiments." American Economic Review 112, no. 8 (August 1, 2022): 2518–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/aer.20210122.
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Smallholder farming in many developing countries is characterized by low productivity and low-quality output. Low quality limits the price farmers can command and their potential income. We conduct a series of experiments among maize farmers in Uganda to shed light on the barriers to quality upgrading and to study its potential. We find that the causal return to quality is zero. Providing access to a market where quality is paid a market premium led to an increase in farm productivity and income from farming. Our findings reveal the importance of demand-side constraints in limiting rural income and productivity growth. (JEL C93, L14, L15, L22, O13, Q12, Q13)
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Wawire, Amos W., Sabina M. Wangia, and Julius J. Okello. "Determinants of Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Agriculture: The Case of Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange in Bungoma County, Kenya." Journal of Agricultural Science 9, no. 3 (February 13, 2017): 128. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v9n3p128.
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Access to markets by Smallholder farmers has conventionally been constrained by lack of market information. Efforts to strengthen access of farmers to markets has triggered the mushrooming of several projects that embrace ICT tools in promoting access to competitive market information. Nevertheless, most farmers still lack access to accurate market information, such as existing commodity prices. This study examines the determinants of the use of ICT tools among smallholder farmers for agricultural transactions. The study uses Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange (KACE), one of the ICT-based marketing platform, as the case study. The objectives of the research are to determine the factors that influence access to agricultural information, and establishing factors that determine the intensity of use of ICT tools in accessing agricultural information. Survey was conducted among 136 smallholder farmers in Bungoma County. Both purposive, and multi-stage sampling were used to obtain the sample for this research. The study finds that several farmer characteristics, farm and capital endowment factors affect the use of ICT tools, particularly mobile phones. Gender, age, literacy level, affordability, perceived importance, mobile ownership and group membership were found to be significant in influencing the decision to use KACE ICT tools and the intensity of use of these tools for agricultural transaction activities. The study further recommends for policies that support the expansion of ICT projects, training on their applications and sensitization on the use of these platforms. The study suggests for policies to address gender disparities on access and use of ICT tools for agricultural transaction.
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Ntakyo, Proscovia Renzaho, and Marrit Van den Berg. "Smallholder Food Marketing Behaviour." Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce 12, no. 1-2 (May 2, 2018): 67–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.19041/apstract/2018/1-2/10.
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Many farmers in Africa sell their produce at low prices immediately after harvest because they need cash. They could solve temporary liquidity constraints by use of credit and store their produce to sell when prices are high. However, due to various reasons such many poor farmers have been excluded from formal financial services. In response, the informal financial market has expanded, but the question why informal credit has not facilitated storage to enable farmers benefit from intertemporal arbitrage opportunities remains largely unanswered. To answer this question, we investigate the role of informal credit markets and traders in stabilizing seasonal food crop prices. Our analysis is based on a household survey data, and in-depth interviews with key players in the informal credit market and grain traders in rural southwestern Uganda. We find that community-based self-help savings and credit associations provide credit for the majority (62%) of farmers. Informal credit still excludes the very poor and is not sufficient to enable farmers benefit from intertemporal arbitrage opportunities. Thus, poor farmers continue to ‘sell low and buy high’. The study also addresses a related fundamental aspect of food marketing: why is there no competition between traders bidding up prices after harvest and eliminating seasonal price fluctuations? We analyse traders’ costs and profit structure in the study area, and shed some light on imperfections in the grain market and the barriers that limit competition between traders. We find that grain trade is not highly competitive. High transaction costs and limited access to credit are the main barriers limiting competition. Supporting community-based self-help savings and credit associations to raise their portfolio can enable more farmers to borrow at the same time. Investing in infrastructure, organising and supporting small scale farmers to bulk their produce might lower transaction costs, promote competition and dampen price fluctuations.
JEL Classification: D53, O13, O16, Q12, Q13
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Porgo, Mohamed, John K. M. Kuwornu, Pam Zahonogo, John Baptist D. Jatoe, and Irene S. Egyir. "Credit constraints and labour allocation decisions in rural Burkina Faso." Agricultural Finance Review 77, no. 2 (July 3, 2017): 257–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/afr-05-2016-0047.
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Purpose Credit is central in labour allocation decisions in smallholder agriculture in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of credit constraints on farm households’ labour allocation decisions in rural Burkina Faso. Design/methodology/approach The study used a direct elicitation approach of credit constraints and applied a farm household model to categorize households into four labour market participation regimes. A joint estimation of both the multinomial logit model and probit model was applied on survey data from Burkina Faso to assess the effect of credit constraint on the probability of choosing one of the four alternatives. Findings The results of the probit model showed that households’ endowment of livestock, access to news, and membership to an farmer-based organization were factors lowering the probability of being credit constrained in rural Burkina Faso. The multinomial logit model results showed that credit constraints negatively influenced the likelihood of a farm household to use hired labour in agricultural production and perhaps more importantly it induces farm households to hire out labour off farm. The results also showed that the other components of household characteristics and farm attributes are important factors determining the relative probability of selecting a particular labour market participation regime. Social implications Facilitating access to credit in rural Burkina Faso can encourage farm households to use hired labour in agricultural production and thereby positively impacting farm productivity and relieving unemployment pressures. Originality/value In order to identify the effect of credit constraints on farm households’ labour decisions, this study examined farm households’ decisions of hiring on-farm labour, supplying labour off-farm or simultaneously hiring on-farm labour and supplying family labour off-farm under credit constraints using the direct elicitation approach of credit constraints. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine this problem in Burkina Faso.
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Dizyee, Kanar, Derek Baker, and Amos Omore. "Upgrading the smallholder dairy value chain: a system dynamics ex-ante impact assessment in Tanzania's Kilosa district." Journal of Dairy Research 86, no. 4 (November 2019): 440–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022029919000840.
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AbstractThis paper examines ex-ante impacts of two policy interventions that improve productivity of local-breed cows through artificial insemination (AI) and producers’ access to distant markets through a dairy market hub. The majority of cattle in Kilosa district in Tanzania are local low productivity breeds kept by smallholders and agro-pastoralists. Milk production is seasonal, which constrains producers’ access to distant urban markets, constrains producers’ incomes and restricts profitability in dairy processing. We developed and evaluated an integrated system dynamics (SD) simulation model that captures many relevant feedbacks between the biological dynamics of dairy cattle production, the economics of milk market access, and the impacts of rainfall as an environmental factor. Our analysis indicated that in the short (1 year) and medium (5-year) term, policy interventions have a negative effect on producers’ income due to high AI costs. However, in the long term (5+ years), producers’ income from dairy cattle activities markedly increases (by, on average, 7% per year). The results show the potential for upgrading the smallholder dairy value chain in Kilosa, but achievement of this result may require financial support to producers in the initial stages (first 5 years) of the interventions, particularly to offset AI costs, as well as additional consideration of post-farm value chain costs. Furthermore, institutional aspects of dairy market hub have substantial effects on trade-offs amongst performance measures (e.g. higher profit vs. milk consumption at producer's household) with gain in cumulative profit coming at the expense of a proportional and substantial reduction in home milk consumption.
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Chisasa, Joseph. "Investigating smallholder farmers’ exclusion from credit markets in South Africa." Risk Governance and Control: Financial Markets and Institutions 5, no. 3 (2015): 235–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.22495/rgcv5i3c2art9.
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Access to credit by smallholder farmers in South Africa has been empirically observed to be characterised by a variety constraints. This paper examines the demographic, financial and economic characteristics of smallholder farmers in order to gain a better understanding of why smallholder farmers are excluded from formal credit markets. The paper uses survey data collected from 362 smallholder farmers randomly selected from Mpumalanga and North West Provinces of South Africa. Using descriptive analysis, the paper observes that smallholder farmers have low annual turnover, low demand for credit and often with a family culture not to borrow. The paper concludes that smallholder farmers in South Africa are still financially excluded, particularly from the formal banking systems. Results of this paper demonstrate a need for a review of financial policies in favour of increasing the supply of financial services, particularly credit to smallholder farmers if South Africa is to achieve its Millenium Development Goals of employment creation and poverty alleviation.
