scholarly journals What drives smallholder farmers’ crop production choices in Central Zambia? Lessons from the 2012/2013 agricultural season

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kabwe Harnadih Mubanga ◽  
Bridget Bwalya Umar ◽  
Jane Muchabi ◽  
Chishimba Mubanga
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
State Agency ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Household Food

The study, conducted in central Zambia was aimed at determining the major drivers of crop production choices among smallholder farmers. It utilized recent national crop production and utilization data; 200 semi-structured interview schedules, and key informant interviews conducted with smallholder farmers and experts from the agricultural sector in Zambia respectively. Results showed that despite being confronted by late on-set of rains and post germination crop attacks by army worms which made maize (Zea mays) production extremely precarious, 61.5% of the affected smallholder farmers replanted their cultivated land with maize. The farmers had a choice of whether to replant maize which had a ready market from the state agency, the Food Reserve Agency, or to plant a drought tolerant crop such as sorghum or millet which would have guaranteed them with household food security from own production. They mainly chose the former option. They increased production of other crops such as soya beans (Glycine max), sun flower(Helianthus annuus) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) when contract farming with private business entities became available. Markets determined smallholder farmers’ crop production choices more than household food security from own production or availability of climate information forecasting poor rainfall distribution. The study concludes that (i) prior knowledge of climate information does not necessarily result in a change of smallholder farmers’ crop production choices in response to a predicted climate anomaly, (ii) markets are a major determinant of crops cultivated by smallholder farmers, and hence adaptation measures involving crop diversification should be designed with market availability in mind. 

scholarly journals Impacts of Cash Crop Production on Household Food Security for Smallholder Farmers: A Case of Shamva District, Zimbabwe

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 188
Author(s):  
Theresa Tendai Rubhara ◽  
Maxwell Mudhara ◽  
Oluwaseun Samuel Oduniyi ◽  
Michael Akwasi Antwi
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Cash Crop ◽  
Cash Cropping ◽  
Cash Crops ◽  
Household Food

Zimbabwe has recently experienced a considerable shift towards the production of more cash crops, such as tobacco, at the expense of food crops. Although cash cropping has been associated with increased income, the question is whether the income gained from cash crops would be enough to provide the food needs of farming households. This research was conducted to analyse the impact of cash crops on household food security. A cross-sectional survey consisting of 281 randomly selected smallholder farmers in Shamva District was used for primary data collection. Data were analysed using the Tobit regression model and Propensity score matching (PSM). The household dietary diversity score (HDDS) was used to measure food security. The PSM results showed a positive impact of cash crop production on the HDDS. This could be attributed to the income effect of cash cropping. Furthermore, Tobit regression results showed that cash crop production (p < 0.1), non-farm income (p < 0.01), total arable land (p < 0.05) and access to draft power (p < 0.05) positively influenced household food security. Household size negatively impacted food security (p < 0.05). While the results from this study suggest the need to promote cash crop production, it should not be regarded as the panacea for addressing food insecurity. There is a need for further research to derive optimum combinations of cash and food crops in the crop mixture for smallholder farmers to achieve food security. Furthermore, opportunities for off-farm livelihood options should be developed, since non-farm income had a positive effect on food security.

scholarly journals Does smallholder farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 improve household food security in the Northern Region of Ghana?

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Franklin Nantui Mabe ◽  
Eliasu Mumuni ◽  
Nashiru Sulemana
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Switching Regression ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Endogenous Switching Regression ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Household Food

Abstract Background Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims at ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. Whilst some smallholder farmers are aware of this goal, others are not. The question that arises is whether or not awareness translates into food security. Therefore, this study assessed whether or not smallholder farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 improves household food security in the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods The study used cross-sectional primary data collected from two districts and two municipalities in the region. An endogenous switching regression treatment effects model with ordered outcome was used to estimate the effects of smallholder farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 on household food insecurity level. Results The age of household head, distance of households to the regional capital, membership of farmer-based organizations, access to e-extension, education, and ownership of radio are the key drivers of farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2. The results from the endogenous switching regression treatment effects model with ordered outcome showed that households who are aware of the second goal are more food secure than their counterparts. Conclusions It is therefore prudent for stakeholders promoting and championing Sustainable Development Goals to educate farmers on goal 2 as their awareness of the goal is critical to achieving food security.

