This document provides a critical analysis of Zimbabwe's jatropha biodiesel program in Mutoko district. It examines the socio-economic impacts on rural farmers. The program aimed to use jatropha to produce biodiesel and promote rural development, but it failed to achieve these goals due to lack of proper planning and implementation in a policy vacuum. While jatropha has traditional uses for local farmers, the commercial cultivation component of the national program did not benefit farmers as anticipated. The study advocates for small-scale, non-commercial cultivation and local processing of jatropha to benefit farmers.
Shifting trends in rural livelihood a case study of asutifi districtEnoch Ofosu
This research has been done in the context of an interdisciplinary student programme organized and financed by Tropenbos International Ghana (TBI-Ghana), using the educational model developed by the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and supervised by lecturers of the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and TBI-Ghana staff. The Ghanaian members of the research group are mainly fresh graduates from different universities in Ghana. The Dutch students are Master students form different universities in the Netherlands
SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ CREDIT PARTICIPATION: THE CASE OF OMO MICROFINANCE INSTI...Premier Publishers
This study was conducted with specific objectives to examine households’ participation in credit services of Omo Microfinance Institution and identify the determinants of credit participation and loan amount received in the Gimbo district of Kaffa zone, Southern Ethiopia. The study was based on the data collected from 200 sample households selected through two-stage sampling technique. Both descriptive statistics and econometric model were used to analyze the data. A double hurdle model was employed to assess the determinants of households’ credit participation and the amount of loan received. Econometric model result showed that sex, education level, family size, land size, distance from service provision center, extension contact, perception on group lending, and perception on loan provision time were found to be significant in influencing the probability of credit participation. Furthermore, sex, education, family size, land size, livestock holding, and extension contact were found to be significantly affecting loan amount received. The result suggests the need for improvement on delayed loan disbursement time for credit service in order to increase households’ participation in the services.
The document discusses a study on the effectiveness of drought mitigation strategies in Bikita District, Zimbabwe. The study used questionnaires, interviews, observations and focus groups to assess the strategies used by households. The main strategies identified were food aid, food for work, sale of livestock, remittances, and irrigation. Food aid and food for work were found to be the most effective, while remittances, irrigation and drought-resistant crops were the least effective. Most households reported not benefiting from the strategies. The document recommends improving irrigation infrastructure, incorporating local knowledge, increasing access to agricultural inputs, and providing more technical assistance to farmers.
Origin, non-monetary benefits and perspectives of domestication of Non-Timber...AI Publications
The objective of this study is to contribute towards the promotion of NTFPs from various origins by assessing their contribution in sustaining the livelihood of communities in Mifi Division and the domestication potential of some of the NTFP species. The study was carried out in the Mifi Division in the West Region of Cameroon. Respondent were drawn from a cross-section of exploiters and marketers. Data were collected through the administration of semi-structured questionnaires and interview guides as well as direct observations with actors including 65 wholesalers, 150 retailers and 120 households. Data analysis was carried out using Excel 2016 to generate tables and graphs, and ARCGIS 10.1 to generate the map of the areas of origin of NTFPs. Results revealed that 29 species are used in the Division but almost all (28 species) come from areas out of Mifi. Parts used for consumption consist of 36,84% fruits, 36.84% seeds, 10.52% leaves, 5.26% sap, 5.26% mushrooms and 5,26% rhizome while their use for medicinal purposes consist of 42,85% barks, 28.57% fruits, 14.28% seeds and 7.14% leaves and rhizome. In total, species are used as food (46.55%), medicine (36.2%), for construction and furniture (6.89%), packaging (6.89%) and cosmetics (3.44%). NTFPs are becoming increasingly rare, reason for the need of an effective domestication of the most used species. NTFPs mainly Garcinia kola and Tetrapleura tetraptera with higher assets and low constraints can potentially be domesticated in the Mifi Division in order to reduce overexploitation and promote sustainable management of NTFPs in the present context of climate change. There are many favorable conditions including, the need of small financial capital, the interest of inter-community groups and available workforce. Some constraints persist such as the lack of young plants, lack of technical assistance and financial support.
Roles of Cooperative Societies in Aquaculture Development: A Case Study of So...BRNSS Publication Hub
The roles of farmer’s cooperative societies in aquaculture development in two local government areas:
Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government of Rivers State were investigated, using randomly
distributed questionnaires. The results indicated that most (70.0%) of the respondents were females,
within the age bracket of 26–50 years (72.4%), and they are married (70.0%), with household size
of 5–10 (68.75%). The results further revealed that majority of the respondents (97.5%) had formal
education, with 1–10 years of experience as a cooperative member (75.3%). Culture of fish (40.0%) and
marketing (25.0%) of fish were the major activities carried out by the cooperative societies. Analysis
of the benefits derived from the society by the members indicated that the highest (42.5%) and lowest
(3.3%) were in obtaining credit facilities and gaining access to land, respectively. The roles of cooperative
societies in the development of aquaculture include accessibility to government intervention policies in
aquaculture (33.75%), provision of subsidized input (6.25%), increased returns (25.00%), and improved
culture techniques (6.25%). However, insufficient capital accumulation (43.75%) and communal crisis
and mismanagement (30.0%) are the major constraints faced by the cooperative societies in discharge
of their duties. In conclusion, continued existence and operation of cooperative societies have to be
encouraged. Hence, more farmers should be encouraged to join, and the government should increase
the supply of credit facilities to these societies for the sustainable development of aquaculture in these
communities.
This document discusses homestead food production in South Africa as a strategy to combat food insecurity. It notes that while homestead production is being promoted by NGOs and the government, the scale and impact are unknown due to a lack of data. Some evidence suggests homestead production is improving nutrition and incomes. The document recommends a systematic research program to study existing initiatives and lessons learned. It also proposes developing a coordinated upscaling program using community workers, accredited training, and support for water and soil resources to expand homestead production, particularly in urban and rural areas most affected by food insecurity. Monitoring and evaluation would track the program's impact over time.
Analysis of Factors Influencing Participation of Farm Households in Watermelo...AJSERJournal
The study analyzed the factors influencing participation of farm households’ in watermelon production in
the study areas. Three local government areas out of Sokoto state were purposively selected. Questionnaire was used
to collect data. Multistage of sampling techniques were used to arrive at the sample size of 181 farm households’ for
the study. Likert scale is used to analyse the level of participation of farm households’, frequency and inferential
statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that (55.8%) of the farm households are within the ages
of 25-30 years, majority (96.7%) are male It shows that majority (64.0%) of the farm households participated in
watermelon production as a result of higher income generated. Multiple regression analysis result revealed significant
relationships between farm households participation in watermelon production and their socio-economic
characteristics at P<0.05. The constraints faced by the farm households are storage technology and improved
agricultural inputs. Most (63.5%) of the farm households believed that provision of subsidized agricultural inputs and
market accessibility are forms of assistance that will encourages farm households to partake in watermelon production.
It is recommended that government and donor agencies should encourage farm households’ by providing them with
the modern agricultural inputs so as to influence them to participate fully into watermelon production irrespective of
their Socio-economic differences.
Types and Percentations of Parasitization Egg Parasitoids Spodoptera frugiper...AI Publications
This document summarizes a study on egg parasitoids of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study identified two types of parasitoids - Telenomus sp. and Trichogramma sp. - through inventory and examination of S. frugiperda egg groups from different regions. Telenomus sp. had a higher presence than Trichogramma sp. across sampling areas. The percentage of parasitization was highest in Manado City at 85% and lowest in Bolaang Mongondow Regency at 5%.
Shifting trends in rural livelihood a case study of asutifi districtEnoch Ofosu
This research has been done in the context of an interdisciplinary student programme organized and financed by Tropenbos International Ghana (TBI-Ghana), using the educational model developed by the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and supervised by lecturers of the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and TBI-Ghana staff. The Ghanaian members of the research group are mainly fresh graduates from different universities in Ghana. The Dutch students are Master students form different universities in the Netherlands
SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ CREDIT PARTICIPATION: THE CASE OF OMO MICROFINANCE INSTI...Premier Publishers
This study was conducted with specific objectives to examine households’ participation in credit services of Omo Microfinance Institution and identify the determinants of credit participation and loan amount received in the Gimbo district of Kaffa zone, Southern Ethiopia. The study was based on the data collected from 200 sample households selected through two-stage sampling technique. Both descriptive statistics and econometric model were used to analyze the data. A double hurdle model was employed to assess the determinants of households’ credit participation and the amount of loan received. Econometric model result showed that sex, education level, family size, land size, distance from service provision center, extension contact, perception on group lending, and perception on loan provision time were found to be significant in influencing the probability of credit participation. Furthermore, sex, education, family size, land size, livestock holding, and extension contact were found to be significantly affecting loan amount received. The result suggests the need for improvement on delayed loan disbursement time for credit service in order to increase households’ participation in the services.
The document discusses a study on the effectiveness of drought mitigation strategies in Bikita District, Zimbabwe. The study used questionnaires, interviews, observations and focus groups to assess the strategies used by households. The main strategies identified were food aid, food for work, sale of livestock, remittances, and irrigation. Food aid and food for work were found to be the most effective, while remittances, irrigation and drought-resistant crops were the least effective. Most households reported not benefiting from the strategies. The document recommends improving irrigation infrastructure, incorporating local knowledge, increasing access to agricultural inputs, and providing more technical assistance to farmers.
Origin, non-monetary benefits and perspectives of domestication of Non-Timber...AI Publications
The objective of this study is to contribute towards the promotion of NTFPs from various origins by assessing their contribution in sustaining the livelihood of communities in Mifi Division and the domestication potential of some of the NTFP species. The study was carried out in the Mifi Division in the West Region of Cameroon. Respondent were drawn from a cross-section of exploiters and marketers. Data were collected through the administration of semi-structured questionnaires and interview guides as well as direct observations with actors including 65 wholesalers, 150 retailers and 120 households. Data analysis was carried out using Excel 2016 to generate tables and graphs, and ARCGIS 10.1 to generate the map of the areas of origin of NTFPs. Results revealed that 29 species are used in the Division but almost all (28 species) come from areas out of Mifi. Parts used for consumption consist of 36,84% fruits, 36.84% seeds, 10.52% leaves, 5.26% sap, 5.26% mushrooms and 5,26% rhizome while their use for medicinal purposes consist of 42,85% barks, 28.57% fruits, 14.28% seeds and 7.14% leaves and rhizome. In total, species are used as food (46.55%), medicine (36.2%), for construction and furniture (6.89%), packaging (6.89%) and cosmetics (3.44%). NTFPs are becoming increasingly rare, reason for the need of an effective domestication of the most used species. NTFPs mainly Garcinia kola and Tetrapleura tetraptera with higher assets and low constraints can potentially be domesticated in the Mifi Division in order to reduce overexploitation and promote sustainable management of NTFPs in the present context of climate change. There are many favorable conditions including, the need of small financial capital, the interest of inter-community groups and available workforce. Some constraints persist such as the lack of young plants, lack of technical assistance and financial support.