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Ouma, Emily, Justus Ochieng, Michel Dione, and Danilo Pezo. "Governance structures in smallholder pig value chains in Uganda: constraints and opportunities for upgrading." International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 20, no. 3 (May 4, 2017): 307–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2014.0176.
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This paper analyses governance structures in Uganda’s smallholder pig value chains by applying the New Institutional Economics framework. It utilises cross sectional and qualitative survey data from randomly selected pig value chain actors in 4 districts. A multinomial logit model is applied to assess the determinants of vertical integration among pig traders. The findings indicate that most relationships at the pig production node of the value chain are based on spot market governance structures supported by personal relationships and trust. Live pig traders are mostly vertically integrated. High integration levels of the pig traders are positively influenced by access to market information, value of investments in the value chain, and dedicated asset specificity in terms of backyard slaughter premises. Upgrading opportunities in the value chain in the form of value addition strategies, policy implementation and promotion of business models that link producer organisations to quality inputs and service suppliers through contractual arrangements are identified.
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Lengai, Geraldin M. W., Alex M. Fulano, and James W. Muthomi. "Improving Access to Export Market for Fresh Vegetables through Reduction of Phytosanitary and Pesticide Residue Constraints." Sustainability 14, no. 13 (July 5, 2022): 8183. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su14138183.
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The horticultural sector is a key contributor to Kenya’s gross domestic product through the export of fresh-cut flowers, fruits and vegetables to various niche markets. It employs over 350,000 people, while about six million depend on it. However, the sector is constrained by the strict technical and phytosanitary quality requirements set by the export markets. The phytosanitary concerns include the presence of pests and microbial contaminants, while the presence of chemical residues constitute the major technical challenge. These constraints cause the interception and rejection of produce at the export destinations. The fresh produce should be free of quarantine and regulated non-quarantine pests, pest damage, pesticides above the stipulated maximum residue levels (MRLs) and phytosanitary certification. This review discusses the following four-tiered approach to compliance with phytosanitary and pesticide residue requirements: (i) use of alternative pest management approaches, including biocontrol options, cultural and physical practices; (ii) collaboration among regulatory agencies, institutions, producers and regional countries in the enforcement of standards; (iii) investment in research and the adoption of innovative technologies; (iv) awareness creation and training of actors along the fresh vegetable value chain. It is envisaged that this approach will contribute to sustainable fresh vegetable value chains, leading to improved access to export markets, and increased export volumes and income to smallholder farmers and other actors in the fresh vegetable value chain.
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Misra, A. K., C. A. Rama Rao, K. V. Subrahmanyam, and Y. S. Ramakrishna. "Improving Dairy Production in India's Rainfed Agroecosystem: Constraints and Strategies." Outlook on Agriculture 38, no. 3 (September 2009): 284–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/000000009789396766.
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A rainfed agroecosystem occupies 68% of India's cultivated area and supports 40% of the human and 65% of the livestock population. Dairy production is an important component of rural development programmes in rainfed areas to improve the livelihoods of farmers. The objective of the study was to characterize the status of smallholder dairy production systems in rainfed areas to generate information that would assist in designing strategies for dairy development programmes. These objectives were achieved by adopting a participatory system approach, which uses diagnostic survey and techniques of participatory rural appraisal. The dairy production systems in rainfed areas are complex and are generally based on traditional and socioeconomic considerations, guided largely by the available feed resources. A scarcity of feed and fodder resources (both quantity and quality), the low production potential of animals, the non-availability of critical inputs or services in time, along with access to capital and markets, were the primary reasons for the low productivity of dairy animals. The study suggests that farmer participation is essential for developing and promoting technical interventions. A favourable policy environment in terms of access to microcredit, assured market and veterinary services will have to be provided, and socioeconomic and technical constraints need to be addressed. Animal health camps and on-farm trials need to be conducted to create awareness among farmers about better dairy production practices.
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Iniguez, Luis. "Small Ruminant Breeding Plans for Smallholder Systems." Indonesian Bulletin of Animal and Veterinary Sciences 27, no. 1 (August 23, 2017): 15. http://dx.doi.org/10.14334/wartazoa.v27i1.1407.
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The transfer of animal genetic improvement strategies in the environments of resource-poor smallholder producers in developing countries has not been successful. Therefore, the access by farmers to sources of animals with high genetic potential is difficult or just not possible. As producers improve or intensify their systems to capture market opportunities, this access need is accentuated. This paper reviews identified constraints to the transfer of breeding plans, the need for a new approach, and the lessons learned in applying a better-targeted approach. The issues and thoughts were derived from the experience of a working group involving the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas; Austrian University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences; Argentinean National Institute of Agriculture Technology; Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Goats and Sheep); and National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Animal Production-Mexico. The transfer of breeding strategies in smallholder systems is not a straightforward task. Contrasting a successful application in commercial livestock production environments, the achievement of the primary objectives in smallholder systems requires a holistic approach beyond pure technical matters. Of all identified aspects with direct incidence in the implementation of breeding plans, the lack of specific national policies coupled with long-term funding to support the improvement of smallholder production systems, and the lack of involvement and participation of the communities emerge as issues that gravitate more to achieve sustainability and meet the objectives of a given breeding plan.
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Ojiewo, Chris O., Lucky O. Omoigui, Janila Pasupuleti, and Jillian M. Lenné. "Grain legume seed systems for smallholder farmers: Perspectives on successful innovations." Outlook on Agriculture 49, no. 4 (September 1, 2020): 286–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0030727020953868.
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Grain legumes are nutritionally important components of smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Unfortunately, limited access to quality seed of improved varieties at affordable prices due to inadequate seed systems has reduced their contribution to improving nutrition and reducing poverty in these regions. This paper analyses four seed systems case studies: chickpea in Ethiopia and Myanmar; cowpea in Nigeria; and tropical grain legumes in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda highlighting outcomes, lessons learned, and the enabling factors which supported the successful innovations. All four case studies highlighted at least some of the following outcomes: increased adoption of improved varieties and area planted; increased productivity and income to farmers; improved market access and growth; and significant national economic benefits. Important lessons were learned including the value of small seed packets to reach many farmers; the value of innovative partnerships; capacity building of value chain actors; and continuity and coherence of funding through Tropical Legumes projects II and III and the recently funded Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA) project. Successful adoption of innovations depends not just on the right technologies but also on the enabling environment. The case studies clearly showed that market demand was correctly identified, establishment of successful partners and institutional linkages overcame constraints in production and delivery of improved seed to smallholders, and fostered conducive policies supported national seed systems. All were integral to seed system viability and sustainability. It is hoped that these examples will provide potential models for future grain legume seed systems efforts. In addition, the analysis identified a number of areas that require further research.
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Kirui, Viola, Agnes Nkurumwa, and Justus Ombati. "EVALUATING USE OF ICTS IN ACCESSING E-EXTENSIONSERVICES AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA." International Journal of Advanced Research 9, no. 12 (December 31, 2021): 38–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/ijar01/13873.
