Impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

Conservation agriculture is promoted as a green technology that enhances the productivity and food security of farmers. However, there is limited evidence from practising farmers regarding these expected outcomes. This study evaluates the impact of conservation agriculture on the productivity of mai...

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Autores principales: Siziba, Shephard, Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi, Makate, Clifton, Mango, Nelson
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: African Association of Agricultural Economists 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102076
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author Siziba, Shephard
Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi
Makate, Clifton
Mango, Nelson
author_browse Makate, Clifton
Mango, Nelson
Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi
Siziba, Shephard
author_facet Siziba, Shephard
Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi
Makate, Clifton
Mango, Nelson
author_sort Siziba, Shephard
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Conservation agriculture is promoted as a green technology that enhances the productivity and food security of farmers. However, there is limited evidence from practising farmers regarding these expected outcomes. This study evaluates the impact of conservation agriculture on the productivity of maize and food security outcomes among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The propensity score-matching approach was used to estimate the impact. The data is based on a 2013 survey of 488 households. Conservation agriculture, largely defined by the use of planting basins, had a positive and significant (p < 0.05) impact on maize grain yield (ATT = 473 kgha-1), with the magnitude more pronounced among female-headed households (ATT = 515.53 kgha-1). The increased grain production extended the households’ grain self-provision period by 1.14 months for the pooled sample, and by a slightly longer period of 2.89 months for the female-headed sample. The study concludes that conservation agriculture increases maize productivity and grain supply to households, particularly for female-headed households.
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publishDate 2019
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spelling CGSpace1020762025-03-13T09:44:56Z Impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe Siziba, Shephard Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi Makate, Clifton Mango, Nelson conservation agriculture food security impact zimbabwe smallholder maize Conservation agriculture is promoted as a green technology that enhances the productivity and food security of farmers. However, there is limited evidence from practising farmers regarding these expected outcomes. This study evaluates the impact of conservation agriculture on the productivity of maize and food security outcomes among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The propensity score-matching approach was used to estimate the impact. The data is based on a 2013 survey of 488 households. Conservation agriculture, largely defined by the use of planting basins, had a positive and significant (p < 0.05) impact on maize grain yield (ATT = 473 kgha-1), with the magnitude more pronounced among female-headed households (ATT = 515.53 kgha-1). The increased grain production extended the households’ grain self-provision period by 1.14 months for the pooled sample, and by a slightly longer period of 2.89 months for the female-headed sample. The study concludes that conservation agriculture increases maize productivity and grain supply to households, particularly for female-headed households. 2019 2019-07-02T15:02:12Z 2019-07-02T15:02:12Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102076 en Open Access African Association of Agricultural Economists Siziba, Shephard; Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi; Makate, Clifton & Mango, Nelson (2019). Impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics - AFJARE, 14(2): 89-105.
spellingShingle conservation agriculture
food security
impact
zimbabwe
smallholder
maize
Siziba, Shephard
Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi
Makate, Clifton
Mango, Nelson
Impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title Impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_full Impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_short Impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_sort impact of conservation agriculture on maize yield and food security evidence from smallholder farmers in zimbabwe
topic conservation agriculture
food security
impact
zimbabwe
smallholder
maize
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102076
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AT makateclifton impactofconservationagricultureonmaizeyieldandfoodsecurityevidencefromsmallholderfarmersinzimbabwe
AT mangonelson impactofconservationagricultureonmaizeyieldandfoodsecurityevidencefromsmallholderfarmersinzimbabwe