Roles of Cooperative Societies in Aquaculture Development: A Case Study of So...BRNSS Publication Hub
The roles of farmer’s cooperative societies in aquaculture development in two local government areas:
Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government of Rivers State were investigated, using randomly
distributed questionnaires. The results indicated that most (70.0%) of the respondents were females,
within the age bracket of 26–50 years (72.4%), and they are married (70.0%), with household size
of 5–10 (68.75%). The results further revealed that majority of the respondents (97.5%) had formal
education, with 1–10 years of experience as a cooperative member (75.3%). Culture of fish (40.0%) and
marketing (25.0%) of fish were the major activities carried out by the cooperative societies. Analysis
of the benefits derived from the society by the members indicated that the highest (42.5%) and lowest
(3.3%) were in obtaining credit facilities and gaining access to land, respectively. The roles of cooperative
societies in the development of aquaculture include accessibility to government intervention policies in
aquaculture (33.75%), provision of subsidized input (6.25%), increased returns (25.00%), and improved
culture techniques (6.25%). However, insufficient capital accumulation (43.75%) and communal crisis
and mismanagement (30.0%) are the major constraints faced by the cooperative societies in discharge
of their duties. In conclusion, continued existence and operation of cooperative societies have to be
encouraged. Hence, more farmers should be encouraged to join, and the government should increase
the supply of credit facilities to these societies for the sustainable development of aquaculture in these
communities.
This document discusses homestead food production in South Africa as a strategy to combat food insecurity. It notes that while homestead production is being promoted by NGOs and the government, the scale and impact are unknown due to a lack of data. Some evidence suggests homestead production is improving nutrition and incomes. The document recommends a systematic research program to study existing initiatives and lessons learned. It also proposes developing a coordinated upscaling program using community workers, accredited training, and support for water and soil resources to expand homestead production, particularly in urban and rural areas most affected by food insecurity. Monitoring and evaluation would track the program's impact over time.
Analysis of Factors Influencing Participation of Farm Households in Watermelo...AJSERJournal
The study analyzed the factors influencing participation of farm households’ in watermelon production in
the study areas. Three local government areas out of Sokoto state were purposively selected. Questionnaire was used
to collect data. Multistage of sampling techniques were used to arrive at the sample size of 181 farm households’ for
the study. Likert scale is used to analyse the level of participation of farm households’, frequency and inferential
statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that (55.8%) of the farm households are within the ages
of 25-30 years, majority (96.7%) are male It shows that majority (64.0%) of the farm households participated in
watermelon production as a result of higher income generated. Multiple regression analysis result revealed significant
relationships between farm households participation in watermelon production and their socio-economic
characteristics at P<0.05. The constraints faced by the farm households are storage technology and improved
agricultural inputs. Most (63.5%) of the farm households believed that provision of subsidized agricultural inputs and
market accessibility are forms of assistance that will encourages farm households to partake in watermelon production.
It is recommended that government and donor agencies should encourage farm households’ by providing them with
the modern agricultural inputs so as to influence them to participate fully into watermelon production irrespective of
their Socio-economic differences.
Types and Percentations of Parasitization Egg Parasitoids Spodoptera frugiper...AI Publications
This document summarizes a study on egg parasitoids of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study identified two types of parasitoids - Telenomus sp. and Trichogramma sp. - through inventory and examination of S. frugiperda egg groups from different regions. Telenomus sp. had a higher presence than Trichogramma sp. across sampling areas. The percentage of parasitization was highest in Manado City at 85% and lowest in Bolaang Mongondow Regency at 5%.
IFAD provides loans to support agricultural development projects that benefit smallholder and rural poor farmers in developing countries. From 1979 to 2009, IFAD funded over 800 projects in 115 countries totaling over $12 billion. Smallholder farms worldwide support around 2 billion people and produce most of the food in developing countries. Biofuels have potential to expand opportunities for smallholder farmers but also risks related to food security and environmental impacts that need to be addressed through research on non-food crop options and sustainable farming practices. IFAD's strategic objectives focus on improving poor farmers' access to natural resources, technologies, markets, and decision making to help them overcome risks and take advantage of opportunities in agriculture and rural development.
This document discusses two types of hunger disasters - sudden disasters like hurricanes, and slow-onset disasters caused by gradual environmental changes. It focuses on the latter and policies that exacerbate hunger. Suggested alternatives emphasize small family farms using techniques like SRI that improve soil health and resilience to climate change compared to industrial agriculture models pushed by corporations. Document advocates anthropologists documenting programs like SRI to influence policymakers and bridge gaps between farmers and consumers.
This is an output showing how indigenous knowledge is expressed through social media advocacy approach. Indigenization strategies are widely used to show the importance of indigenous culture to some aspects especially in spreading awareness about it. This presentation also features some indigenous culture in the Philippines.
Information technology for sustainable agricultural development: A reviewKawita Bhatt
Sustainable agricultural development ensures safe and high-quality agricultural products in a way that Safeguards the health and welfare of farmed species, Protects and improves the natural environment, etc. ICT can play a critical role in various aspects of sustainable agricultural development such as Farmer's welfare, climatic change, application of fertilizers and pesticides etc.
This document discusses solutions for improving Indian agriculture. It proposes establishing interconnected committees at the state, district, and local levels to better monitor agricultural activities and support farmers. The state-level core committee would oversee research, inspection, and sub-committees. Sub-committees at the district level would monitor local conditions and progress. Engineers, experienced people, volunteers, and direct field agents would work closely with small farmers, educating them and addressing issues. The goal is to boost productivity through modern techniques, research, and by supporting small farmers.
Lecturers’ Perception on Agriculture Mechanization in Rivers State, NigeriaAI Publications
The study investigated lecturers’ perception on agricultural mechanization in Rivers state, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, four research questions which sought the information regarding benefits, awareness, challenges and solutions guided the study. Population of the study comprises 360 lecturers from three tertiary institutions in Rivers state. Data collection was achieved using a questionnaire comprising 32 items and rated on a five point likert scale. Mean was used for data analysis. For results, regarding benefits, the respondents agreed that agricultural mechanization boosts food production but disagree that it boosts employment of labour. For awareness, lecturers were generally aware of mechanization in agriculture. For challenges, they perceived lack of skills to use mechanized farm equipment as one challenge to mechanization. They perceived that favourable government policies could enhance agricultural mechanization. The study recommend that awareness on agricultural mechanization should be created and government set up agricultural machinery industries for developing and hiring out mechanized farm tools at subsidized rates to farmers.
Shifting livelihood: Exploring the relationship between the presence of Unive...Premier Publishers
Due to formal education potentials for development, African governments usually site tertiary institutions in agrarian communities without taking recourse to their effects on the livelihood activities of people living in such communities. The study explored the relationship between the presence of University for Development Studies (UDS) and livelihood diversification of people in Bamahu in the Upper West Region of Ghana. A sample of 130 was drawn from a community of 2498 using purposive and snowball samplings techniques. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used to analyze quantitative data. Interviews, focus group discussions and observations were instruments used to collect qualitative data which was analyzed thematically whiles questionnaire design was used to collect quantitative data. It was found that the economy had been transformed to a more monetized economy. Livelihood activities patronized as a result of the establishment of UDS include small-scale business, porterage, security services and hostel management. Income earnings of respondents had also improved over the years. Many problems including loss of farmlands by the community have been encountered. Entrepreneurial training and interest free loans are recommended to help ease diversification.
This document discusses pathways for African forests and forestry to achieve relevance and sustainability. It notes that while African forests have historically supported communities and development, losses over the past 50 years have undermined this. Key challenges include insecurity, outdated laws, inadequate funding, weak governance and research. Emerging opportunities to reverse this include optimizing forest-water relations, investing in REDD+, bioenergy and green growth. Continued capacity building, knowledge generation and good governance at all levels are needed for forests to meaningfully contribute to sustainable development in Africa.
UN Women/FAO/IFAD/WFP Expert group meeting (Sept. 2017) summary reportIFPRI-PIM
This presentation was given by Barbara van Koppen (IWMI), as part of the Annual Scientific Conference hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 5-6 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/), as part of the Annual Scientific Conference hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 5-6 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/
Leguminous vegetables production and marketing in Southern Benin|Ijaar vol-15...Innspub Net
This study assessed the production and marketing of leguminous vegetables in southern Benin. It found:
1) The main leguminous vegetables grown were common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Chinese bean (Phaseolus spp.), with eight varieties of common bean cultivated.
2) Seeds were obtained from local seed companies, saved from previous harvests, or imported. Production occurred in greenhouses or open fields, using organic and inorganic fertilizers.
3) Pests and diseases were controlled chemically. Production was mainly led by men on small plots. The major marketing channels involved collectors, wholesalers, and hotels/restaurants.
4) Respondents faced challenges like
The Role of Cooperatives in Marketing of Agricultural Produce in Ushongo Loca...Premier Publishers
This study was designed to determine the role of cooperatives in the marketing of agricultural produce in a rural community. A structured interview schedule was used to collect data from a random sample of 115 respondents drawn from five of the eleven Council Wards in the Local Government Area. It was found that respondents’ socio-economic characteristics had no significant influence on farmers’ participation in cooperatives. The study showed further that cooperatives were able to regulate only a small proportion of the volume of produce farmers took to the market. However, three quarters (74.8%) of respondents believed that cooperatives determined prices of produce. Some of the constraints facing cooperatives identified included the large number of middlemen (75.5), inadequate storage (67.0%) and low literacy of members (67.8). It is concluded that cooperatives would better impact farmers if identified constraints are addressed by both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.
Policies to Promote Smallholder Intensification in Ethiopia:The Search for Ap...guest9970726
1) The document analyzes Ethiopia's policies and programs over the past decades that aimed to promote smallholder intensification through improved access to seed, fertilizer, and extension services. 2) It focuses on three key policy "episodes" between 1995-present to examine the roles of public and private sectors in input and extension systems and markets. 3) The episodes show periods of success in intensification followed by volatility, raising questions about how policies have helped or hindered efforts and the shifting roles of public and private sectors over time.
This document discusses prospects for trilateral cooperation between China and traditional donors in agricultural aid projects in the Pacific region. It outlines China's growing foreign aid to Pacific countries, including some agricultural demonstration projects. It then provides examples of existing trilateral aid projects involving China, the US, Australia and New Zealand in countries like Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Cook Islands. The document concludes there is potential for further trilateral cooperation in agriculture, but it would require political support from all parties, requests from recipient countries, and close coordination.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that donors have committed $35.7 million in humanitarian assistance to Mauritania in 2015 to address acute malnutrition. The Strategic Response Plan for Mauritania requests $95 million but is currently only 34% funded. The European Union's Humanitarian Aid department has contributed the most at $13.2 million. Nutrition and food security projects in Mauritania's Hodh El Chargui region have received $1.2 million out of $16.6 million total for such projects nationwide.