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Smallholder farmers in Kenya are faced with low agricultural productivity which has been attributed toa number of factors among them being lack of access to agricultural information. This has been further exacerbated by shrinking number of public extension staff and underfunding of the extension system in the country. ICTs can play a crucial role in bridging this gap. This study determined ICTs accessed, and the extent of use of the ICTs to access e-Extension services among smallholder farmers in Nakuru county, Kenya. Data was collected from randomly selected sample of 130 smallholder farmers in a descriptive survey, using structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Over 70 percent of the respondents had access to mobile phones, radio and TV while only 27.7 percent had access to the internet. The respondents that had access to YouTube, twitter and computers however, were less than 20 percent. The findings of the study revealed that mobile phones, radio and TV were the most accessed and utilized ICT tools in accessing e-Extension services among smallholder farmers.Social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook were on average used by the farmers to access e-Extension services while computers and twitter were the least used.The findings further revealed that e-Extension services that were most sought for by the farmers included production, market, pest and disease information.The major constraints in the use of ICTs tools in accessing e-Extension services were reported to include lack of ICTs such as computers and the internet, lack of awareness of availability of e-Extension services, lack of relevant information and lack of infrastructure such as electricity. The study concludes that accessible ICTs could be used to supplement other extension methods. There is need for improving access to ICTs particularly the internet and computers and creating awareness on use of platforms such as YouTube, Twitter and Farmer Call Centres in accessing agricultultural information among farmers.
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Ingweye, J. Naligwu, G. Adokiye Kalio, and F. Imokhaide Ologbose. "Egg quality and production constraints in smallholder egg value chain of Greater Port Harcourt City, Nigeria." Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research 27, no. 01 (February 28, 2021): 2217–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.18801/jbar.270121.271.
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The study evaluated the quality of eggs and constraints facing smallholder egg producers (≤10,000 layers) in Greater Port Harcourt City, Nigeria. Desk study, survey of 47 farmers, Focused Group Discussion with eight farmers and weighing of eggs were done at Obio-Akpor, Oyigbo and Etche Municipal Councils out of the eight in Greater Port Harcourt City. Farmers were administered pre-structured questionnaires. Open questions from a checklist were used for in-depth interviews with 22 stakeholders. Thirty eggs per grade were weighed using a digital scale. Numerical data were evaluated using the SPSS statistical package, while qualitative information was assessed using matrices and content analysis. Results indicate that most farmers (56%) sort and grade their eggs for better prices but time constraint discourages others from doing so. The size was the only egg grading criterion used. A five-grade system (jumbo, extra-large, large, small, and bullet) was used. The most important quality parameters were size (41%), shell colour (29%), cleanliness (28%) and weight (2%). Customers prefer brown-shelled (82%) eggs to white (15%). Significant constraints faced by farmers were input-based (high cost and low quality feed, drug breeds, veterinary services, lack of loans); management (staff misbehaviour) and infrastructure (bad roads and poor electricity supply) related. Other stakeholders face quality challenges (small size, dirty eggs, rotting of eggs, no uniformity, low or no grading, high returns rate), financing, egg handling and marketing challenges. Proffered solutions include better chain coordination, local sourcing of eggs, improved quality control, establishment of egg aggregation centres, and introduction of machine-based grading, grade-based pricing and reduction in local production costs. Others include formation of cooperatives and bulk input purchases, improved staff motivation and better quality control. Smallholders’ access to the egg market can be improved by producing brown-shelled eggs of large, extra-large and jumbo sizes.
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Akankunda, L, Tumusiime, B, and Kalibwani, R. "A REVIEW OF INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SMALLHOLDER POTATO FARMERS’ VALUE ADDITION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR UGANDA." International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Bioresearch 07, no. 03 (2022): 76–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.35410/ijaeb.2022.5726.
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The review analyses the Institutional factors that influence potato value addition in Uganda. The review sought to; identify the key critical institutional factors that contribute to supporting the potato value chain, and discuss how these factors can be used to support the development of the value chain in Uganda. The review based on secondary review to come up with findings. It applied a quantitative approach that involved data extraction from sources like online books, journals, reports articles and media. Potato production and value addition in Uganda is primarily performed by numerous players including; farmers/producers, marketers (agents and traders), and processors. These actors determine the volume and quality of traded potato, per capita value added product and price outcomes in the Irish Potato subsector. Though there is a remarkable progress in boosting per capita potato value added product, major players are still restrained by institutional setbacks such as; un-reliable supply of quality seed inputs, fertilizer and pesticide, limited access to credit services, transport infrastructure and transport costs, limited access to market information, services, and technology, lack of storage infrastructure, limited market access, poor market infrastructure, poor organization of the sector, poor legal environment and lack of proper policies related to smallholder farmers. The constraints must be addressed for Uganda to optimally exploit its full potato production potential and upgrade its entire value chain. It is recommended that government together with private sector channel credit facilities through existing farmer groups to increase access to credit through either capitalizing farmer group-level VSLAs or lending to farmer groups instead of individuals. This can enable farmers acquire the necessary equipment needed for value addition. There is also need to upgrade infrastructure and more importantly, community and market stores that support the functionality of the traders who are the key actors throughout the Irish Potato value chain.
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Tiemann, Tassilo T., Ammaly Phengvilaysouk, and Soukanh Keonouchanh. "Herd dynamics reflect constraints for pig production and farmer attitudes in smallholder systems in Lao PDR." Animal Production Science 58, no. 11 (2018): 2158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an16730.
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A field intervention and 17 months’ monitoring of pig herd dynamics in seven villages in Northern Laos was conducted. The collected data show for the first time herd dynamics based on quantitative data. They show that dynamics follow a regular cyclic pattern based on the general farm management approach applied by farmers, which lacks a specific pig management focus. Interventions aimed at improving animal management and nutrition were far less successful than envisioned but revealed major conflicts in perception between implementers and farmers. Farmers did not shift their focus to pig production as major income-generating activity as envisioned by implementers. Nevertheless, despite only partially improved systems, farrowing and animal growth rates were increased among committed farmers, whereas death rates have decreased. However, our quantitative data show a significant number of constraints reflected in the way how animals enter, pass through and leave smallholder production systems. Disease and disease prevention, as well as animal feeding are the two dominant hindrances to improved production. Both these obstacles are rather related to a lack of focus on animal production and therefore animal requirements than to an inherent lack of understanding. To increase interest though, poor income opportunities due to lacking market opportunities will have to be tackled. However, even with an incomplete transition from a traditional to an improved system, overall production increased by 600% in committed farmers with an about equivalent increase in income from this activity, showing that current systems leave massive scope for improvement if perceptions and other external obstacles such as access to inputs and markets can be overcome.
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Ogbeide, Osadebamwen Anthony, and Ideba Ele. "An Analysis of Mobile Phone Use in Nigerian Agricultural Development." International Journal of ICT Research in Africa and the Middle East 6, no. 2 (July 2017): 29–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/ijictrame.2017070103.
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This study used 328 smallholder farmer respondents to investigate its objectives of how farmers use mobile phone technology, what benefits they have gained from the use, and the constraints encountered during the process. The quantitative data collected through a process of questionnaire administration were analysed using Stata 12 software. The results indicate that mobile phone usage for farm and other social purposes has increased with farmers. The farmers also spend almost 40% of their phone bills on farm-related activities and that seeking market information represented 17.32% of the total phone bill in a month. Increased efficiency in input delivery, market access, and output distribution were reported as some of the advantages of using mobile phones. This study was conducted in a region where its general characteristics may not reflect that of the entire country thus generalisation of the study may be limited, so the data should be cautiously use.
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Nouhoheflin, Theodore, Jeanne Y. Coulibaly, Stephen D’Alessandro, Codjo C. Aitchédji, Maiyaki Damisa, Dieudonné Baributsa, and James Lowenberg-DeBoer. "Management lessons learned in supply chain development: the experience of PICS bags in West and Central Africa." International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 20, no. 3 (May 4, 2017): 427–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2016.0167.
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In order to facilitate the transformation of African agriculture, Africa’s smallholders will require more and better access to input markets that deliver context-specific and well adapted innovations. This article summarizes the management lessons learned in developing supply chains for Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags in West and Central Africa. PICS bags are hermetic grain storage bags that are leading a revolution in the post-harvest handling of grain on smallholder farmers in Africa. The bags have been very popular with farmers, but the major challenge has been developing supply chains to make those bags available for purchase at the village level. This article: (1) describes the PICS supply chain in West and Central Africa; (2) identifies constraints (i.e. financial, structural, social) that impede the development of the PICS supply chain; and (3) analyzes strategies used by businesses to expand distribution channels and increase bag sales.