Can Organic Agriculture Feed the Smallholders? Experience from Rural Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-107
Author(s):  
M. A. Sarker ◽  
M. Hoque ◽  
A. H. Chowdhury ◽  
Z. Ferdous
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Project Staff ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Safe Food

This study empirically tests the benefit of the smallholders from organic farming in Bangladesh through their improved food security which is realised from their increased productivity and farm income. The respondent smallholders were picked up from two districts of Bangladesh namely Mymensingh and Bogra. The respondents (80) were the beneficiaries of the organic agriculture promotion project of Bangladesh Agricultural University. Three years data were collected by the project staff and were crosschecked with the base line. Findings of the study explored that before joining with the project extreme majority (93%) of the small farmers were involved in rice mono-culture and more than half (67%) of them were food deficit. The study also revealed that at the initial year of joining organic agriculture project their farm productivity was 10–12% lesser and it increased continually in the successive years. In some cases, it crossed the yield compared to conventional farming. The findings of the study showed that 100% of the farmers have followed crop diversification with high value vegetables and spices along with rice. Due to adoption of organic practices, the cost of production of the smallholders has declined from 27% to 36% and additionally they enjoy 10% to 15% premium prices which have enhanced their farm income significantly. The study shows that 62.5% of the smallholder farmers had attained household food security due to adoption of organic agriculture. Thus, adoption of organic agriculture effectively increased smallholders’ access to surplus safe food. However, the study also explored that farm size, extension media contact, access to assured market and access to institutional support are the most important factors in improving smallholders’ household food security through participation in organic agriculture programme. Thus, it can be concluded that organic agriculture can feed the smallholders in a better way.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Household Food Security in Zambia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2715 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Nkomoki ◽  
Miroslava Bavorová ◽  
Jan Banout
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Food And Nutrition Security ◽  
Nutrition Security ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food And Nutrition

Food security is a global challenge and threatens mainly smallholder farmers in developing countries. The main aim of this paper is to determine factors that are associated with food security in Zambia. This study utilizes the household questionnaire survey dataset of 400 smallholder farmers in four districts conducted in southern Zambia in 2016. To measure food security, the study employs two food security indicators, namely the food consumption score (FCS) and the household hunger scale (HHS). Two ordered probit models are estimated with the dependent variables FCS and HHS. Both the FCS and HHS models’ findings reveal that higher education levels of household head, increasing livestock income, secure land tenure, increasing land size, and group membership increase the probability of household food and nutrition security. The results imply that policies supporting livestock development programs such as training of farmers in animal husbandry, as well as policies increasing land tenure security and empowerment of farmers groups, have the potential to enhance household food and nutrition security.

scholarly journals Food security situations among female headed households in Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 100-112
Author(s):  
Remigius. I. Ozioko ◽  
Blessing. C. Nwigwe ◽  
Anthonia. N. Asadu ◽  
Miracle. I. Nwafor ◽  
Onyinyechi. I. Nnadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Enugu State ◽  
Female Headed Households ◽  
Poor Nutrition

The study examined food security situation of female-headed households in Enugu State, Nigeria. The study identified livelihood activities of respondents, ascertained the food security situation, examined constraints to food security, and examined coping strategies of respondents. Multi-stage sampling procedure, snow ball and simple random techniques were used to select 72 female-headed households. Data were analyzed using mean score and factor analysis. Results showed that respondents livelihood activities included crop production (77.8%), processing and sale of palm produce (43.1%) and processing of farm produce (38.9%). Household food security situations included food secure to moderately food-insecure. Major constraints to food security of the respondents were poverty ( x̄ =2.52), lack of education and skill ( x̄ =2.50), poor rural infrastructure ( x̄ =2.50) and poor nutrition education ( x̄ =2.54). Coping strategies included restriction of food consumption of adults ( x̄ =2.21) reducing food consumption per day ( x̄ =2.00) and staying hungry ( x̄ =2.04). The study concludes that the households in the area were grossly food insecure as they spent more of their meager earning only on food. There was poor nutrition education and lack of productive skills. Poverty was found to be a major cause of food insecurity in the area as it robs people the option of fine choices. Hence, government and other development agencies should provide policies and efforts that assist Female headed households in capacity building like providing them with productive resources which will expand their scope of livelihood choices. Keywords: Food security, female headed household, food situation, poverty

scholarly journals Linking Household Food Security and Food Value Chains in North West Mt. Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4999
Author(s):  
Veronica Mwangi ◽  
Samuel Owuor ◽  
Boniface Kiteme ◽  
Markus Giger ◽  
Johanna Jacobi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
North West ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Value