The role of private extension agencies in agricultural development of kaduna ...Alexander Decker
This study examined the role of the Leventis Foundation Agricultural Training School (LFATS) in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study found that participants of LFATS were generally younger, more educated, and had less farming experience than non-participants. Participants reported receiving adequate training from LFATS in livestock production, crop production, and farm product processing. Statistical analysis revealed the crop yields of participants were significantly higher than those of non-participants, indicating the training from LFATS helped improve agricultural productivity. The study concluded LFATS plays an important role in agricultural advancement and youth empowerment in Kaduna State. It was recommended that other organizations collaborate with LFATS to improve access to agricultural inputs for participants.
In Mozambique, the debate on agrofuels has advanced steadily
over the last five years, fueled by industry speculation and
demand, grand promises, and foreign interests. Investors
applied for the rights to some five million hectares in
Mozambique in 2007 alone, nearly one seventh of the country’s
officially defined ‘arable’ land. The Mozambican government is
rushing to create favorable conditions for investors in the
industry as quickly as possible, at the expense of Mozambicans’
civil rights. Mozambique’s World Bank-funded process to
develop a National Policy and Strategy for Biofuels, for example,deliberately excluded civil society participation, lacked
transparency, and was only made available to the public after it
had been completed and approved by parliament.
The document discusses IFAD's priorities and role in promoting bioenergy and smallholder agriculture. It notes that IFAD has supported over 300 million rural poor people through 829 projects in 115 countries. Smallholder farms are important, with 500 million farms worldwide supporting over 2 billion people. The document discusses opportunities and risks for agriculture, and the role of smallholders and options like cash crops, livestock integration and agro-processing in closing the poverty gap. It advocates using biofuels to expand opportunities for rural smallholders while ensuring food security and environmental sustainability.
Measuring the economic performance of smallholder organic maize farms; Implic...Olutosin Ademola Otekunrin
The use of chemical inputs in conventional agriculture is associated with some health and environmental issues. This led to a call for more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture without health issues. However, there is low participation in organic farming in Nigeria, which could be linked to less knowledge about its profitability. The study investigated smallholder organic maize farming profitability in Northern Nigeria. We employed descriptive statistics, profitability analysis, and a multiple regression model to analyse data collected from 480 maize farmers. The results revealed that organic maize farmers had a gross profit of USD 604.81 per hectare, a 0.46 profit ratio, a 0.54 gross ratio, a 0.32 operating ratio, a benefit-cost ratio of 1.85, and a 0.85 return on capital invested. Thus, organic maize farming is a productive and profitable venture. Organic manure, compost manure, farm size, selling price, cooperative membership, extension contact, access to credit, irrigation, education, and major occupation were factors that enhanced organic maize farming’s net profit. However, seed and transportation costs negatively influenced organic maize farming's net profit. Therefore, government and development agencies must intervene to make organic farming more sustainable and profitable by subsidizing seed costs and providing f inancial assistance to farmers.
Influence of Socio-Economic Characteristics on the Utilization ofHudu Zakaria
This document summarizes a study that examined how socioeconomic factors influence the utilization of development interventions by shea butter processors in Northern Ghana. The study found that age, access to credit, source of start-up capital, and marital status were significantly associated with utilization of interventions provided by NGOs and government agencies to improve the shea butter industry. Despite numerous interventions, poverty remains high, possibly due to underutilization of support programs. The study calls for policies that better address socioeconomic backgrounds to increase utilization of interventions designed to boost the industry and livelihoods of rural women.
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...AI Publications
This study was carried out to access the Determinants of micro finance accessibility among tomato farmers in Kokona Local Government Area in Nasarawa State. Primary data was collected from 60 tomato farmers from six Communities in Kokona Local Government Area using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages, frequency distribution, range and regression analysis. The results indicated that most of the respondents were young and able-bodied who could be productive for agricultural production in a given conducive atmosphere. Majority of the respondents were married and had 30 years and above farming experience. Results of the findings revealed that majority (73.3%) had access to credit while only 26.7% had no access to credit. The result also indicated that majority (80.0%) of the respondents were males while only 20.0% were female. Results from the findings revealed that larger proportion (26.7%) of the respondents had annual income between the range of N100,001- N150,000, while 21.7% had annual income ranging between N200,001- N250,000 and N50,000- N100,000 respectively. The result showed that all of the respondents (100.0%) of the farmers engaged in tomato farming had no access to extension contact.Results also revealed that majority (70.0%) of the respondents had farm sizes ranging from 1-2 hectares. The results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that the value of the multiple regressions co-efficient (R2) was found to be 0.896, implying that the regression model accounted for about 89% of none zero variations in the study.The research work concluded by advocating the establishment of financial institutions in each local government headquarters of Nasarawa State for easy accessibility to loan by farmers.
IFAD provides loans to support agricultural development projects that benefit smallholder and rural poor farmers in developing countries. From 1979 to 2009, IFAD funded over 800 projects in 115 countries totaling over $12 billion. Smallholder farms worldwide support around 2 billion people and produce most of the food in developing countries. Biofuels have potential to expand opportunities for smallholder farmers but also risks related to food security and environmental impacts that need to be addressed through research on non-food crop options and sustainable farming practices. IFAD's strategic objectives focus on improving poor farmers' access to natural resources, technologies, markets, and decision making to help them overcome risks and take advantage of opportunities in agriculture and rural development.
This document discusses two types of hunger disasters - sudden disasters like hurricanes, and slow-onset disasters caused by gradual environmental changes. It focuses on the latter and policies that exacerbate hunger. Suggested alternatives emphasize small family farms using techniques like SRI that improve soil health and resilience to climate change compared to industrial agriculture models pushed by corporations. Document advocates anthropologists documenting programs like SRI to influence policymakers and bridge gaps between farmers and consumers.
This is an output showing how indigenous knowledge is expressed through social media advocacy approach. Indigenization strategies are widely used to show the importance of indigenous culture to some aspects especially in spreading awareness about it. This presentation also features some indigenous culture in the Philippines.
Information technology for sustainable agricultural development: A reviewKawita Bhatt
Sustainable agricultural development ensures safe and high-quality agricultural products in a way that Safeguards the health and welfare of farmed species, Protects and improves the natural environment, etc. ICT can play a critical role in various aspects of sustainable agricultural development such as Farmer's welfare, climatic change, application of fertilizers and pesticides etc.
This document discusses solutions for improving Indian agriculture. It proposes establishing interconnected committees at the state, district, and local levels to better monitor agricultural activities and support farmers. The state-level core committee would oversee research, inspection, and sub-committees. Sub-committees at the district level would monitor local conditions and progress. Engineers, experienced people, volunteers, and direct field agents would work closely with small farmers, educating them and addressing issues. The goal is to boost productivity through modern techniques, research, and by supporting small farmers.
Lecturers’ Perception on Agriculture Mechanization in Rivers State, NigeriaAI Publications
The study investigated lecturers’ perception on agricultural mechanization in Rivers state, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, four research questions which sought the information regarding benefits, awareness, challenges and solutions guided the study. Population of the study comprises 360 lecturers from three tertiary institutions in Rivers state. Data collection was achieved using a questionnaire comprising 32 items and rated on a five point likert scale. Mean was used for data analysis. For results, regarding benefits, the respondents agreed that agricultural mechanization boosts food production but disagree that it boosts employment of labour. For awareness, lecturers were generally aware of mechanization in agriculture. For challenges, they perceived lack of skills to use mechanized farm equipment as one challenge to mechanization. They perceived that favourable government policies could enhance agricultural mechanization. The study recommend that awareness on agricultural mechanization should be created and government set up agricultural machinery industries for developing and hiring out mechanized farm tools at subsidized rates to farmers.
Shifting livelihood: Exploring the relationship between the presence of Unive...Premier Publishers
Due to formal education potentials for development, African governments usually site tertiary institutions in agrarian communities without taking recourse to their effects on the livelihood activities of people living in such communities. The study explored the relationship between the presence of University for Development Studies (UDS) and livelihood diversification of people in Bamahu in the Upper West Region of Ghana. A sample of 130 was drawn from a community of 2498 using purposive and snowball samplings techniques. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used to analyze quantitative data. Interviews, focus group discussions and observations were instruments used to collect qualitative data which was analyzed thematically whiles questionnaire design was used to collect quantitative data. It was found that the economy had been transformed to a more monetized economy. Livelihood activities patronized as a result of the establishment of UDS include small-scale business, porterage, security services and hostel management. Income earnings of respondents had also improved over the years. Many problems including loss of farmlands by the community have been encountered. Entrepreneurial training and interest free loans are recommended to help ease diversification.
This document discusses pathways for African forests and forestry to achieve relevance and sustainability. It notes that while African forests have historically supported communities and development, losses over the past 50 years have undermined this. Key challenges include insecurity, outdated laws, inadequate funding, weak governance and research. Emerging opportunities to reverse this include optimizing forest-water relations, investing in REDD+, bioenergy and green growth. Continued capacity building, knowledge generation and good governance at all levels are needed for forests to meaningfully contribute to sustainable development in Africa.
UN Women/FAO/IFAD/WFP Expert group meeting (Sept. 2017) summary reportIFPRI-PIM
This presentation was given by Barbara van Koppen (IWMI), as part of the Annual Scientific Conference hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 5-6 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/), as part of the Annual Scientific Conference hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 5-6 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/
Leguminous vegetables production and marketing in Southern Benin|Ijaar vol-15...Innspub Net
This study assessed the production and marketing of leguminous vegetables in southern Benin. It found:
1) The main leguminous vegetables grown were common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Chinese bean (Phaseolus spp.), with eight varieties of common bean cultivated.
2) Seeds were obtained from local seed companies, saved from previous harvests, or imported. Production occurred in greenhouses or open fields, using organic and inorganic fertilizers.
3) Pests and diseases were controlled chemically. Production was mainly led by men on small plots. The major marketing channels involved collectors, wholesalers, and hotels/restaurants.
4) Respondents faced challenges like
The Role of Cooperatives in Marketing of Agricultural Produce in Ushongo Loca...Premier Publishers
This study was designed to determine the role of cooperatives in the marketing of agricultural produce in a rural community. A structured interview schedule was used to collect data from a random sample of 115 respondents drawn from five of the eleven Council Wards in the Local Government Area. It was found that respondents’ socio-economic characteristics had no significant influence on farmers’ participation in cooperatives. The study showed further that cooperatives were able to regulate only a small proportion of the volume of produce farmers took to the market. However, three quarters (74.8%) of respondents believed that cooperatives determined prices of produce. Some of the constraints facing cooperatives identified included the large number of middlemen (75.5), inadequate storage (67.0%) and low literacy of members (67.8). It is concluded that cooperatives would better impact farmers if identified constraints are addressed by both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.
