An investigation of the savings habits among maize farmers in Zimbabwe. Case study of Lion’s Den in Makonde District, Mashonaland West Province. · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

Mashizha Tanatswa. E

Title

An investigation of the savings habits among maize farmers in Zimbabwe. Case study of Lion’s Den in Makonde District, Mashonaland West Province.

Abstract

The main focus of this study was to investigate the savings habits among maize farmers in Zimbabwe. This is so because the majority of maize production is being done on a subsistence basis by resource constrained farmers who basically leave from hand to mouth. Maize is a staple food crop that is widely grown in Zimbabwe mainly by communal and newly resettled farmers. The study used survey data from 195 smallholder communal and resettled farmers, and agribusiness firms dealing with maize. Data was collected through the issuing of questionnaires with the sampled farmers and firm representatives. The study also explores the way the small grains have been marketed and the extent of field crop contracting in Zimbabwe. In addition, literature on determinants of market participation for other commodities was reviewed. Recommendations were then drawn on strategies for improved market participation for smallholder farmers. Transaction cost related factors are an important component of marketing that determines the extent of market participation for smallholder farmers. Results of the multiple regression and the probit models showed that transaction cost related factors, such as previously agreed prices (PRICEAGREE), confidence and trust in the buyer (CONFIDENCE), the difference in price knowledge (PRICEKNOW) and delayed payment for sold grain (DELAYPAY) have a significant impact on the quantity of grain sold and the extent of smallholder farmer participation in the market. Discriminant analysis was used to identify factors discriminating maize sellers and non-sellers. The division was made according to whether or not a household sold maize during the period 2004/05 to 2006/07. Of the fourteen potential discriminating variables, six explained group differences with statistical significance. The six important variables in the discriminant function analysis were: number of donkeys owned by a household, crop production levels, source of household income, method of transporting grain to the market, district and area cultivated. Five of the six discriminating variables point to wealth-ranking factors (household asset endowments) implying that poorer households are unable to participate in markets effectively

Date

2022

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Farmers

Maize

Saving

Supervisor

N/A