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Kirui, Oliver K., Julius Juma Okello, and Rose A. Nyikal. "Awareness of Mobile Phone-Based Money Transfer Services in Agriculture by Smallholder Farmers in Kenya." International Journal of ICT Research and Development in Africa 3, no. 1 (January 2012): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/jictrda.2012010101.
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Smallholder farmer access to agricultural finance has been a major constraint to agricultural commercialization in developing countries. The ICT revolution in Africa has however brought an opportunity to ease this constraint. The mobile phone-based money transfer services that started in Kenya urban centres have spread to rural areas and even other countries. Using these services farmers could receive funds to invest in agricultural financial transactions. This study examines the awareness of mobile phone-based money transfer services (MMT) among rural farmers in Kenya and examines the various uses of money transferred through such services. The study employs descriptive analysis and found a very high awareness of mobile phone-based money transfer services among the smallholder farmers and found predominant use of remitted funds for agricultural related purposes (purchase of seed, fertilizer for planting and topdressing, farm equipment/implements, leasing of land for farming, wages for labour). The study concludes that there is need to expand the coverage of MMT services in rural areas since it resolves an idiosyncratic market failure that farmers face namely access to financial services. It discusses the implications of these findings for policy and practice.
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Mhango, Wezi G., Sieglinde S. Snapp, and George Y. K. Phiri. "Opportunities and constraints to legume diversification for sustainable maize production on smallholder farms in Malawi." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 28, no. 3 (May 16, 2012): 234–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1742170512000178.
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AbstractSustainable intensification of smallholder farms in Africa is highly dependent on enhancing biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Legume diversification of maize-based systems is a core example of sustainable intensification, with the food security of millions of farm families at stake. This study highlights the constraints and opportunities associated with the adoption of legumes by smallholder farmers in southern Africa. A two-part survey of households and farm fields (n=88) was conducted in the Ekwendeni watershed of northern Malawi. Participatory research and education activities have been underway for over a decade in this region, resulting in expanded uptake of a range of legume species as intercrops and in rotation with the staple maize crop. Farmer adoption has occurred to a varying extent for soybean (Glycine max), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) and fish bean (Tephrosia vogelii). Farmers, working with the project valued pigeon pea and other legumes for soil fertility purposes to a greater extent than farmers not working with the project. Legumes were valued for a wide range of purposes beyond soil cover and fertility enhancement, notably for infant nutrition (at least for soybean), insect control, and vegetable and grain production for both market and home consumption. Literature values for BNF in tropical legumes range up to 170 kg N ha−1for grain and 300 kg N ha−1for green manure species; however, our field interviews illustrated the extent of constraints imposed by soil properties on smallholder fields in Malawi. The key edaphic constraints observed were very deficient to moderate phosphorus levels (range 4–142, average 33 mg kg−1), and moderately acid soils (range pH 5.1–7.9, average 6.2). The per farm hectarage devoted to legume production relative to maize production was also low (0.15 versus 0.35 ha), a surprising find in an area with demonstrated interest in novel legume species. Further, farmers showed a strong preference for legumes that produced edible grain, regardless of the associated nutrient removal in the harvested grain, and did not sow large areas to legume crops. These farm-level decisions act as constraints to BNF inputs in maize-based smallholder cropping systems. Overall, we found that legume productivity could be enhanced. We documented the value of policies and educational efforts that support farmers gaining access to high-quality seeds, amendments for phosphorus-deficient soils, and promotion of multipurpose legumes that build soils through leafy residues and roots, as well as providing grain for food security and sales.
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Byamukama, Willbroad, Rebecca Kalibwani, and Businge Phelix Mbabazi. "The Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Challenges Faced by Ugandan Smallholder Farmers. Review Article." East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology 5, no. 1 (April 26, 2022): 108–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.37284/eajab.5.1.642.
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The influence of ICT use on smallholder farmers in rural farming is examined in this article, as well as the obstacles that ICT use presents. The paper reviews that ICT plays a very important role in the dissemination of improved service technologies to farmers. The review stresses that ICTs are often used as an associate degree economical tool to induce non-progressive farmers to connect to extension information and to inform them adopt technology quicker. On the impacts of ICT on farmers, it is absolute that it considerably exaggerates agricultural development by serving to farmers to access relevant information through ICT and creates awareness of the market system among farmers and advert of the products and services. Likewise, the review known as some constraints by farmers within the course of the utilization the use of ICT embeds inadequate ICT facilities and personnel in rural areas, unstable Power provide in rural communities and farmers’ perception of the ICT skills. The solutions to the constraints by farmers within the usage of ICT is the event of the ICT within the reach and data of farmers, supporting farmers in capability building before the utilization of the ICT devices, and steadily provide power in rural communities.
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Byamukama, Willbroad, Rebecca Kalibwani, and Businge Phelix Mbabazi. "The Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Challenges Faced by Ugandan Smallholder Farmers. Review Article." East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology 5, no. 1 (April 26, 2022): 108–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.37284/eajab.5.1.642.
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The influence of ICT use on smallholder farmers in rural farming is examined in this article, as well as the obstacles that ICT use presents. The paper reviews that ICT plays a very important role in the dissemination of improved service technologies to farmers. The review stresses that ICTs are often used as an associate degree economical tool to induce non-progressive farmers to connect to extension information and to inform them adopt technology quicker. On the impacts of ICT on farmers, it is absolute that it considerably exaggerates agricultural development by serving to farmers to access relevant information through ICT and creates awareness of the market system among farmers and advert of the products and services. Likewise, the review known as some constraints by farmers within the course of the utilization the use of ICT embeds inadequate ICT facilities and personnel in rural areas, unstable Power provide in rural communities and farmers’ perception of the ICT skills. The solutions to the constraints by farmers within the usage of ICT is the event of the ICT within the reach and data of farmers, supporting farmers in capability building before the utilization of the ICT devices, and steadily provide power in rural communities.
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Onuwa, Godfrey. "TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata) PRODCTION IN KANKE, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA." FUDMA Journal of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology 8, no. 1 (September 15, 2022): 372–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.33003/jaat.2022.0801.027.
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Cowpea farmers in sub-Saharan Africa obtain low yields; sole cropping system with the use of improved technologies can yield 1,500-2,000 kg/ha of cowpea. However, 200-500 kg/ha yield is obtained by smallholder farmers. It is a multipurpose crop and despite its importance, high level of inefficiency in its production persists. Therefore, the determinants of efficiency in cowpea production were analyzed; the decline in cowpea yield in the study area was attributable to several socioeconomic variables. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 70 cowpea farmers from the study area. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function were the analytical techniques adopted. The results indicated that the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents significantly affected cowpea production. The mean technical efficiency index was 0.59. Furthermore, the stochastic frontier analysis revealed that coefficients of farm size (0.297), labour (0.394), quantity of seed (0.433) and agrochemicals (0.057) were all positive and statistically significant. Also, the inefficiency model revealed that the coefficients of household size (-0.284), education (-0.493) farm experience (-0.402), extension contact (-0.45) and access to credit (-0.255) were negative but statistically significant Thus, the significant variables were the determinants of technical efficiency in cowpea production. The identified constraints adversely affected farm productivity and efficiency. Formation of cooperatives, adoption of measures that improve access to agricultural credit, agro-services centers, input supply, technology transfer and subsidies; extension services, information exchanges and market linkages are recommended to mitigate technical inefficiency in cowpea production among smallholder farmers.
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Bagamba, Fredrick, Ruerd Ruben, and Arie Kuyvenhoven. "Determinants of Smallholder Farmer Labor Allocation Decisions in Uganda." Journal of African Development 23, no. 1 (February 1, 2022): 1–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.5325/jafrideve.23.1.0001.