Policies to Promote Smallholder Intensification in Ethiopia:The Search for Ap...guest9970726
1) The document analyzes Ethiopia's policies and programs over the past decades that aimed to promote smallholder intensification through improved access to seed, fertilizer, and extension services. 2) It focuses on three key policy "episodes" between 1995-present to examine the roles of public and private sectors in input and extension systems and markets. 3) The episodes show periods of success in intensification followed by volatility, raising questions about how policies have helped or hindered efforts and the shifting roles of public and private sectors over time.
This document discusses prospects for trilateral cooperation between China and traditional donors in agricultural aid projects in the Pacific region. It outlines China's growing foreign aid to Pacific countries, including some agricultural demonstration projects. It then provides examples of existing trilateral aid projects involving China, the US, Australia and New Zealand in countries like Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Cook Islands. The document concludes there is potential for further trilateral cooperation in agriculture, but it would require political support from all parties, requests from recipient countries, and close coordination.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that donors have committed $35.7 million in humanitarian assistance to Mauritania in 2015 to address acute malnutrition. The Strategic Response Plan for Mauritania requests $95 million but is currently only 34% funded. The European Union's Humanitarian Aid department has contributed the most at $13.2 million. Nutrition and food security projects in Mauritania's Hodh El Chargui region have received $1.2 million out of $16.6 million total for such projects nationwide.
The role of private extension agencies in agricultural development of kaduna ...Alexander Decker
This study examined the role of the Leventis Foundation Agricultural Training School (LFATS) in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study found that participants of LFATS were generally younger, more educated, and had less farming experience than non-participants. Participants reported receiving adequate training from LFATS in livestock production, crop production, and farm product processing. Statistical analysis revealed the crop yields of participants were significantly higher than those of non-participants, indicating the training from LFATS helped improve agricultural productivity. The study concluded LFATS plays an important role in agricultural advancement and youth empowerment in Kaduna State. It was recommended that other organizations collaborate with LFATS to improve access to agricultural inputs for participants.
In Mozambique, the debate on agrofuels has advanced steadily
over the last five years, fueled by industry speculation and
demand, grand promises, and foreign interests. Investors
applied for the rights to some five million hectares in
Mozambique in 2007 alone, nearly one seventh of the country’s
officially defined ‘arable’ land. The Mozambican government is
rushing to create favorable conditions for investors in the
industry as quickly as possible, at the expense of Mozambicans’
civil rights. Mozambique’s World Bank-funded process to
develop a National Policy and Strategy for Biofuels, for example,deliberately excluded civil society participation, lacked
transparency, and was only made available to the public after it
had been completed and approved by parliament.
The document discusses IFAD's priorities and role in promoting bioenergy and smallholder agriculture. It notes that IFAD has supported over 300 million rural poor people through 829 projects in 115 countries. Smallholder farms are important, with 500 million farms worldwide supporting over 2 billion people. The document discusses opportunities and risks for agriculture, and the role of smallholders and options like cash crops, livestock integration and agro-processing in closing the poverty gap. It advocates using biofuels to expand opportunities for rural smallholders while ensuring food security and environmental sustainability.
Measuring the economic performance of smallholder organic maize farms; Implic...Olutosin Ademola Otekunrin
The use of chemical inputs in conventional agriculture is associated with some health and environmental issues. This led to a call for more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture without health issues. However, there is low participation in organic farming in Nigeria, which could be linked to less knowledge about its profitability. The study investigated smallholder organic maize farming profitability in Northern Nigeria. We employed descriptive statistics, profitability analysis, and a multiple regression model to analyse data collected from 480 maize farmers. The results revealed that organic maize farmers had a gross profit of USD 604.81 per hectare, a 0.46 profit ratio, a 0.54 gross ratio, a 0.32 operating ratio, a benefit-cost ratio of 1.85, and a 0.85 return on capital invested. Thus, organic maize farming is a productive and profitable venture. Organic manure, compost manure, farm size, selling price, cooperative membership, extension contact, access to credit, irrigation, education, and major occupation were factors that enhanced organic maize farming’s net profit. However, seed and transportation costs negatively influenced organic maize farming's net profit. Therefore, government and development agencies must intervene to make organic farming more sustainable and profitable by subsidizing seed costs and providing f inancial assistance to farmers.
Influence of Socio-Economic Characteristics on the Utilization ofHudu Zakaria
This document summarizes a study that examined how socioeconomic factors influence the utilization of development interventions by shea butter processors in Northern Ghana. The study found that age, access to credit, source of start-up capital, and marital status were significantly associated with utilization of interventions provided by NGOs and government agencies to improve the shea butter industry. Despite numerous interventions, poverty remains high, possibly due to underutilization of support programs. The study calls for policies that better address socioeconomic backgrounds to increase utilization of interventions designed to boost the industry and livelihoods of rural women.
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...AI Publications
This study was carried out to access the Determinants of micro finance accessibility among tomato farmers in Kokona Local Government Area in Nasarawa State. Primary data was collected from 60 tomato farmers from six Communities in Kokona Local Government Area using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages, frequency distribution, range and regression analysis. The results indicated that most of the respondents were young and able-bodied who could be productive for agricultural production in a given conducive atmosphere. Majority of the respondents were married and had 30 years and above farming experience. Results of the findings revealed that majority (73.3%) had access to credit while only 26.7% had no access to credit. The result also indicated that majority (80.0%) of the respondents were males while only 20.0% were female. Results from the findings revealed that larger proportion (26.7%) of the respondents had annual income between the range of N100,001- N150,000, while 21.7% had annual income ranging between N200,001- N250,000 and N50,000- N100,000 respectively. The result showed that all of the respondents (100.0%) of the farmers engaged in tomato farming had no access to extension contact.Results also revealed that majority (70.0%) of the respondents had farm sizes ranging from 1-2 hectares. The results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that the value of the multiple regressions co-efficient (R2) was found to be 0.896, implying that the regression model accounted for about 89% of none zero variations in the study.The research work concluded by advocating the establishment of financial institutions in each local government headquarters of Nasarawa State for easy accessibility to loan by farmers.
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...AI Publications
This study was carried out to access the Determinants of micro finance accessibility among tomato farmers in Kokona Local Government Area in Nasarawa State. Primary data was collected from 60 tomato farmers from six Communities in Kokona Local Government Area using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages, frequency distribution, range and regression analysis. The results indicated that most of the respondents were young and able-bodied who could be productive for agricultural production in a given conducive atmosphere. Majority of the respondents were married and had 30 years and above farming experience. Results of the findings revealed that majority (73.3%) had access to credit while only 26.7% had no access to credit. The result also indicated that majority (80.0%) of the respondents were males while only 20.0% were female. Results from the findings revealed that larger proportion (26.7%) of the respondents had annual income between the range of N100,001- N150,000, while 21.7% had annual income ranging between N200,001- N250,000 and N50,000- N100,000 respectively. The result showed that all of the respondents (100.0%) of the farmers engaged in tomato farming had no access to extension contact.Results also revealed that majority (70.0%) of the respondents had farm sizes ranging from 1-2 hectares. The results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that the value of the multiple regressions co-efficient (R2) was found to be 0.896, implying that the regression model accounted for about 89% of none zero variations in the study.The research work concluded by advocating the establishment of financial institutions in each local government headquarters of Nasarawa State for easy accessibility to loan by farmers.
This document summarizes a study on integrating social and gender considerations into strategies for managing banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) in affected communities. It finds that:
1) Plantain production is the main agricultural activity and important for income and food security in the pilot sites, with roles for both men and women that are often complementary.
2) Activities in the plantain production chain are typically divided along gender lines, with some tasks predominantly done by men and others by women.
3) There is high joint decision-making within households on plantain production, but women who earn income from sales have more influence over decisions on how that money is used.
Community Participation in Biofuels Crop Production in Zimbabwe: A focus on t...Gilbert Makore
This document discusses community participation in biofuels crop production in Zimbabwe, with a focus on policy and practical aspects. It examines the government's promotion of biofuels production by small-scale and communal farmers, and analyzes the implications for land tenure systems, food security, energy security, and the environment. The publication profiles government initiatives to encourage jatropha and sugarcane production, and presents case studies on communal farmers in Mutoko and Chegutu districts. It also provides context on biofuels policies and programs in South Africa, Mozambique, and the Southern African Development Community region. The goal is to advocate for a community-responsive policy framework and assess Zimbabwe's balance of interests between energy needs, food
Factors influencing farmer’s participation in agricultural projects the case ...Alexander Decker
This document summarizes a study that aimed to identify factors influencing farmers' participation in agricultural projects in Ghana. It provides background on the importance of agriculture in Ghana and the northern region, as well as poverty levels. It then describes the Agricultural Value Chain Mentorship Project (AVCMP) being implemented in the region. The study used a survey of 180 farmers in two districts to analyze factors affecting participation. Results from a probit model indicated that years of schooling, access to production credit, and access to agricultural extension services significantly determined farmers' participation in projects. Farmer interest can be sustained by providing tangible benefits like credit and extension.
article 3 o i i r j . o r g- 3 An Analysis of Socio.pdfEducational
Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Issue-04, July-Aug 2018 Issue
w w w . o i i r j . o r g I S S N 2 2 4 9 - 9 5 9 8 Page 358
An Analysis of Socio Economic Background of Organic Farmers: A Study with
Special References to Mandya District
aUma .K,
Article 3 An Analysis of Socio Economic Background of Organic Farmers A Study...Dr UMA K
This document analyzes the socioeconomic backgrounds of organic farmers in Mandya District, India. It finds that demographic factors like gender, family type, income, education, farm size, and number of dependents influence farmers' adoption of organic farming. The study surveyed 100 organic farmers and found that landholding patterns, major crops grown organically, awareness levels, and years of experience with organic farming also significantly impacted adoption. The document reviews previous literature on factors driving conversion to organic practices and outlines the objectives, hypotheses, methodology, and key findings of the study regarding the profiles and perceptions of organic farmers in Mandya District.
Analysis of impact of national fadama development projects on beneficiaries i...Alexander Decker
This document summarizes a journal article that analyzes the impact of Nigeria's National Fadama Development Projects on the incomes and wealth of beneficiary farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The study found that while the value of productive assets owned by beneficiary farmers increased during the Fadama III project, their net farm income actually decreased. This could be due to limitations faced by farmers or because beneficiary contributions to acquire new assets may have reduced short-term investment and income. The article recommends promoting access to productive assets through rotating savings and credit associations and addressing the low capacity of poor farmers to efficiently manage assets through training.
