Mitigating labour shortages in Zimbabwe: a case study of Green Feathers farm (pvt) ltd, and the design of an effective labour management system
- Author
- Gumbo, M.
- Title
- Mitigating labour shortages in Zimbabwe: a case study of Green Feathers farm (pvt) ltd, and the design of an effective labour management system
- Abstract
- This study aims to determine and examine the underlying causes of Green Feather Farm's labour shortages. It also seeks to determine the possible mitigating measures farmers and policymakers should take to address the labour shortage issues. The final goal of the research is to design, develop, and pilot test a digital platform that connects Green Feathers Farm with available labourers. A mixed-methods approach was used to quantify the impacts of labour shortages on crop yields and farm income by integrating qualitative interviews with farm management and employees with quantitative data analysis from farm records. The findings show a strong correlation between labour shortages and lower crop yields, which lowers farm profitability. A good example is maize yield, which was expected to be 4489.05 kg/ha, which is lower than the standard yields for Seed Co maize varieties like SC727 and SC659, where farmers record averages of 13400 and 13500 kilograms per hectare, respectively. Similarly, the mean yield for tobacco for GFF was 1147.26 kg/ha, which is lower than the national average yield of approximately 2.3 tonnes (2,300 kg) per hectare. The LMS was designed with techniques for labour force optimisation, training programs, and flexible labour arrangements to mitigate the effects of labour shortages. Lastly, the study highlights how urgently the Zimbabwean agricultural sector needs creative labour management techniques and interventions. To sustain agricultural productivity, it is advised to implement customised labour management systems and fund employee training and retention initiatives, among other things. This study contributes to knowledge and better understanding of labour dynamics in Zimbabwe's agricultural industry and provides practical recommendations for improving labour management and farm productivity.
- Date
- OCTOBER 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- labour shortages
- management system
- Supervisor
- Dr A.C Mujeyi
- Media
-
Gumbo - AEM.pdf