Forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector: Lessons from the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project

The major challenge to adoption of improved forage technologies in the smallholder farming sector is poor accessibility to seed of improved cultivars. Since 2012, the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Improved Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project set out to address such challenges through research...

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Main Authors: Chakoma, Irenie, Gwiriri, Lovemore C., Manyawu, Godfrey J., Dube, Sikhalazo, Shumba, M., Gora, A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: National Inquiry Services Center 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77596
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author Chakoma, Irenie
Gwiriri, Lovemore C.
Manyawu, Godfrey J.
Dube, Sikhalazo
Shumba, M.
Gora, A.
author_browse Chakoma, Irenie
Dube, Sikhalazo
Gora, A.
Gwiriri, Lovemore C.
Manyawu, Godfrey J.
Shumba, M.
author_facet Chakoma, Irenie
Gwiriri, Lovemore C.
Manyawu, Godfrey J.
Dube, Sikhalazo
Shumba, M.
Gora, A.
author_sort Chakoma, Irenie
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The major challenge to adoption of improved forage technologies in the smallholder farming sector is poor accessibility to seed of improved cultivars. Since 2012, the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Improved Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project set out to address such challenges through research-for-development initiatives. The main objective was to demonstrate the potential viability of a pasture seed business using a lead farmer approach, farmer-to-farmer technology dissemination, innovation platforms and field demonstrations. Snapshot surveys were used to map forage seed distribution pathways within and outside project areas. Total land area planted to forages from the 2012/13 to 2014/15 seasons increased by 147% from 14.6 ha. In 2013, Mucuna pruriens (mucuna), Lablab purpureus (lablab) and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) seed produced was 2 250 kg, 120 kg and 4 450 kg, respectively, and by the third season, total yield increased by 163%. Seed diffusion was within and beyond project boundaries, with mucuna (67%) and lablab (43%) seed produced in the 2013/14 season being distributed outside the project area. Highest amounts received by some farmers were US$800 and US$750 for lablab and mucuna, respectively. It was concluded that there is scope to develop formal pasture seed businesses to increase rural industrialisation and provide a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector.
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spelling CGSpace775962024-11-15T08:52:11Z Forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector: Lessons from the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project Chakoma, Irenie Gwiriri, Lovemore C. Manyawu, Godfrey J. Dube, Sikhalazo Shumba, M. Gora, A. forage markets livestock ecology The major challenge to adoption of improved forage technologies in the smallholder farming sector is poor accessibility to seed of improved cultivars. Since 2012, the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Improved Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project set out to address such challenges through research-for-development initiatives. The main objective was to demonstrate the potential viability of a pasture seed business using a lead farmer approach, farmer-to-farmer technology dissemination, innovation platforms and field demonstrations. Snapshot surveys were used to map forage seed distribution pathways within and outside project areas. Total land area planted to forages from the 2012/13 to 2014/15 seasons increased by 147% from 14.6 ha. In 2013, Mucuna pruriens (mucuna), Lablab purpureus (lablab) and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) seed produced was 2 250 kg, 120 kg and 4 450 kg, respectively, and by the third season, total yield increased by 163%. Seed diffusion was within and beyond project boundaries, with mucuna (67%) and lablab (43%) seed produced in the 2013/14 season being distributed outside the project area. Highest amounts received by some farmers were US$800 and US$750 for lablab and mucuna, respectively. It was concluded that there is scope to develop formal pasture seed businesses to increase rural industrialisation and provide a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector. 2016-10-12 2016-11-07T13:34:06Z 2016-11-07T13:34:06Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77596 en Limited Access National Inquiry Services Center Chakoma, I., Gwiriri, L.C., Manyawu, G., Dube, S., Shumba, M. and Gora, A. 2016. Forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector: Lessons from the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 33(3):181-184.
spellingShingle forage
markets
livestock
ecology
Chakoma, Irenie
Gwiriri, Lovemore C.
Manyawu, Godfrey J.
Dube, Sikhalazo
Shumba, M.
Gora, A.
Forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector: Lessons from the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project
title Forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector: Lessons from the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project
title_full Forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector: Lessons from the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project
title_fullStr Forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector: Lessons from the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project
title_full_unstemmed Forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector: Lessons from the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project
title_short Forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector: Lessons from the Zimbabwe Crop Livestock Integration for Food Security (ZimCLIFS) project
title_sort forage seed production and trade as a pathway out of poverty in the smallholder sector lessons from the zimbabwe crop livestock integration for food security zimclifs project
topic forage
markets
livestock
ecology
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77596
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