Community Level Production and Utilization of Jatropha Feedstock in Malawi, Z...ZY8
This document summarizes a study on community-level production and use of jatropha feedstock in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia. The study found that:
1) Jatropha seed yields were generally low, ranging from 0.1-2.3 tons/ha, due to the plant being grown primarily as a live fence with little management.
2) At current low yields, jatropha production for biofuel alone is not very economically attractive for communities or large-scale production.
3) Growing jatropha for local processing and use of products like soap or fertilizer appears more economically viable currently than selling seeds for biofuel.
- The document discusses the role of food aid and alternatives in Southern Africa, focusing on Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It revisits the response to the 2001-2002 food crisis in the region.
- Agriculture in the region has traditionally focused on maize production, creating a fragile system reliant on rain-fed agriculture by smallholders. National marketing boards historically played a key role in purchasing, distributing, and subsidizing maize and maize meal.
- The food crisis response was better late than never for Malawi. The regional crisis highlighted the complex challenges facing humanitarian action, including meeting emergency needs while addressing the effects of policies like market liberalization and structural adjustment.
Analysis of Factors Influencing Participation of Farm Households in Watermelo...AJSERJournal
This document analyzes factors influencing participation of farm households in watermelon production in Sokoto State, Nigeria. It describes the study area and sampling methodology. A survey was conducted with 181 farm households across 3 local government areas. The study aims to describe socioeconomic characteristics of participants, determine participation levels, identify influencing factors, constraints to participation, and types of assistance needed. Key findings were that most participants were male, ages 25-30, and participated for higher income. Participation was influenced by socioeconomic characteristics. Major constraints were storage technology and inputs. Most participants felt subsidized inputs and better market access would encourage greater involvement in watermelon production. The study recommends providing farm households modern inputs to influence full participation regardless of
Gender and Equity issues in Liquid Biofuels Production ZY8
This document discusses potential gender-differentiated risks associated with large-scale liquid biofuels production in developing countries. It hypothesizes that female-headed households and women may face more barriers than men in accessing resources like land, water, fertilizers and credit needed for intensive biofuels production. This could mean that economic opportunities initially benefit men and male-headed households more. The high land demand for biofuels could also put pressure on so-called "marginal lands" that in reality provide essential resources and livelihood functions for poor rural communities, especially women.
Influence of farmer characteristics on the production of groundnuts, a case o...paperpublications3
Abstract: Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) is a major annual oilseed crop and its economic and nutritive quality makes the crop a beneficial enterprise for rural farmers in Ndhiwa Sub-County. Researchers have recommended adoption of technology and increased contact with extension agents as one way of increasing production but productivity remains low. Crop productivity or yield is a function of environment, plant, management and socio-economic factors that interact at optimum levels to give maximum yields. The study focused on farmer characteristics which are part of socio-economic factors using the ex-post facto research design. The objective was to determine the influence of farmer characteristics on the production of groundnuts in Ndhiwa Sub County, Kenya. Purposive, multistage and simple random sampling was used in the study. Data on famer characteristics was obtained from 323 farmers out of the population of 21,820 farmers involved in groundnut production during the 2014 main cropping season. Document analysis was used to collate and analyze secondary data. Cobb-Douglas production function model and multiple regression analysis were used to study the behaviour and effects of independent variables on the dependent variable and test hypotheses. The results of the study showed that majority of the farmers were in households that were male headed with an average of seven persons. The household heads were middle aged, experienced in groundnut farming and had low levels of formal education. Age, gender of head of household, household size, level of formal education and experience in farming all had a positive relationship with groundnut production. However, only gender and experience in farming were significant at p <0.05 level of significance. Based on the findings the study recommended that interventions that target female headed households and improvement of farmers’ traditional knowledge on production should be put in place to improve production.
THE AGONIES OF COVID 19 ON VEGETABLE FARMERS ALONG THE WHITE VOLTA RIVER BASI...ijmvsc
The emergence of COVID 19 coupled with the enforcement of its safety protocols, coincided with the peak of harvesting and sale of perishable vegetables in the 2020 dry season farming period in the Upper East Region of Ghana.Using a qualitative approach, this study investigates the effects of the pandemic on vegetable farmers along the White Volta River Basin in the Region. The findings are that there were disrupted supply and demand in the production-consumption chain resulting in low sales; a shortage of hired labor; and high stigmatization. Farmers had few alternatives other than to leave their food stuff to rot on the farm, use the produce to feed livestock, or smuggleof the produce across borders. The implications are that the COVID 19 pandemic compounded the susceptibility of small-scale vegetable farmers in the region. Their resilience and household income levels are adversely affected.
THE AGONIES OF COVID 19 ON VEGETABLE FARMERS ALONG THE WHITE VOLTA RIVER BASI...ijmvsc
The emergence of COVID 19 coupled with the enforcement of its safety protocols, coincided with the peak
of harvesting and saleof perishable vegetables in the 2020 dry season farming period in the Upper East
Region of Ghana.Using a qualitative approach, this study investigates the effects of the pandemic on
vegetable farmers along the White Volta River Basin in the Region. The findings are that there
weredisrupted supply and demand in the production-consumption chain resulting in low sales; a shortage
of hired labor; and high stigmatization. Farmers had few alternatives other than to leave their food stuff to
rot on the farm, use the produce to feed livestock, or smuggleof the produce across borders. The
implications are that the COVID 19 pandemic compounded the susceptibility of small-scale vegetable
farmers in the region. Their resilience and household income levels are adversely affected.
This study investigates the socio-economic impact of small-scale irrigation schemes on smallholder farmers in East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia. The study uses survey data from 200 households, including beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of irrigation schemes. Logit regression analysis finds that irrigation scheme participation positively impacts education levels, farm income, non-farm income, living standards, and cooperative membership. However, problems accessing irrigation negatively impact participation. In general, small-scale irrigation schemes were found to improve socio-economic conditions for smallholder farmers, but issues like water management problems and lack of seed supply limited some benefits.
Similar to The broom-of-poverty-working-brief (20)
The Impact of Generative AI and 4th Industrial RevolutionPaolo Maresca
This infographic explores the transformative power of Generative AI, a key driver of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Discover how Generative AI is revolutionizing industries, accelerating innovation, and shaping the future of work.
Abhay Bhutada, the Managing Director of Poonawalla Fincorp Limited, is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience in commercial and retail lending. A Qualified Chartered Accountant, he has been pivotal in leveraging technology to enhance financial services. Starting his career at Bank of India, he later founded TAB Capital Limited and co-founded Poonawalla Finance Private Limited, emphasizing digital lending. Under his leadership, Poonawalla Fincorp achieved a 'AAA' credit rating, integrating acquisitions and emphasizing corporate governance. Actively involved in industry forums and CSR initiatives, Abhay has been recognized with awards like "Young Entrepreneur of India 2017" and "40 under 40 Most Influential Leader for 2020-21." Personally, he values mindfulness, enjoys gardening, yoga, and sees every day as an opportunity for growth and improvement.
TEST BANK Principles of cost accounting 17th edition edward j vanderbeck mari...Donc Test
TEST BANK Principles of cost accounting 17th edition edward j vanderbeck maria r mitchell.docx
TEST BANK Principles of cost accounting 17th edition edward j vanderbeck maria r mitchell.docx
TEST BANK Principles of cost accounting 17th edition edward j vanderbeck maria r mitchell.docx
South Dakota State University degree offer diploma Transcriptynfqplhm
办理美国SDSU毕业证书制作南达科他州立大学假文凭定制Q微168899991做SDSU留信网教留服认证海牙认证改SDSU成绩单GPA做SDSU假学位证假文凭高仿毕业证GRE代考如何申请南达科他州立大学South Dakota State University degree offer diploma Transcript
Independent Study - College of Wooster Research (2023-2024) FDI, Culture, Glo...AntoniaOwensDetwiler
"Does Foreign Direct Investment Negatively Affect Preservation of Culture in the Global South? Case Studies in Thailand and Cambodia."
Do elements of globalization, such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), negatively affect the ability of countries in the Global South to preserve their culture? This research aims to answer this question by employing a cross-sectional comparative case study analysis utilizing methods of difference. Thailand and Cambodia are compared as they are in the same region and have a similar culture. The metric of difference between Thailand and Cambodia is their ability to preserve their culture. This ability is operationalized by their respective attitudes towards FDI; Thailand imposes stringent regulations and limitations on FDI while Cambodia does not hesitate to accept most FDI and imposes fewer limitations. The evidence from this study suggests that FDI from globally influential countries with high gross domestic products (GDPs) (e.g. China, U.S.) challenges the ability of countries with lower GDPs (e.g. Cambodia) to protect their culture. Furthermore, the ability, or lack thereof, of the receiving countries to protect their culture is amplified by the existence and implementation of restrictive FDI policies imposed by their governments.
My study abroad in Bali, Indonesia, inspired this research topic as I noticed how globalization is changing the culture of its people. I learned their language and way of life which helped me understand the beauty and importance of cultural preservation. I believe we could all benefit from learning new perspectives as they could help us ideate solutions to contemporary issues and empathize with others.
[4:55 p.m.] Bryan Oates
OJPs are becoming a critical resource for policy-makers and researchers who study the labour market. LMIC continues to work with Vicinity Jobs’ data on OJPs, which can be explored in our Canadian Job Trends Dashboard. Valuable insights have been gained through our analysis of OJP data, including LMIC research lead
Suzanne Spiteri’s recent report on improving the quality and accessibility of job postings to reduce employment barriers for neurodivergent people.
Decoding job postings: Improving accessibility for neurodivergent job seekers
Improving the quality and accessibility of job postings is one way to reduce employment barriers for neurodivergent people.
STREETONOMICS: Exploring the Uncharted Territories of Informal Markets throug...sameer shah
Delve into the world of STREETONOMICS, where a team of 7 enthusiasts embarks on a journey to understand unorganized markets. By engaging with a coffee street vendor and crafting questionnaires, this project uncovers valuable insights into consumer behavior and market dynamics in informal settings."
1. June 2011
Jatropha: the broom of poverty;
myth or reality?
A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean
jatropha programme in Mutoko district
Prepared for PISCES by Practical Action Consulting
July 2012
By James Mubonderi
2. 2 Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district
Although this research is funded by DFID, the views expressed in
this report are entirely those of the authors and do not necessarily
represent DFID’s own policies or views. Any discussion of their
content should therefore be addressed to the authors and not to DFID.
