A Socio-Economic Analysis Of The Use Of Drip Irrigation Kits In Smallholder Tomato Production A case of Marondera District ward 15 Chidanga irrigation scheme
- Author
- Masline Wadzanai Magora
- Title
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A Socio-Economic Analysis Of The Use Of Drip Irrigation Kits In Smallholder Tomato Production
A case of Marondera District ward 15 Chidanga irrigation scheme
- Abstract
-
ABSTRACT
Drip irrigation systems is seen the solution to several challenges of dry land cultivation and increasing the output of irrigated cultivation. Most smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe lack access to established commercial markets due to a lack of or restricted access to knowledge, resources, and institutions that can help smallholder farmers produce for formal markets. The major objective of the study, was to evaluate the socio economic factors that affect the use of drip irrigation by small holder farmers. The study also focused on three specific objectives which are, to establish the prevalence of drip irrigation in Marondera District ward 15, to identify key determinants that influence the uptake of drip irrigation and to determine the socio economic effects that affect profitability of tomatoes under drip irrigation.
Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires from 40 randomly selected small holder tomato farmers. Secondary data was collected using journals, books and articles. Qualitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentiles and means and this was done using SPSS. The majority of the respondents were female and attained up to tertiary level. The demographic characteristics that was questioned were marital status, level of education, age as well as gender an
The factors influencing the farmer's decision to use drip irrigation were examined using binary logistic regression analysis model. The prevalence of drip irrigation by the small holder tomato farmers was calculated using a formula. The findings showed that drip irrigation is the most prevalent type of irrigation in Chidanga Marondera District and the main issue facing these tomato farmers is shortage of water as well as access to market information. The decision of a farmer to use drip irrigation was found to be significantly influenced by source of water, area covered under drip irrigation, availability to extension services, and educational level. In light of these findings, it was determined that small holder farmers need to have access to market information so that they will yield more profits thereby alleviating poverty and upgrading living standards.
It was recommended that the small holder farmers should engage in other farm activities such as cattle rearing so that they will be able to boost the project of tomatoes. Recommendations were also given to the policy makers as well as for further researches
- Date
- JUNE 2024
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
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-Drip irrigation systems
-smallholder farmers
-socio economic - Supervisor
- NIL
- Item sets
- Department of Agricultural Economics
- Media
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Masline Wadzanai Magora