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Doctoral Degrees (Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management) by Author "Mafongoya, Paramu L."

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    An assessment of the transformation of Mkwasine Sugar Estate after land reform : the tensions and conflicts.
    (2017) Muromo, Francis.; Mafongoya, Paramu L.
    In examining whether corporate agriculture can be replaced by small-scale agriculture undertaken through the nucleus estate-out grower model after land reform in Zimbabwe‟s sugar estates in the south eastern Lowveld, there is need to answer the following critical questions: Has the unbundling of formerly large–scale corporate plantations to much smaller scale farming units destroyed the once vibrant sugar estate? Is the participation of ordinary farmers without experience in sugarcane-production a wise move and does that initiate new modes of accumulation from below? Can contract farming arrangements with corporate processors or buyers provide a more viable support model than involving state support in kick-starting small-scale farmers‟ entry into sugarcane production? Who currently owns what, who does what, who gets what and what do they do with it? Despite the negative perception being peddled in the local and international media about the dramatic transformation of the three sugar estates in Zimbabwe‟s south eastern Lowveld, land redistribution in the sugar estates had to be done to redress the colonial disparity in land ownership. This study therefore examined the subdivision of one of the sugar estates (Mkwasine Estate) into small-scale farming units, against the backdrop of tensions and conflicts between a South African multinational firm-Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe (THZ) and the resettled black farmers. This is done to determine the changes that have occurred in the land ownership structure, land tenure system as well as contestations that arose over input accessibility, utility provision and sugar pricing after the reconfiguration of the estate. To achieve this, a stratified random sample of 45 farmers from three broad farmers‟ strata, namely the high, middle and low producer categories was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data that described what unfolded in the estate in the aftermath of land reform. Overall, the results highlighted significant land ownership and tenure system changes in the estate after the transformation. The results also established tenure insecurity in the estate as freehold tenure paved way to leasehold tenure after the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP). There was gender disparity in the land allocation exercise as only 31.1% of the sample who benefited is women compared to 68.9 % men. Of the same sample 73.3% of the beneficiaries had no sugarcane farming experience against 26.7% who had it prior to receiving farms on the estate. The former are A2 farmers who were resettled under the FTLRP and came from the civil (35.5%) as well as the security services (37.8%) and are farming on a part time basis. The term "A2 farmers‟ refer to a new class of black commercial farmers introduced by government under the FTLRP to deracialise commercial farming. The latter (26.7%) came from the Chipiwa Settlement Scheme and are into full-time sugarcane farming and are former THZ employees. Since their incorporation in the industry, the resettled farmers‟ contribution to total sugar output rose from 17% in 2011 to 33% in 2016. The study also established that two formulas are used by Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe (THZ) to procure the farmers‟ sugarcane namely the milling agreement (MA) and the cane purchase agreement (CPA). The MA allows farmers to enjoy proceeds from byproducts of sugar whereas the CPA does not allow farmers to enjoy those benefits. Of the sample 26.7% indicated they use the MA and 73.3 % used the CPA raising questions as to why two procurement formulas were used by THZ for farmers on the same estate. Lastly, further evidence from the study also shows the benefits of land reform going beyond sugar production as all the resettled farmers in the estate engage in a diverse range of livelihood portfolios like petty trading, livestock farming and natural resources extraction to augment their family incomes. The study recommends farmer capacity and capability building since over 70% of the sample had no prior sugarcane farming experience. It also recommends the standardization of land sizes and tenure system as well as the adoption of one procurement price for all the farmers‟ sugarcane in the estate. The formation of a sugar council by all the stakeholders to regulate the industry by government is also recommended as it does to other crops under its input support programmes. This would greatly reduce the challenges facing the sugar industry in Zimbabwe.
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    Effectiveness of innovation platforms in enhancing technology adoption, productivity and viability : the case of smallholder dairying in Rusitu and Gokwe, Zimbabwe.
    (2017) Hanyani-Mlambo, Benjamine.; Mudhara, Maxwell.; Nyikahadzoi, Kefasi.; Mafongoya, Paramu L.