Author: James Mubonderi
Reviewers: Ben Muok (ACTS), Agnes Mwakaje (University of Dar es Salaam)
Editors: Thomas Molony, Davide Chinigò (University of Edinburgh)
Main image: Jatropha tree (Photograph: James Mubonderi)
All images: James Mubonderi
List Of Acronyms
BUN Biomass Users Network
EU European Union
FEC Finealt Engineering Company
GoZ Government of Zimbabwe
NGOs Non-Governmental Organisations
NOCZIM National Oil Company of Zimbabwe
RBZ Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
3. Contents
Glossary 2
Foreword 4
Acknowledgements 5
Executive summary 4
Introduction and background 5
Study area 6
Data collection methods 7
Conceptual analysis 7
Background of the Zimbabwean biofuels programme 9
The Zimbabwean jatropha programme 10
The legal and policy framework 14
Uses of jatropha plant in Mutoko 15
Local uses of jatropha by-products 16
Conclusions and recommendations 18
References 20
Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district 3
4. 4 Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district
Executive Summary
This working brief critically examines the socio-economic and rural livelihood impacts
of the Zimbabwean Jatropha biodiesel programme on rural farmers. With the biofuels
discourse shifting from the use of first generation feedstocks, which can also be
used as food crops, to second generation biofuels which use exclusively non-food
feedstocks, jatropha emerged as the plant of choice in many countries including
Zimbabwe. First generation biofuels are heavily criticised for threatening food security
hence the use of non-edible jatropha was believed to have less social, economic and
environmental risks. This is because the plant was believed to grow well on marginal
land, which allows degraded land to be reclaimed, hence avoiding competition with
food crops. However, this study refutes these perceived benefits of jatropha mainly
because they are premised on unfounded propositions. This study critically analyses
the Zimbabwean jatropha programme to unravel the benefits and risks of jatropha to
rural farmers. In addition, the study discusses the Zimbabwean jatropha programme
within the contentious global debate on the positive and negative impacts of biofuels.
Based on the data gathered from selected key informants and rural farmers through
semi-structured interviews, this study found that growing jatropha under the national
biodiesel programme could not achieve the desired goals of rural development and
feedstock production. This is due to different reasons, among them, lack of proper
planning. The programme that made use of the out-grower scheme was hurried and
implemented in a policy vacuum. Despite the failure of the programme, this report
does not discredit the growth of jatropha since the plant proved to have various social,
cultural, environmental and economic uses to local rural farmers who traditionally grow
it as hedge. This study therefore advocates the support of small scale non-commercial
cultivation and processing of jatropha so that rural farmers can use it locally. Selling
the seeds should therefore be an added advantage rather than a primary outcome.
In that respect, the government must have its own source of feedstock (for example,
making use of the estate or plantation scheme) which can be supplemented by local
producers.
5. Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district 5
Introduction and Background
In recent years, the global production of biofuels has increasingly galloped due to the
global North’s desire for energy security and mitigation of climate change. Political
instability in the Middle East and the rising price of high carbon, and environmentally
unfriendly fossil fuels have also contributed to this increase. Additionally, the global
South has envisaged potential benefits such as foreign investment opportunities,
revenue from exports and economic development. This initiative has, however, stirred
heated debate between policy makers and scholars on the presumed benefits and the
adverse effects of biofuel development.
Proponents of biofuels such as the European Union (EU) and United States of America
(USA) argue that the production of biofuels, particularly in developing countries,
provides an opportunity to diversify energy provision and agricultural activity, reducing
dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to sustainable economic growth (ActionAid,
2010). They also contend that it offers the additional benefit of poverty reduction
through increased incomes provided by the growing export market for energy crops.
Critics such as the Biofuelwatch, Econexus and ActionAid however, dispute these
perceived benefits arguing that despite initial excitement, biofuels are questionable in
the light of their harmful effects on agriculture and land use (Biofuelwatch et al., 2007;
Scott, 2009).
The debate is further complicated by a lack of authenticity in the biofuel positions and
this is evidenced by the prominent use of the prefix “potential” or “opportunity” in
discussion of the proposed biofuel benefits or effects. Van der Horst and Vermeylen
(2011:2436) also present negative accounts of biofuels which contrast starkly to their
perceived benefits. They argue: “there is a world of difference between the promise
of the benefits that liquid biofuels could bring and what actually happens on the
ground.” Amigun et al. (2011) contend that whether biofuels development enables the
achievement of the predicted goals and benefits is an issue that remains uncertain and
therefore needs comprehensive investigation. Given this dichotomisation in biofuel
positions, this study seeks to inform the biofuel discourse by providing an empirical
analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme. In doing so, the study will delve into
critical issues such as food security implications, questions of land use, effects on
biodiversity, environmental degradation and the impact of such a programme on rural
livelihoods.
6. 6 Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district
Study Area
This study focuses on Mutoko district in Mashonaland East province of Zimbabwe.
Mutoko district is located in the North-eastern part of the country about 160
kilometres away from Harare (see figure 1, below). The district comprises mainly
communal villages and the administrative centre is situated at Mutoko Centre. Mutoko
is a mountainous area with limited flat land for cultivation and veld grazing. The main
livelihood activity is subsistence farming with maize and ground nuts being the major
crops grown.
Figure 1: Districts in Mashonaland East province of Zimbabwe
Map available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mashonaland_East_districts.png
Rural Livelihood Strategies in Mutoko
In addition to subsistence farming, a considerable number of people are involved
in small scale horticulture, mainly geared towards producing vegetables for sale at
Mutoko centre. As a store of wealth and source of draft power, local people keep
domestic animals such as cattle, goats and donkeys.
7. Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district 7
Data Collection Methods
This study was carried out between May and June 2011 and is based on data that was
collected from participants through interviews and participant observation. In total,
21 people were interviewed. A focus group discussion comprising ten members (six
men and four women) from Makosa ward was held at Makosa Township where I took
advantage of a ward meeting that coincided with one of my field visits. The discussion
lasted for about 20 minutes. Another focus group discussion was held at the Finealt
Engineering Company (FEC) plantation with six workers (two women and four men). In
addition, five more individual interviews with both key informants and individual farmers
were conducted in the district and this included interviews with FEC officials, extension
officers and village leaders. Further insights were gained through observations during
the field visits. All interviews were administered in the vernacular language (Shona).
Sampling techniques
In identifying key informants and recruiting members for the focus group discussion,
I adopted the purposive snowball sampling technique which makes use of personal
judgement to identify people with certain characteristics (Neuman, 2006). Key
informants were selected on the basis of the knowledge and level of participation in
the jatropha programme and the target comprised government officials, village and
ward leaders and leaders of other grassroots organisations such as farmers unions.
According to the guiding principles of the technique, the researcher has to identify one
person who will help identify other people and the chain goes on and on. Therefore,
to get hold of key informants I first contacted the CEO of FEC who revealed other
local leaders and villages (Makosa) where jatropha cultivation is at advanced stages.
In selecting participants in the focus group discussion, people who had hands-on
experience with local processing of jatropha were selected with the help of the ward
leader. This snowball sampling technique proved to be effective in saving time and
eased the identification of all key informants. Random sampling was used to select
farmers for individual interviewing. This technique was used mainly because almost
every farmer in Mutoko is, or was, involved in the jatropha programme at some time,
thus ensuring that all residents were given an equal chance of participation making the
sample more representative.
Conceptual Analysis
Biofuels
Traditionally, biofuel is a term used to refer to energy produced from bio (degradable)-
waste in both liquid and non-liquid forms (Franco et al., 2010). Recently, the term
has acquired a more narrow meaning. It now refers to liquid fuel that is derived from
purpose-grown plant material such as maize, sugarcane, jatropha and soya beans
(Molony and Smith, 2010; FAO, 2008; Clancy, 2008). The most common liquid biofuels
are bio-diesel and bio-ethanol. IEA (2004) defines biofuels as fuel derived from
biological, mainly agricultural sources (using conventional technology) and can be
categorised into two main categories which are first generation and second generation
biofuels. However, there is no clear cut distinction between the two categories but
seemingly, contemporary literature on biofuels use the type of feedstock as the main
distinctive feature (Larson, 2008; Findlater and Kandlikar, 2011; Charles et al., 2007).
8. 8 Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district
First generation biofuels mainly make use of agricultural food crops such as cereals,
grains, sugar crops and other starches that can be easily processed to produce fuel.
Second generation biofuels use non-edible lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks that
are exclusively used for energy production. This includes residues of crops or forestry
production (corn cobs, rice husks, sawdust), whole plant biomass (energy crops
such as switch grass and other fast growing tress), and from municipal solid waste
products that can be converted into fuel (Carriquiry et al., 2010; Helena and Ernsting,
2007). Converting these materials into fuel is a complex process and techniques are
still under development and not yet commercially available. Fuel produced from non-
edible oil seeds such as jatropha and microalgae can also be categorised as second
generation biofuels mainly because they do not fall in the bracket of food crops.
Given that the majority of biofuel sources are agricultural, some critics of biofuel such
as Helena and Ernsting, (2007), Fernandes et al., (2010) and ActionAid (2010) reject
the term “biofuels”, preferring “agrofuels” instead. They argue that the term biofuels
harbours the harmful social and environmental effects including food insecurity.
There are three main facets of food security; availability (supply), affordability (pricing
or accessibility) and quality (nutrition) (Mukute et al., 2002; Pingali et al., 2008).
For biofuels to threaten food security, they have to affect one or all of the above
mentioned components. Biofuels threaten food security either when food crops are
converted to fuel or when feedstocks compete with food crops for resources such
as land (Mitchell, 2008). The importance of second generation biofuels which make
use of non-food feedstocks therefore becomes evident. Due to this consideration,
jatropha has become the crop of choice in many biofuel schemes. This is because the
plant was believed to grow well on marginal land, which allows degraded land to be
reclaimed, hence avoiding competition with food crops.
However, empirical evidence from all over the world shows that jatropha rarely strives
on marginal land and is therefore not economically viable for rural farmers. Ariza-
Montobbio et al. (2010) argue that the presumed agronomic viability of jatropha
in marginal lands, its economic returns for small scale farmers, and its lack of
competition with food crops are all fallacies. Recent studies from across the globe
also show that to do well jatropha requires fertile soil and proper management. Pohl
(2010), writing on Mozambique, argues that jatropha, like any other cash crop, needs
fertiliser, pesticides and a lot of water to produce economically viable yields. In the
same vein, Louma (2009) reasons that “if you grow jatropha on marginal conditions
you should expect marginal yields as well.”
Jatropha curcas L
Jatropha curcas L (jatropha) is a non-edible and oil rich plant or shrub which can
grow up to six metres in height. In Mutoko the plant is commonly referred to as
“mujirimono” and in other regions such as in Masvingo they call it “mufuta” (oil tree).