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ABSTRACT This study provides evidence on factors that influence household labor allocation decisions and demand for farm labor in Uganda. We estimated a monthly panel data to deal with potential heterogeneity or individual effect and tested for violation of the random effects modeling assumption that the explanatory variables are orthogonal to the unit effects. In addition, we estimated a random effects tobit model that involve explained variables with corner solutions. The results show that exogenous income did not affect off-farm labor supply by liquidity constrained households while liquidity unconstrained households increased the amount of labor supplied to off-farm activities and the amount of labor hired in. Farm size and education of household head improved labor productivity on farm and hence the amount of labor hired. Road proximity improved both the hiring in and out of labor. The household being male headed improved the work hours in the nonagricultural off-farm activities. The findings imply that direct payments such as input provision to the poor may not improve labor employment unless backed with policies that remove bottlenecks and improve opportunities in the labor market. Instead, investment in micro credit institutions, road infrastructure, and education suited to smallholder production needs and policies that improve gender balance in terms of access to productive resources could help alleviate bottlenecks in labor markets and improve resource allocation between farm and off-farm sectors.
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Abda, Nasir. "Adoption of Improved Wheat Varieties by Wheat Producers in the Bale Zone of Ethiopia." International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development Studies 9, no. 2 (February 15, 2022): 1–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.37745/ijaerds.15vol9n2119.
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Wheat is a strategic food security crop in the Ethiopia. Improving production and productivity of smallholder farmers through adoption of improved wheat varieties is one of the measures presumed to bridge the persistent food gap in the country. There are several socio-economic and institutional factors that constraint farmers from adoption of improved wheat varieties and empirically unidentified in the study area. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors influencing farmer’s decision in adoption of improved wheat varieties in the study area. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods such as household survey, key informant interview and focused group discussion were utilized for this study. The probit model result showed that sex of household head, land holding size, livestock holding size, access to credit, access to market information, frequency of extension contacts, educational level of household head, membership in cooperatives and perception on yield capacity significantly influenced adoption decision of improved wheat varieties. Therefore, policy and development interventions should give emphasis towards the improvement of such economical and institutional support system so as to achieve wider adoption of improved wheat varieties, increased production and productivity of smallholder farmers.
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AFARI-SEFA, V., S. RAJENDRAN, R. F. KESSY, D. K. KARANJA, R. MUSEBE, S. SAMALI, and M. MAKARANGA. "IMPACT OF NUTRITIONAL PERCEPTIONS OF TRADITIONAL AFRICAN VEGETABLES ON FARM HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTION DECISIONS: A CASE STUDY OF SMALLHOLDERS IN TANZANIA." Experimental Agriculture 52, no. 2 (May 20, 2015): 300–313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0014479715000101.
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SUMMARYRecent years have seen increasing political interest and growing public health awareness and advocacy for diversifying diets into highly nutritious traditional vegetables, fruits and other nutrition-sensitive crops as a more viable approach to mitigate the growing scourge of malnutrition due to unhealthy and imbalanced diets. These foods contribute essential micronutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and other health-related phytochemicals to staple-based diets and their consumption is crucial for the attainment of several Millennium Development Goals. Despite their nutritional benefits and the high farm gate values per unit of land, the production and marketing of traditional vegetables from Tanzania and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa are constrained by factors such as poor quality seeds, lack of appropriate market information and support systems, and lack of consumer awareness of their nutritional importance. This paper investigates the determinants and pathways for smallholder participation in traditional African vegetable production and identifies entry points for farmers to increase traditional vegetable production by linking nutritional awareness and promotion with potential high value markets. A primary survey of 181 traditional vegetable growers from five regions of Tanzania indicates that perceptions about the nutritional value of traditional African vegetables are a main driver of household production decisions in the sector. The results of this study provide evidence that farmers tend to grow more African traditional vegetables as compared to other crops based on their increased level of perception towards nutritional value of traditional vegetables along with other factors such as their market value, timely availability of quality certified seeds, willingness to invest in labour, required training for women and better access to credits. Farm size negatively affects growing traditional vegetables, implying that on a comparative basis, smallholders tend to grow more traditional vegetables than larger-farm operators. Thus, more attention should be given to reducing production and its associated transaction costs by ensuring timely access to quality certified seeds, ensuring optimal use of inputs and increasing labour productivity, particularly for smallholders.
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Baah Annor, Prince. "Smallholder farmers’ compliance with GlobalGAP standard: the case of Ghana." Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies 8, no. 1 (January 19, 2018): 1–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/eemcs-03-2017-0043.
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Subject area Agricultural Trade, Farm Management, Economics of Food Safety Study level/applicability Both undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics. Case overview The pineapple production sector plays a very significant role in the Ghanaian horticultural industry. Production and export of fresh pineapple has been Ghana’s most developed high-value supply chain. However, the introduction of the GlobalGAP food safety standard in 2007 resulted in a fall in smallholder farmers’ participation in exportable pineapple production and subsequently led to declining trends in pineapple exports. The Ghanaian horticultural industry received quite a number of interventions over the years aimed at revitalizing the horticultural export sector and enhancing international competitiveness. However, the pineapple export sub-sector is still constrained with production and market access challenges meaning the sector struggles to survive. Expected learning outcomes The GlobalGAP standard compliance case is an appropriate way of explaining how smallholder farmers make informed decisions concerning the adoption of new farm practices. The case presents a careful evaluation of technical, institutional and socio-economic factors influencing a farmer’s decision to comply or not to comply with the GlobalGAP standard. Students should be able to apply farm management decision-making concepts and tools such as profit maximization and binary choice modelling techniques to explain a farmers’ final decisions on GlobalGAP standard compliance. This case should enable students to appreciate key factors constraining agricultural export trade performance in developing countries. The case should also contribute to students’ understanding of smallholder farmers’ decisions on food safety standards compliance, particularly GlobalGAP, and the challenges associated with the entire compliance process. Moreover, this case should provide students with possible policy considerations geared towards making food safety standards compliance easier, effective and sustainable in developing countries so as to enhance market access while ensuring food quality and safety along high-value food supply chains. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 7 Management Science
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Onuwa, Godfrey. "Empirical Analysis of Productivity among Broiler Farmers." Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology 10, no. 8 (August 24, 2022): 1377–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v10i8.1377-1381.4906.
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Broiler production supplements income of smallholder farm households. Profitability and productivity and analysis are important considerations in measuring efficiency or performance of a farm business; hence, improved output and income are not only a function of increase in the scale of production, but also how efficiently the resources are being utilized. This study therefore estimates the profitability and level of productivity among broiler farmers in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select respondents for this study. Primary data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting model and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) analysis. The study revealed that the net farm income of broiler production was ₦96,900/flock size; suggesting a relatively profitable venture with prospects for improved economic potentials. The estimated percentage profit margin was 45.6%; indicative of the percentage net margin accruable to the farmer from the estimated gross margin and benefit-cost ratio was 0.84. Furthermore, most (54.3%) of broiler farmers were sub-optimally productive as their TFP indices were below the optimal scale; attributable to sub-efficient input mix and cost of production inputs. In addition, constraints of broiler production in the study area included the following; high cost of feeds (92.9); high cost of chicks (85.7%); financial constraints (80%); high cost of poultry equipment (55.7%); high cost of medication (35.7); disease outbreak (28.6%) and inefficient market system (21.4%). Improving access to and subsidy of poultry feeds, chicks, production inputs and credit, extension, medical services and cooperative formation for market linkages are strongly recommended.
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Frimpong, B. N., M. K. Osei, M. B. Mochiah, B. O. Asante, and J. Gyau. "Examining the Relationship Among Socio-Demographic, Institutional Factors and Adoption of Best Tomato Production Practices in Southern Ghana." Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana 14, no. 1 (June 13, 2022): 1426–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/afsjg.v14i1.8.