    Despite numerous interventions, low adoption of dairy technologies, low productivity and viability challenges characterize smallholder dairy farming in large parts of the tropics. The problem lies in the unavailability, low adoption rates and disadoption of available improved smallholder dairying technologies. Using Rusitu and Gokwe smallholder dairy projects in Zimbabwe as a case study and a cross-sectional survey of 227 households, this research set out to: (i) explore the innovation domains and their influence on technology adoption patterns, (ii) determine the socio-economic differences between participants and non-participants in smallholder dairy innovation platforms, (iii) assess the effectiveness of innovation platforms in enhancing productivity and viability, and (iv) determine the potential of innovation platforms in enhancing the adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations in smallholder dairying. Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis identified five distinct innovation domains viz: smallholder dairy producers (61.6%), smallholder dairy heirs (15.9%), new and emergent producers (4.6%), smallholder dairy pioneers (2.0%), and market-oriented producers (15.9%). Innovation domains influence the level of dairy technology adoption, notably those with higher levels of participation in innovation platforms. Further comparisons indicated statistically significant differences between innovation platform participants and non-participants regarding dairy herd size, experience in commercial dairying, training received, dairy management systems, and overall Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) (p < 0.01). Propensity Score Matching (PSM) techniques were used to estimate the Average Treatment effect on the Treated (ATT) in determining the impact of innovation platforms on productivity and viability. Results show an ATT value of 0.135 (p < 0.1), while participation in innovation platforms had a positive significant impact on average milk productivity and gross income (p < 0.01). Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression analysis identified participation in innovation platforms to be significant in determining the adoption of CSA innovations such as artificial insemination and fodder production (p < 0.01), and hence the potential of innovation platforms in enhancing the adoption of CSA innovations in smallholder dairying. Innovation platforms have great potential for enhancing technology adoption, productivity and viability in smallholder dairying. This study recommends the promotion, adoption and sustainable funding of innovation platforms as practical tools for developing smallholder dairying.
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    Towards developing a pluralistic agricultural extension system: the case of Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa.
    (2022) Mudzielwana, Rudzani Vhuyelwani Angel.; Mafongoya, Paramu L.; Phophi, Mutondwa Masindi.
    Agricultural extension is a crucial component of agricultural development, food security improvement and rural livelihood enhancement. However, many farmers are constrained by extension systems that are difficult to access or lack quality services that utilise modern approaches, technologies and training methods. The rationale of this study is to look at the efforts to define and disseminate good practices, strategies and approaches to establish efficient agricultural extension services. This study used a quantitative research design to collect data from 319 respondents. A multiple linear regression model analysed factors influencing smallholder farmers’ performance under pluralistic and non-pluralistic settings. The study findings indicated that credit access (p<0.05), access to public extension (p<0.1), extension feedback (p<0.01) and transparency and accountability (p<0.05) negatively influenced the performance of the smallholder farmers in the study area. A binary probit regression model was used to analyse factors influencing the perception of implementing a pluralistic extension service providers system among smallholder farmers. The findings from the study indicated that age (p<0.05) negatively influenced the probability of implementing a pluralistic extension system among smallholder farmers in the study area. The binary probit regression model was used to analyse the determinants of smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for extension services. The study's findings indicated that marital status (p<0.1) negatively influenced the probability of smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for extension services in the study area. The multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyse factors influencing a sustainable extension service system among smallholder farmers. The farm size (p<0.1), extension feedback length (p<0.01), and effectiveness of extension (p<0.1) negatively influenced a sustainable extension service system among smallholder farmers in the study area. Gender (p<0.1), household size (p<0.1), willing to pay for extension service (p<0.01), the difference in output (p<0.1) and annual income (p<0.01) positively influenced a sustainable extension service system among smallholder farmers in the study area. The study encourages collaborations among public and private stakeholders, researchers, extension officers and rural development agencies to implement a cost-effective pluralistic extension system that meets the end users' or clients' (smallholder farmers) agricultural/ farming needs.