Smallholder farmers and pastoralists produce the largest proportion of food consumed in sub-Saharan Africa. However, they remain among the food insecure populations. This paper explores the food (in)security among smallholder farmers and pastoralists using a sample of 175 households in three agro-food value chains of wheat, dairy, and beef in the north-west Mt. Kenya region. The study seeks to answer if a farmer’s participation in a particular agro-food value chain determines his/her food security situation. We use the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and two Poisson regression models, parsimonious and full, to assess the household food security status and determinants of food security among the smallholder farmers and pastoralists. The results show that 61% of the households were either mildly, moderately, or severely food insecure. Households in the beef value chain experienced relatively higher incidences of food insecurity compared to households in the wheat and dairy value chains. The HFIAS scores revealed a wide gap between households with minimum and maximum score. Household size, income and income-related variables (ability to save and borrow to meet family needs), transport assets, membership in farmers’ associations, and household energy were significant in determining household food security, while access to credit and to extension services was not. Strategies that focus on boosting smallholder farmers’ incomes, building strong and resilient farmers associations to improve inclusive and equitable value chains have the potential to get smallholder farmers out of recurrent food insecurity.

Determinants of Crop Diversification and Its Effects on Household Food Security in Northern Ghana

2020 ◽  
pp. 097674792093681
Author(s):  
Abdul Razak Baba ◽  
Abdul-Malik Abdulai
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Crop Diversification ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Northern Regions

This study analyses factors that determine smallholder farmers’ crop diversification decisions and their effects on household food security in Northern Ghana. A total of 1,284 households were sampled across the five northern regions of Ghana. Herfindahl Index for measuring crop diversification was used. The study found average crop diversity to be 0.55 and about 61 per cent of the sampled farmers had values above the average which indicated high crop diversification in the study area. The study also estimated the determinants of crop diversification and their effects on household dietary food security using the conditional mixed process model. Upon examining the determinants of crop diversification, occupation, technology adoption, labour, extension contact and farm size were identified as significant determinants. The study also computed the Household Food Consumption Score as a proxy for measuring food security. The result indicated that crop diversification contributes significantly to improving household food security status in Northern Ghana.

scholarly journals Does Food Insecurity exist among Farm Households? Evidence from Ghana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Pinamang Acheampong ◽  
Elvis Agyei Obeng ◽  
Monica Opoku ◽  
Lydia Brobbey ◽  
Bernard Sakyiamah
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Farm Households ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Social Resilience ◽  
Diet Diversity ◽  
Household Food

AbstractHousehold food security exists when households have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food at all times that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Food security remains a serious challenge for many households in Ghana and the situation is even more prevalent among smallholder farmers. Using data collected from 2,603 farm households across Ghana and employing an ordered probit model the determinants of food security among farm households were assessed. The food security indicator-Food Consumption Score (FCS) which combines diet diversity, frequency of consumption and relative nutritional importance of different food groups was used for the analysis. Results indicated that farm households (76%) across Ghana were within the acceptable household food consumption groups. Nonetheless, 19% and 6% of farm households respectively were within the borderline and poor food consumption groups respectively. Further analysis revealed the determinants of food security to include experience, gender, improved variety adoption, access to credit and location. The suggestion is that government and private institutions should create an enabling environment to enhancing production capacities, economic and social resilience to improve on food security and nutrition.

scholarly journals Effect of Market Participation on Food Security Among Smallholder Sorghum Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-336
Author(s):  
M F SALAMI ◽  
K K OSASONA ◽  
G O AKINSOLA ◽  
S U O AKANBI1 , M.T. DUROSAY ◽  
S U A AKANBI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Market Participation ◽  
Farmers Market

It is paradoxical to note that food insecurity remains a menace among many African farmers’ households. There are arguments for and against smallholder farmers' market participation as a pathway for ensuring household food security. The paper therefore examined the market participation- food security relationship using smallholder sorghum farmers in Kwara State, as a case study. Primary data were obtained from 112 sorghum farming households using the semi-structured interview survey method. Descriptive statistic (frequencies and percentages), Crop output market participation index, Logistic regression model and Tobit regression model was used to analyse the data obtained. The result revealed that market participation positively and significantly contributes to the food security status of the sorghum farmers. Also, household size, farm output quantity, access to market information, access to credit and farm power types were the factors influencing the level of market participation in the study area. Therefore, all factors that will aid farmers' market participation should be pursued.

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