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Tomato, an important staple in many Ghanaian homes, provides livelihood for many farming households. Despite its importance, farmers within major growing tomato districts are either unaware or have not adopted productivity enhancing tomato production practices. This paper examined the relationship between socioeconomic and institutional factors and the adoption of pre-emergence, post-emergence and filed management practices in the Ada West and Central Tongu districts. The study employed descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and chi-square test to describe the respondents and test of independence between farmer characteristics and adoption. The results revealed that the adoption rates of preemergence, post-emergence and field management practices were 48%, 50% and 64%, respectively. Factors such as farm size, education, farming experience, land tenure arrangements, access to extension services, access to credit and point of sale were found to be significantly associated with adoption of these practices. The main constraints to double season production were reported as unavailability of water and fluctuations in market demand. It is recommended that extension officers and researchers focus their dissemination messages on improved tomato production practices through appropriate channels and build farmers' capacity on the improved practices for enhanced food security and incomes of smallholder tomato farmers in Ghana.
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Melomey, Leander D., Mathieu A. T. Ayenan, George Marechera, Pearl Abu, Agyemang Danquah, David Tarus, and Eric Y. Danquah. "Pre- and Post-Harvest Practices and Varietal Preferences of Tomato in Ghana." Sustainability 14, no. 3 (January 27, 2022): 1436. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su14031436.
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Tailored interventions in the tomato sector require current information on production and marketing systems along with the constraints faced by the stakeholders. We conducted this study to understand the current production practices, stakeholders’ varietal preferences, tomato market trends, and challenges along the crop’s value chains. A multistage sampling method coupled with a random walk was used to identify survey locations and identify 180 respondents across seven regions in Ghana. The study showed that tomato was predominantly produced by male (81%) and literate farmers (84%). Tomato farmers were smallholder farmers generally cultivating less than five acres. Tomato was mainly cultivated under rainfed conditions. Farmers used both bought seeds and their own saved seeds for production. Farmers in Bono, Greater Accra, and the Upper East region largely cultivated improved tomato varieties, while farmers in the Bono East region cultivated local varieties. Across the regions, being a male and having access to irrigation facilities increased the probability of using improved varieties by 19% and 51%, respectively. The most important farmer and market preference criteria included high yield, medium to large fruit size and rounded fruit shape, red color, time to maturity and disease resistance. The major production challenges of tomato production included diseases, pests, and poor access to water for irrigation. The average yield of tomato varied from 6902.26 kg/ha in the Bono Region to 16,213.98 kg/ha in Bono East. Tomato was exclusively produced for fresh market. The major marketing challenges were low producer prices, low demand for produce, and competition from other farmers. This study provides key information to improve tomato value chains and guide the introduction or breeding of improved tomato varieties.
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Zavale, Helder, Greenwell Matchaya, Delfim Vilissa, Charles Nhemachena, Sibusiso Nhlengethwa, and Duque Wilson. "Dynamics of the Fertilizer Value Chain in Mozambique." Sustainability 12, no. 11 (June 9, 2020): 4691. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12114691.
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Mozambique is characterized by low agricultural productivity, which is associated with low use of yield-enhancing agricultural inputs. Fertilizer application rate averaged 5.7 kg ha−1 in Mozambique during the period 2006 to 2015, considerably low by regional targets, yet constraints that affect fertilizer use have not been thoroughly investigated. This study examined the constraints on fertilizer value chains in Mozambique to contribute to fertilizer supply chain strengthening. We used a combination of multivariate analysis and descriptive methods. Our findings indicate that fertilizer use has both demand and supply constraints. Key demand-side constraints include liquidity challenges, limited awareness about the benefits of using fertilizer, and low market participation, while the main supply-side constraints include high transaction costs, limited access to finance, and lack of soil testing results and corresponding fertilizer recommendations by soil type and crop uptake. These results suggest that scaling up the input subsidy program through vouchers (either paper-based vouchers or e-vouchers) with demonstration plots and effective targeting could drive up smallholders’ demand for fertilizer and fertilizer supply by strengthening a sustainable network of wholesalers and retailers. This would likely boost agricultural productivity.
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Beye, Assane, Pape Bilal Diakhate, Omar Diouf, Aliou Faye, Augustine K. Obour, Zachary P. Stewart, Yared Assefa, Doohong Min, and Pagadala V. V. Prasad. "Socio-Economic Constraints of Adopting New Cowpea Varieties in Three Agro-Ecological Zones in the Senegalese Peanut Basin." Sustainability 14, no. 21 (November 5, 2022): 14550. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su142114550.
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Socio-economic constraints like gender, education, age, and income significantly affect the adoption of improved agricultural technologies. The objective of this study was to determine socio-economic factors that affect the adoption of improved cowpea varieties in the Senegalese peanut basin. The study was conducted in three (Bambey, Kebemer, and Kaffrine) of six regions of the peanut basin based on regional importance of cowpea production and rainfall gradient. In each study region, ten villages were selected, and random sampling was used to select eight heads of agricultural households within each village. The questionnaires were administered to 240 randomly selected farmers across the three study regions, 7 communes, and 30 villages. Results showed most heads of households were middle-aged (52–54 years old), married (95–100%), illiterate (84%), and men (95–100%). Households were mostly agriculture dependent (87%), low literacy rates (26% least primary school), and large family sizes (average of 15 members). The median cowpea yields across the study area varied from 35–100 kg ha−1, well below the ~300–400 kg ha−1 average yields reported for Senegal and Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of farmers (67%) in the study regions did not use improved varieties, and the main reasons were low seed availability (78.8%) and limited access to technical knowledge and information (76.3%), but only 5.8% indicated seed price as a barrier to improved variety adoption. Major uses of cowpea in the study area were for marketing, livestock feed, and human consumption. In Kaffrine, fodder production was the major (85%) criterion for cowpea variety selection, whereas in the north (Bambey and Kebemer), taste, maturity date, and grain yield were major selection criteria. Factors that had positive effect on the likelihood of using improved cowpea varieties include; access to extension services, membership in farmers’ organization, cowpea being the main crop of production, organic farming, market, and livestock-oriented production systems, access to farmland and credit, dependence on agriculture as the main source of household income, and education of head of household. We conclude that there is a critical need for training, access to improved seeds, awareness, and financial support to producers to increase the adoption of new improved cowpea varieties, yields, profitability, and nutritional security among smallholder farmers in the Senegalese peanut basin.
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Mujuru, Nyarai M., and Ajuruchukwu Obi. "Effects of Cultivated Area on Smallholder Farm Profits and Food Security in Rural Communities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa." Sustainability 12, no. 8 (April 17, 2020): 3272. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12083272.
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As rural poverty deepens over much of Sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder transformation has become more urgent than ever before. A majority of rural people derive their livelihoods from agriculture, hence the urgent need for transforming the sector. The South African government launched a comprehensive land reform programme at the dawn of democracy in the country on the assumption that constraints on land size would be eliminated to make room for a more inclusive agricultural economy. The present study sought to assess how cultivated area affects food security and the profits of maize and cabbage farmers. The purposive sampling technique was used for the selection of study sites, from which 158 irrigators and homestead gardeners were selected. The data were then subjected to analysis by defining a maximum likelihood estimator that combines the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) and one-way error correction model, to determine the factors influencing food security and farm profits. The model revealed diverse relationships, suggesting that location, farm type and income were important variables in explaining food security. The area under cultivation was found to influence profits for both crops. Policies in favour of technology adoption, market access and input use would greatly incentivize farmers to cultivate larger plots of land.
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Luan, Do Xuan, and Aaron J. Kingsbury. "Thinking beyond collateral in value chain lending: access to bank credit for smallholder Vietnamese bamboo and cinnamon farmers." International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 22, no. 4 (June 18, 2019): 535–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2019.0030.