Jatropha belongs to the euphorbia family in which both leaves and seeds are toxic
to humans and animals, making it a good live fence. On average the seeds contain
about 30-45% viscous oil which varies depending on where the jatropha is planted
and the care it receives (water and nutrients) (Jingura et al., 2011: 2080). Ripe seeds
turn from green to yellow but they can be best harvested when they dry and the hull
1
The name jatropha is derived from the Greek word jatros (doctor) and trophe (food) which implies its medicinal uses.
Curcas is a common name for physic nut in Malabar in India (DoveBiotech, undated: 4).
9. turns hard and black. If the seeds are not harvested they keep hanging, but if shaken
will fall down. Farmers from Mutoko, however, prefer to pick the seeds when they fall
as it is comparatively easier than collecting them from the tree. According to farmers’
perspectives, harvesting is not as hard and as tedious as the dehulling of seeds which
they do manually. Jatropha can be planted by two common methods; seed or seedling
propagation and the cutting method.
It is believed that the plant originated from Central America and was first distributed
globally by the Portuguese traders starting in Portuguese colonies (Henning, 2009).
In Zimbabwe jatropha was first introduced in the late 1990s by Biomass Users
Network (BUN) a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). The NGO encouraged the
planting of jatropha as a hedge around homes. The project started in Mutoko district
(Mashonaland Central Province) and in Binga district (Matabeleland North province).
Following the training of local people, the seeds were later used for soap and paraffin
making. Subsequently, cooperatives for small scale processing of jatropha were
established. The programme was aimed at rural development and climate change
mitigation. However, the NGO stopped operations when the Government of Zimbabwe
(GoZ) exclusively promulgated jatropha as a national programme in 2005.
Background of The Zimbabwean Biofuels Programme
Zimbabwe is an agro-based economy with 70% of its population living in rural areas
with their livelihoods earned through subsistence farming (Magumure, 2012). However,
there has been a decline in agricultural productivity since the late 1990s. This decline
can be attributed to many factors among them the controversial land reform programme
that disturbed the sector by resettling peasant farmers on commercial farms (ibid).
Additionally, a chain of droughts played a part. The country has also experienced an
unprecedented political and economic crisis haunted by hyperinflation, foreign currency
shortages, and political turmoil. Consequently, people’s livelihoods, especially those of
rural dwellers, were tempered with, leaving people exposed to hunger. It was during this
economic dark period when the jatropha project was introduced. Since everyone was
looking for anything to survive, the jatropha project provided economic hope for the
rural populace. One respondent argued: “It is like gambling, you never know what will
happen hence people just accept any programme presented to them”. The government
therefore find it easy to market the programme.
Since Zimbabwe is a landlocked country without petroleum products, it relies on oil
imported through South Africa and Mozambique. Foreign currency shortages coupled
with economic restrictive measures, have resulted in the GoZ failing to import enough
oil for the nation. Consequently, petrol stations ran dry and petrol was only found
in the informal market with a litre costing “US$4” (Mtisi and Makore, 2009:8). This
situation forced some motorists to devise blending mechanisms such as paraffin
blend. Lack of blending knowledge cost some people their engines.
As the situation deteriorated, GoZ started to think of strategies to curb the oil crisis. At one
time in 2007 top government officials had to visit Rotina Mavhunga, a local traditional healer
in Chinhoyi (Nkatazo, 2009) who claimed to have powers to extract diesel from a rock. This
The Kenya Charcoal Policy Handbook Current Regulations for a Sustainable Charcoal Sector 9
2
The economy has been in recovery since the country substituted its currency (Zimbabwean dollar) for the US dollar in 2009.
3
Interview with Mr X, 11th June held in Mutoko.
10. 10 Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district
illustrates the desperation of the GoZ in its attempt to deal with the nagging problem. When
the jatropha biodiesel initiative was presented by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to
the government in 2004, the idea received considerable political scaffolding and financial
resources were channelled to support the project. The RBZ investment in the jatropha
biodiesel materialised in 2004 when a test vehicle moved providing a sigh of relief to the
malaise Zimbabwean population. In 2005, the government launched the national jatropha
programme aiming at providing feedstock for biodiesel production, an initiative promoted
under the banner of rural development. The programme quickly filtered across the country
with the aid of the public media. It was advertised as “jatropha mutsvairo wenhamo”
meaning “jatropha the broom of poverty” (Tsiko, 2010). With this background, the
Zimbabwean jatropha programme can be regarded as an act of desperation both from the
side of the government and the population, mainly rural dwellers. Matondi (2010) describes
the Zimbabwean biofuel project as the “wacky fuel-economics”.
Since the institutionalisation of the programme in 2005, the government has been
making efforts to entice rural farmers to produce biofuel feedstock, mainly jatropha.
In 2007, a biodiesel processing plant was constructed at Mt Hampden just outside
Harare. It was built through a joint venture between the RBZ and Youn Wool Investment,
a Korean company. The now white elephant plant has an operating capacity of about
90-100 million litres per year and is described as one of its kind in Africa and fifth in the
world (Matondi, 2010). It cost the partners more than US$80 million to build the plant.
FEC recently established another biodiesel processing plant at Mutoko centre with
capacity of about 10,000 litres a day. To reach the capacity of both plants, at least 700
tonnes of jatropha seeds are required annually which translates to mean that at least
200 hectares of land has to be under jatropha cultivation. The National Oil Company of
Zimbabwe (NOCZIM) was commissioned to spearhead the cultivation of the required
jatropha. NOCZIM is the national company responsible for providing oil products to
the populace. Surprisingly, the government mandates it to spearhead the cultivation of
jatropha whilst the Ministry of Agriculture is there.
The Zimbabwean Jatropha Programme
The jatropha biodiesel programme, institutionalised in March 2005, initially adopted
the out-grower scheme and after its collapse, the GoZ resorted to the estate or
plantation approach (still budding). The two approaches are discussed below.
The flopped Out-grower scheme
Under this scheme, NOCZIM contracted individual farmers, farmers’ groups, women’s
groups and any other group or organisation which had access to land. At least five
hectares and proof of ownership or title to land was required to enter the ten year
contract. Farmers with less than five hectares or without formal entitlement to land, such
as communal farmers, were free to participate in the scheme but on a non-contractual
basis, which means, they were not obliged to exclusively grow and sell jatropha to
NOCZIM. Alternatively, they could pool their land together and be contracted as a
group. Each village was supposed to reserve a piece of land to grow jatropha. Individual
communal farmers were also encouraged to have at least 100 plants.
4
Interview with Mr Mpala, the CEO of FEC, 6th June 2011 held in Harare
5
Focus group discussion in Makosa ward, 15th June 2011 held at Makosa Township.
11. The Kenya Charcoal Policy Handbook Current Regulations for a Sustainable Charcoal Sector 11
The contract stipulated that NOCZIM would provide free seeds and technical assistance
and in return farmers would sell their yields to the company for biodiesel production.
Farmers participating on non-contractual basis also had access to free seeds and
would freely sell their produce to NOCZIM. Farmers received jatropha seeds to grow in
nurseries for later transplantation once the seedlings were either three months old or 1.5
cm tall. NOCZIM additionally bought seedlings from independent producers at a cost
of US$ 0.0015 per seedling and distribute them to farmers for free (Gandure, 2009: 43).
In 2006, NOCZIM targeted 40,000 hectares to be under jatropha cultivation, in 2007 it
projected 87,000 acres and 65,000 hectares was the target for 2008. However, by the
end of 2008 only 10,000 hectares had been achieved (Matondi, 2010).
Reasons for the collapse
A combination of different factors led to the collapse of the scheme in late 2008.
NOCZIM abandoned the project due to financial problems and unilaterally cancelled
the contractual agreement with out-grower farmers. Although financial woes
contributed to the failure of the scheme, the root cause could have been poor
planning. Since NOCZIM is not an agricultural company, it suffered from lack of
expertise and that explains why there were no tangible results since the inception of
the project in 2005. For three years, its focus was misdirected towards distributing
jatropha seeds without following up to see how the trees were growing. Farmers were
told just to plant the seedlings and let them grow on their own. After three years,
seedlings still remained seedlings (as shown in figure 2 below) and government
decided to terminate funding after realising that the project was unsuccessful. Farmers
abandoned the project too. The common belief that jatropha is a wild plant that strives
on marginal land with little or no care was proved a fallacy.
The observations from the pilot plantation
further confirm conclusions made by
Louma (2009), Ariza-Montobbio et al.,
(2010) and Pohl (2010) that jatropha
needs good soil and proper management
to grow well (see figure 3 and 4 below).
In places where the soil is fertile, such as
near anthills (figure 3), plants grow more
rapidly than in other places (figure 4).
Figure 3: jatropha plants on fertile soil Figure 4: jatropha plants on less fertile soil
Photos taken from FEC plantation on the 20th July 2011
Figure 2: A three year old derelict village jatropha plot on
degraded land. Photo taken on the 15th June 2011
12. 12 Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district
Most respondents blamed the propagation method that was employed by NOCZIM.
They argued that the seed propagation method is labour intensive as the land has to
be prepared before planting and above all transplanted seedlings need intensive care.
This concurs with Henning (2009) who argue that tight weed, and pest control, and
disease management are required when planting jatropha from seedlings. In some
instances, some seedlings might die and need replacement but NOCZIM did not do
that. Although the propagation method helps plants to develop a long tape root that
allows it to reach nutrients, helps bind the soil together preventing soil erosion by run-
off and reclaiming degraded land (see figure 2 above), farmers criticised it for its labour
intensiveness taking into consideration that the panting period coincides with the food
crop farming season. Farmers were therefore frustrated when the project collapsed;
they felt that it was wasted labour as they did not get anything from the project.
Farmers in Mutoko regretted that NOCZIM should have let them use the vegetative
propagation method which they were familiar with. They argued that, they have been
using this method since jatropha was first introduced to them in the 1990s. The
method uses 40-50 cm long cuttings. Unlike seedlings, cuttings are planted during the
dry season mostly two to three months prior to the commencement of rainy season.
This is mainly because the plant has so much water that it can decompose if planted
during the rainy season. This has resonance with Henning (2009) who observes that
the jatropha cuttings have a thin layer of wax that prevents the easy evaporation of
water hence they have to be planted early to lose some water. Interviewees felt that
this type of propagation could have been ideal for them since it is done at a time
when there is less farm work. Furthermore, they believe that the plant can produce
seeds within a year vis-a-vis two or three years from seedlings. This confirms that
the programme was designed in an old fashioned top-down ideology that can also
be referred to as the “know-it-all approach” which is non-participatory. Government
did not consult Jatropha growers in Mutoko about the programme; rather it (the
government) imposed the project on them.
