Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

This article examines the determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, with a view to identifying key policy entry points for increasing farmer incomes. Market linkages have been identified as key to the successful integration of grain legumes into the smallho...

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Autores principales: Zamasiya, Byron, Mango, Nelson, Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi, Siziba, Shephard
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Academic Journals 2014
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42281
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author Zamasiya, Byron
Mango, Nelson
Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi
Siziba, Shephard
author_browse Mango, Nelson
Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi
Siziba, Shephard
Zamasiya, Byron
author_facet Zamasiya, Byron
Mango, Nelson
Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi
Siziba, Shephard
author_sort Zamasiya, Byron
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This article examines the determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, with a view to identifying key policy entry points for increasing farmer incomes. Market linkages have been identified as key to the successful integration of grain legumes into the smallholder farming systems of southern Africa. Data for this article is derived from a baseline household survey in Guruve district of Zimbabwe. Using a sample of 187 smallholder farmers, we employed the Heckman’s Probit model with sample selection to firstly, identify the factors affecting a farmer’s decision to participate in soybean markets and secondly, evaluate the factors that affect the intensity of a farmer’s participation. Study findings show that the use of inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties are significantly correlated with participating in soybean markets. Results also show that ownership of radios has a positive effect on the household’s decision to participate in the soybean market. Further results show that male-headed households are less likely than female-headed households to participate in soybean markets because legumes are seen as women’s crops in Zimbabwe. We conclude that in order to leverage smallholder farmers’ market participation in soybean markets, it is important to improve access to inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties and improving access to market information. We recommend that authorities could improve access to market information to improve farmers’ decision making on soybeans market participation.
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spelling CGSpace422812025-03-13T09:45:35Z Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe Zamasiya, Byron Mango, Nelson Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi Siziba, Shephard smallholders soybeans markets farmer participation mercados agricultores participación de agricultores This article examines the determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, with a view to identifying key policy entry points for increasing farmer incomes. Market linkages have been identified as key to the successful integration of grain legumes into the smallholder farming systems of southern Africa. Data for this article is derived from a baseline household survey in Guruve district of Zimbabwe. Using a sample of 187 smallholder farmers, we employed the Heckman’s Probit model with sample selection to firstly, identify the factors affecting a farmer’s decision to participate in soybean markets and secondly, evaluate the factors that affect the intensity of a farmer’s participation. Study findings show that the use of inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties are significantly correlated with participating in soybean markets. Results also show that ownership of radios has a positive effect on the household’s decision to participate in the soybean market. Further results show that male-headed households are less likely than female-headed households to participate in soybean markets because legumes are seen as women’s crops in Zimbabwe. We conclude that in order to leverage smallholder farmers’ market participation in soybean markets, it is important to improve access to inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties and improving access to market information. We recommend that authorities could improve access to market information to improve farmers’ decision making on soybeans market participation. 2014-02-01 2014-09-09T17:52:59Z 2014-09-09T17:52:59Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42281 en Open Access Academic Journals Zamasiya, Byron; Mango, Nelson; Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi; Siziba, Shephard. 2014. Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics. 6(2):49-58.
spellingShingle smallholders
soybeans
markets
farmer participation
mercados
agricultores
participación de agricultores
Zamasiya, Byron
Mango, Nelson
Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi
Siziba, Shephard
Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_full Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_short Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
title_sort determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in zimbabwe
topic smallholders
soybeans
markets
farmer participation
mercados
agricultores
participación de agricultores
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42281
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AT mangonelson determinantsofsoybeanmarketparticipationbysmallholderfarmersinzimbabwe
AT nyikahadzoikefasi determinantsofsoybeanmarketparticipationbysmallholderfarmersinzimbabwe
AT sizibashephard determinantsofsoybeanmarketparticipationbysmallholderfarmersinzimbabwe