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Using case studies of the bamboo and cinnamon value chains in rural areas of northern Vietnam, this paper contributes to the existing literature by analyzing barriers and suggests conditions under which value chain lending would be an effective tool for improving smallholder farmers’ access to credit. A mixed method using both in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders and a two-stage Heckman model is employed to explain the existing credit gap. Findings show that in both chains, bank decision-making on lending is typically limited to individual chain actors instead of considering the whole chain. Commercial banks predominately use conventional lending approaches heavily dependent on collateral which typically results in a shortage of credit available to the chain actors. Value chain lending is constrained by weak chain linkages and limited ownership of private bank accounts. Drawing from these cases in Vietnam, the article concludes by arguing that status quo value chain lending in lower-income countries merits considerable rethinking. The lending approaches of banks require innovation to ‘think beyond collateral’ in improving chain cohesion. Multi-stakeholder partnerships are important for successful value chain lending. In addition, farmer-based unions have the potential to address issues of information asymmetry in the credit market.
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Darko-Koomson, Samuel, Robert Aidoo, and Tahirou Abdoulaye. "Analysis of cassava value chain in Ghana: implications for upgrading smallholder supply systems." Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies 10, no. 2 (April 14, 2020): 217–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jadee-05-2019-0066.
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PurposeCommercialization of cassava is increasing because of increased urban demand for processed products and increased recognition of the industrial potential of the crop. This study aims to examine the cassava value chain in Ghana and its implications for upgrading.Design/methodology/approachA combination of purposive, simple random and snowball sampling methods was adopted to select key actors in the cassava value chain. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Analysis of the data was largely descriptive, except for profitability of cassava production in selected regions, which was examined by employing gross and net marketing margin analysis. A comprehensive value chain map was generated to show the different product pathways for cassava from the farm gate to the final consumer, and roles of key value chain actors and their relationships were summarized through simple narrations.FindingsEvidence has shown chains of more than four different channels through which fresh cassava roots move from the farm gate to final consumers. Production of cassava in Ghana is profitable, generating positive net marketing margins across major producing centres. Processing of cassava has both dry and wet/fresh value chains depending on the derived products for the final consumer. There is weak governance system in the cassava value chain in Ghana as majority of actors use spot market transactions in dealing with trading partners. The use of standardized grading and weighing system is very limited in the chain, and limited access to credit is a critical constraint to value chain upgrading.Research limitations/implicationsWith the exception of results from the profitability analysis of producers, the findings on marketing margins of other value chain actors may not be generalizable. Future studies could determine the profitability associated with cassava value-adding activities like processing into various forms and explore the possibility of converting waste from processing into energy.Practical implicationsThe study includes implications that focus on product and process upgrading efforts by smallholders in the cassava value chain. This paper recommends innovative financing models for smallholders to improve access to microcredit via internal and external funding sources.Originality/valueThis paper reveals specific intervention areas in which smallholders can direct efforts in an attempt to improve the cassava value chain through product, process and functional upgrading.
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Malami, A., S. Umar, and I. Suleiman. "Determinants of Income Diversification Strategies among Smallholder Wheat Farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria." JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 7, no. 2 (November 28, 2021): 246–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.56160/jaeess202172022.
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The study assessed the determinants of income diversification strategies among smallholder wheat farmers in Jigawa State. Primary data were collected from 255 smallholder wheat farmers in the study area selected using multi stage sampling procedure. The collected data were analysed using Logit regression, Simpson Diversification Index (SDI) and two stage least square regression analyses. The result revealed that non-farm income and number of income sources had significant positive relationship with income diversification. The two stage least square estimation with respect to Herfindahl Diversification Index (HDI) showed that age and years of education had positive significant relationship. The two stage least square estimation with respect to number of income share revealed that the number of income sources, age, farm size, frequency of extension contacts and years of education had significant positive relationship with per capita income. The major constraints to wheat production were limited production inputs (seed), pest and disease, low output price, lack of credit and timely preparation. Similarly, the effect of income diversification with reference to off farm income share showed that off farm income share, age and years of education had positive significant relationship. The study concluded that off farm income share and number of income sources were the most important determinants of income diversification and the major challenge to wheat production were limited access to right inputs, pest and diseases and low output prices. Thus, the study recommended that improving performance of determinants of diversification and linking farmers to better production and output markets as well as enlightening the farmers about pests and diseases control measures will improve the wellbeing of the farmers.
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Vunyingah, M., KN Satou, M. Barbi, C. Kouebou, and APMD Ko. "Factors affecting the commercialization of food legumes in North Cameroon." African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 21, no. 02 (March 24, 2021): 17604–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.97.16050.
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The study focused on factors affecting the commercialization of food legumes-cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), bambara groundnuts(Vignasubterranea), groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea) and soybeans (Glycine max) in two departments (Benouéand Mayo-Louti) of the North Region of Cameroon. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data. Qualitative methods involved focus group discussions and direct observations. A structured interview guide was administered in major peri-urban and urban markets to get supportive quantitative data. The respondents were selected using purposive sampling technique. A content analysis was conducted and quantitative data was analyzed with the aid of XLSTAT 2007 software and Excel. A cross-section of the age and gender population was involved in the marketing of food legumes. Women constituted more than 80% in the retail sector on peri-urban markets. The study found that 100% of the vendors had never got any form of training on business management before engaging into the sector. Socio-cultural factors were determinant factors that impacted negatively in promoting an entrepreneurial culture among women. The marginalization of women, the restriction of land ownership by traditional tenure and poor distribution of land for agriculture were some of the main constraints faced by women. The impediments of women’s empowerment include their lack of access to the decision-making process, low participation in local governance and limited access to technology inputs and credit. Traditional practices forbid women and girls to have or manage large amounts of money. Such restrictions have serious consequences on agricultural production. Instead of exploiting the productive capacity of women at all levels, including food production and transformation, some of the traditions simply stifle their potential energies. In addition to socio-cultural factors, major bottlenecks faced in the production and commercialisation of food legumes includes social structural and institutional, agronomic, natural(biotic and abiotic stress)and climatic factors. Development of intervention strategies through exogenous innovation techniques might act as an incentive for smallholder farmers to invest more of their land and energy in cultivation of food legumes. More attention should be focused on market research and development with crop improvement programmes that are economically profitable, if food legumes are to continue making a greater contribution to the household income, nutrition and sustainable development in North Cameroon.
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Ariningsih, Ening, Helena J. Purba, Julia F. Sinuraya, Sri Suharyono, and Kartika Sari Septanti. "Kinerja Industri Kakao di Indonesia." Forum penelitian Agro Ekonomi 37, no. 1 (July 21, 2020): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.21082/fae.v37n1.2019.1-23.
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<p>Indonesia is among the largest cocoa producing countries in the world. Various policies for cocoa production and quality improvement has been issued, but it still deals with some constraints. This paper reviews cocoa Indonesia’s industry performance and its development strategy. Over the past decade, Indonesia’s cocoa production kept declining due to decreased mature crop areas, unproductive crops enhancement, lower yield, and conversion of cocoa fields. Cocoa plantation is dominated by smallholders, limited capital, less knowledge, lack of technology access, and restricted market information. Government’s role is crucial in facilitating efforts to increase productivity, quality, and markets access besides to developing its downstream industries. Developing cocoa industry is not only the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture but it involves other institutions, i.e., local governments, NGOs, businessmen, research institutions, and investors. It is expected to improve Indonesia’s cocoa competitiveness in international market.</p><p> </p><p>Abstrak</p><p>Indonesia termasuk negara produsen kakao terbesar di dunia. Pemerintah telah berupaya mengeluarkan berbagai kebijakan untuk peningkatan produksi dan mutu kakao, namun pengembangan kakao di Indonesia masih mengalami berbagai masalah. Tulisan ini menganalisis kinerja industri kakao serta strategi pengembangannya di Indonesia melalui penelaahan literatur. Selama dekade terakhir produksi kakao Indonesia terus menurun karena berkurangnya luas areal tanaman menghasilkan, meningkatnya tanaman tidak produktif, penurunan produktivitas, dan konversi lahan kakao. Perkebunan kakao didominasi perkebunan rakyat skala kecil, bermodal terbatas, serta akses terbatas terhadap teknologi dan informasi pasar. Peran pemerintah sangat penting dalam fasilitasi upaya peningkatan produktivitas, mutu, akses pasar, serta pengembangan industri hilirnya. Upaya pengembangan kakao bukan hanya tanggung jawab Kementerian Pertanian, tetapi bersifat lintas sektoral. Peran serta pemerintah daerah, LSM, pelaku bisnis, lembaga penelitian, dan investor sangat besar untuk mengembangkan dan membenahi agribisnis kakao di Indonesia sehingga daya saingnya meningkat di pasar internasional.</p>
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Onyiriuba, Leonard, E. U. Okoro Okoro, and Godwin Imo Ibe. "Strategic government policies on agricultural financing in African emerging markets." Agricultural Finance Review 80, no. 4 (April 25, 2020): 563–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/afr-01-2020-0013.
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PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify and review strategic government policies on agricultural financing in Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. Four factors dictated the choice of these countries. In the first place, the study is set in African emerging markets – and the four countries are the widely acknowledged emerging markets in Africa (Onyiriuba, 2015). Secondly, the spread of the countries, to a large extent, mirrors Africa in general – Egypt and Morocco are in North Africa; Nigeria is a West African country; and, of course, South Africa. Thirdly, other countries in Africa tend to look up to the four countries, apparently as the largest economies in their respective regions. Needless to say, Nigeria alternates with South Africa as the largest economy in Africa. In this capacity, the two countries influence – indeed, mirror – continental Africa's emerging economic progress. Fourthly, lessons from agricultural policy and financing experiences of the four countries will certainly be useful to the other African countries. The specific objective of this paper is to determine how the government seeks to address the financing issues attendant on the risk-laden nature of agriculture through policy interventions. With this end in view, the paper analyses the strategic goals, objectives and beneficiaries of the agriculture financing policies of the government, as well as the constraints on access to finance by the farmers and the policy response.Design/methodology/approachThe study involves a review of empirical literature and government policies on agricultural financing in Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. The high risks in agriculture (Onyiriuba, 2015; Mordi, 1988), risk aversion behaviour of banks towards agricultural financing (Onyiriuba, 2015, 1990), and the reluctance of insurers to take on agricultural risks (World Bank, 2018; Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016; Onyiriuba, 1990; Mordi, 1988) underpin this methodology. There are two other considerations: the needs to find out how government seeks to address the financing issues in agriculture through policy intervention, and to avoid unwieldy research, one that combines government and institutional policy perspectives on agriculture financing. Thus the study is not approached from the perspective of banks and other lending institutions; neither does it combine government and institutional policy perspectives. It rather focuses on government policy in order to properly situate implications of the findings.FindingsThe authorities seek to get rid of bottlenecks, ease participation and redress constraints on access to finance in agriculture through policy interventions as a means of sustainable economic growth. The findings are characteristic of emerging markets, rooted in the transitional challenge of opening economies, economic reforms and the March of progress. However, with agriculture and natural resources – rather than industrialisation – as the main stay of their economies, the African emerging markets face an uphill task in their development efforts. This is evident in the divergent and gloomy pictures in which the literature paints their agricultural economies.Practical implicationsGovernment should gear financing policies to boost output as a means of ensuring food security. It should address risk aversion tendencies among the lenders and feeble credit guarantee, subsidies and budgetary allocations to agriculture. This will ensure effective commitment of the lenders to agriculture and underpin agricultural insurance. However, it demands strengthening links in the chain of access to, and monitoring of, credit for agricultural production. A realistic policy response should target the rural economy – with youth, women and smallholder farmers as ultimate beneficiaries. These actions should be intensified as measures to boost farming and the rural economy.Originality/valueCurrent literature fails to situate the empirical findings in emerging markets context, reflecting economies in transition. Besides, in its current state, the literature does not explicitly clarify that agriculture, like most other sectors in such economies, is bound to experience the observed financing constraints. Neither does it clearly reflect how and why the findings should be seen as fleeting realities of the March of progress in transitional economies. This study will help to fill the gap.
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Filippi, Amanda Cristina Gaban, Patricia Guarnieri, José Márcio Carvalho, Silvia Araújo Reis, and Cleyzer Adrian da Cunha. "New configurations in Brazilian agribusiness: rural warehouse condominiums." Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies 10, no. 1 (December 30, 2019): 41–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jadee-12-2018-0178.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the development of rural warehouses condominiums (or “condos”) as new rural configurations in the Brazilian agribusiness from the perspective of the theory of collective action. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was complemented with multiple case studies based on interviews and direct observation. Content analysis was used to interpret the secondary and primary data. Findings Rural warehouse condos can be characterized as a collective action which is a new business model in Brazilian agribusiness. This new initiative has several advantages: reduction of the warehouse deficit and other logistical bottlenecks; strategic commercialization of production; reduction of logistical costs; inclusion of smallholders in the economy and, consequently, the generation of income for smallholders and their participation in the market. Research limitations/implications The study used a qualitative approach and findings and discussion are inherently interpretative. Social implications Understanding the organization of rural warehouse condos supports the inclusion of smallholding farmers and income generation. This creates a social benefit through rural growth and economic development. Some constraints related to the lack of public policies, specific credit lines in financial institutions, the problem of non-regularized rural areas, lack of transparency and conflicts among the members can limit expansion. Originality/value Rural warehouse condos are expanding mainly in the south region of Brazil, where smallholders are concentrated. In this new configuration, they can engage in an association to obtain several benefits, such as reduced logistics costs, better access to financing and increased bargaining power with suppliers. As this research dealt with a relatively new and poorly studied topic, it contributes to the development of new studies to map innovative warehousing practices.
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OSWALD, A., S. DE HAAN, J. SANCHEZ, and R. CCANTO. "The complexity of simple tillage systems." Journal of Agricultural Science 147, no. 4 (March 13, 2009): 399–410. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859609008545.
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SUMMARYIn the Central Peruvian highlands, potatoes are commonly cultivated by smallholder farmers in fields between 3500 and 4300 m asl. Severe climatic conditions, marginal soils and limited access to inputs and infrastructure define these challenging agro-ecological environments. To prepare an adequate seed bed for the potato and mitigate climatic, topographic and labour constraints, Andean farmers have developed distinct footplough-based tillage systems: barbecho, chiwa and chacmeo. A series of field experiments was conducted in 2005/06 and 2006/07 at four different locations to investigate the effect of three different tillage systems on potato tuber yield, varying factors such as cultivars and types and amounts of fertilizer applied. The objective was to improve understanding of the effect of these factors on potato yield and study the potential advantages and disadvantages of each tillage system.The study showed that the type of tillage influenced a great variety of factors. Farmers often use a combination of tillage systems as a strategy to diversify possible risks, considering trade-offs regarding productivity v. yield stability, internal v. external resource use, labour requirement during peak times v. more uniform distribution or extensive v. intensive production. The chiwa and to some extent the chacmeo tillage systems resulted in relatively constant and stable yields for different environments and genetic materials, whereas the more intensive barbecho system sought to optimize growth conditions for the potato crop but was more liable to stress and required external resources. Currently, farmers often use the barbecho system to produce commercial cultivars for the urban markets investing the greatest share of internal and external resources. They use the chiwa and chacmeo systems to produce diverse native cultivars for their home consumption, valorizing their taste, cooking qualities and lower resource requirements.
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Mithöfer, Dagmar, Eddah Nang'ole, and Solomon Asfaw. "Smallholder Access to the Export Market." Outlook on Agriculture 37, no. 3 (September 2008): 203–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/000000008785915476.
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Markelova, Helen, Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Jon Hellin, and Stephan Dohrn. "Collective action for smallholder market access." Food Policy 34, no. 1 (February 2009): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2008.10.001.
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