Another aspect that contributed to the failure of the project according to farmers from
Mutoko who traditionally planted jatropha as a hedge is the unfavourable jatropha
market. Selling jatropha was projected to be the greatest benefit of the programme
to rural producers. The government believed that rural dwellers will earn extra
income through selling jatropha seeds. Rural farmers’ hope and motivation to join the
programme was hinged upon this promise. Results from Mutoko district, however,
proved to be disappointing. Jatropha producers who participated in focus group
discussion in Makosa unanimously showed discontent with the jatropha market.
They said that the prices are non-negotiable, relatively low compared to other income
generating activities and above all, not reflective of the amount of labour applied in
growing and harvesting it.
The price of jatropha is pegged at US$0.10 per kilogram compared to a kilogram of
tomatoes going for US$2. Farmers from Mutoko were therefore unhappy with the
price and consequently, many people decided to abandon the jatropha programme
and those who already have jatropha as hedge were de-motivated to the extent that
some do not even bother harvesting it. Furthermore, participants condemned the
government for unilaterally setting the price. Although the government gazetted the
price, most rural farmers were not aware of it and hence suspect corruption may
be an issue. They believe that government workers are given more money by the
government to buy jatropha at higher prices but they lower the prices and keep the
difference.
13. Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district 13
Another issue that was raised is that when FEC comes to buy the seeds, the pickup points
are not convenient for most people. Usually the buyers are only stationed along the main
road disadvantaging those not living in proximity to it. Consequently, most farmers were
discouraged and abandoned the project which they described as full of empty promises
and, above all, exploitative. As one respondent argued: “kana tani richikupa US$100, zviri
nani kurima matomatisi pakurima jatrofa” (if you get US$100 per tonne, it is better to grow
tomatoes than jatropha). On average, a farmer could harvest and sell 100 kilograms of
jatropha per season, which gives him/her US$10. Therefore, rural people had no reason
to continue with the project whose economic returns were very poor.
The failure of the Zimbabwe jatropha programme concurs with Van der Horst and
Vermeylen (2011) and Van Eijck and Romijn (2008) who argue that central processing
of jatropha biodiesel overshadows small scale production of jatropha that have the
potential to benefit local people.
The plantation scheme (pilot)
In 2009, FEC took over the project without adopting the out-grower contracts, preferring
instead to buy the feedstock from individual farmers who already have jatropha as
hedge and produces biodiesel. The company also resorted to the estate or plantation
scheme so as to produce their own feedstock. The company has acquired forty hectares
of presumed marginal land in Mutoko of which twenty hectares currently have five year
old jatropha plants with the rest under clearance in order to plant more plants before the
end of this year. The justification is that the large scale monoculture plantation scheme
can produce economically viable yields required to meet the capacity of both plants.
This is made possible by the use of agro-techniques such as improved management of
the plants through irrigation, use of fertilisers and improved germplasm (for example, the
use of mutation breeding techniques). Jingura (2011) therefore argues that the projected
120,000 hectares of land needed to meet the 10% substitution of fossil fuel can be
reduced if intensification is practised because it increases both the yield and oil content.
This can be supplemented by individual farmers who freely grow jatropha as hedge.
The Chisumbanje ethanol project in the eastern part of the country proved that the
estate or plantation scheme is the best way to secure enough feedstock for such
gigantic projects. The feedstock comes from the 40,000 hectares Chisumbanje
estate and the 10,000 hectares Middle Sabi estate. The estates provide 90% of the
feedstock and the other 10% is provided by the out-growers and individual farmers.
More than 4,000 local people are employed on the estates and 10,000 more jobs are
estimated to be created by 2014 (Mambondiyani, 2012). FEC would like to replicate
the same model and currently they are doing research and experiments so that they
can properly design the project and acquire appropriate land.
If the plantation scheme proves to be viable, FEC is planning to have at least a
jatropha estate and a processing plant in each of the country’s nine provinces. To
be able to do that, FEC will need approximately five million US dollars. However, the
company is currently underfunded. More so, the failure of the initial programme is still
fresh in people’s minds hence to source funds from the government is a big challenge.
6
ibid
7
ibid
8
Interview with Mr Mpala, the CEO of FEC, 6th June 2011 held in Harare.
9
ibid
14. 14 Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district
Despite the estates or plantation scheme’s potential to secure enough feedstock for
the biodiesel plants and to create employment opportunities, extra caution should be
taken in the conceptualisation of the project to protect the livelihoods of local people
who may be negatively affected by the development. For example, in Chiredzi district
in the Nuanetsi range, the government has re-allocated the 100,000 hectares of land
it had settled poor rural communities on to a private company in order to establish
sugarcane plantation for ethanol production. At least 10,000 families were moved
(Shumba et al., 2009: 13; Mujere and Dombo, 2011). According to Hall (2011) these
people had spend years building their livelihoods on that land and their eviction means
that they have to start again if they are given alternative land. In affirmation, local
people who stay close to the FEC jatropha plantation indicated that their livelihoods
has been tempered with when the land they used to fetch firewood, collect forage
(mainly thatching grass) and wild fruits, for selling at the centre, was converted to
jatropha production. Although the use of large tracts of land in increasing jatropha
outputs is plausible, it is detrimental to the surrounding communities as discussed
above, hence the initiative should be done prudently.
The Legal and Policy Framework
The national biodiesel feedstock production programme that promoted the planting
of jatropha nationwide was hurried and implemented in a legal and policy vacuum.
There was neither a national legal nor policy framework guiding it; hence the course
of action was ad hoc, reactive and unpredictable. The programme did not have the
vital blue print detailing how investment will be regulated in order to benefit all. Thus,
the programme started at the end moving backwards which contrast with Amigun
et al’s biofuel development model. Amigun et al., (2011) present a three stage model
for biofuel development that needs to be followed. The first phase comprises the
conceptualisation of the programme where ideas and thoughts about biofuels are
digested at the same time gathering the necessary political support. The next phase
is the most crucial and the success or failure of the programme is determined by the
amount of effort applied. It is the stage where pilot projects are established to foster
research efforts that lead to the formulation of a framework or policy. The last phase is
marked by the implementation of the programme. According to this model, Zimbabwe
skipped the second and most crucial stage.
Mtisi and Makore (2009) argue that no investment in comprehensive research on
biofuels was done before the project was launched and implemented in 2005 in
Mutoko district. The government rushed to construct such a huge processing plant
without conducting pilot studies to see the feasibility of the project. A comprehensive
research is a necessity in the formulation of a policy. A policy guides action and
provides a road map to a project and also minimise any future disruptions. Currently,
the Chisumbanje bioethanol project has suspended operations mainly because of
distribution problems. Many fuel dealers do not have the facilities to store the ethanol
petrol blend and there is no legal basis for them to create such facilities. If there was
a legal and policy framework guiding the biofuel project, such disruptions would have
been prevented. Rather, the project is led by an ad hoc framework that is developed to
address the immediate project problems.
In addition, Shumba et al., (2009) argue that no land assessments and zoning
exercises to determine which land type is suitable for jatropha production was done.
15. Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district 15
This exercise should have been led by the biofuel legal and policy framework detailing
procedures for all land appropriations and compensation mechanisms. This would
minimise conflicts with people that are affected by the development of the project.
This problem is epitomised in the case of Naunetsi range, where local people who are
supposed to make way for the ethanol project are opposing the initiative arguing that
they rightfully own the land (Mujere and Dombo, 2011). As the government’s appetite
for land increases, a policy directing the new wave of (re)redistributive land reform is
crucial. This (re)redistributive land reform programme involves the appropriation of
land from local people who benefited from the Fast Track Land Reform Programme
and Hall (2011) expresses it as a process where former “grabbers become grabees”.
A draft white paper on principles for biofuels development was however prepared and
presented to the cabinet by the Ministry of Energy and Power Development in 2007.
Regrettably, to date it remains a draft and is the only policy document that leads the
programme. Rural farmers and other key stakeholders are not being involved in the
formulation of the biofuel policy. The draft policy was, and still is, not available for public
comments, including jatropha producers. This will result in a shallow and blinkered
policy document. The lack of detail in the draft does not augur well for the final policy.
The draft states that the country seeks to pursue biofuel development by growing
jatropha plants and processing their seeds into biodiesel and to expand sugar-cane
to produce ethanol which can be blended with petrol. Also stated is the objective to
reduce the fuel imports by 10% by the year 2015 which would require an estimated
100 million litres of biofuel a year (Gandure, 2009: 44). To hit that target, approximately
120,000 hectares of land need to be brought under jatropha cultivation (ibid). In terms
of participation, it clearly spells out that all rural dwellings should be involved in the
project including villages, churches and schools. The document encourages the use of
marginal land although it does not clearly define what it constitutes.
Uses of Jatropha Plant In Mutoko
Live fence
Residents in Makosa ward have explored
some of the modern uses of jatropha.
They started planting jatropha (before the
biodiesel programme) as hedge to protect
their homesteads as well as gardens and
fields from cattle, goats and wild animals.
The jatropha biodiesel scheme was thus
an added advantage to them. Jatropha
makes a good live fence if the plants are
positioned about 30cm apart. After two
years, the cuttings develop the branches
closing the 30cm gap hence making it
difficult for animals to pass. In addition,
jatropha cannot be consumed by animals
so hedges are not destroyed. In Makosa
Village, almost every homestead has
jatropha as fence (see figure 5 left).
Figure 5: A jatropha live fence at a homestead in Makosa Village
Photo taken in Makosa village on the 10th June 2011
16. 16 Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district
Residents from Makosa argue that jatropha is the easiest and cheapest fencing
material since no cost is incurred as the hedge is planted from cuttings which are
widely available from established trees. They further contend that the financial
resources to purchase proper fences are not available due to a lack of income
generating opportunities in the community. Jatropha live fence is therefore of great
use to them. It allows households to save the money that would otherwise be spent
on a live fence. Furthermore, the use of jatropha as hedge is of vital importance in
preventing deforestation and the loss of biodiversity because jatropha is now used
in place of bush (ruzhowa) for protecting residents’ homes and fields. This therefore
means that the forest which is vital for rural livelihoods is preserved. Residents also
indicated the danger of using bushes as fence around homes. The bush fence dries
out easily and is prone to fire. Moreover, the bush fence has to be changed two or
three times a year. The idea of jatropha live fence was warmly welcomed by other
communities in the district who are busy planting jatropha hedge around their homes,
fields and gardens. They did, however, indicate that the primary motive for cultivation
was the potential for income generation through selling the seeds.
Repelling agent
Apart from being used as a live fence, residents believe that jatropha protects the home
from evil spirits and snakes. In Mutoko, witchcraft is a common social phenomenon
hence jatropha is believed to have the power to repel witches and bad omens.
Local Uses Of Jatropha By-Products
Respondents from Makosa ward who traditionally planted jatropha as live fence
praised the multiple functions of jatropha which helped them during the country’s
decade long (2000-2010) economic turmoil. As discussed above, this period was
characterised by hyper-inflation, as well as a lack of petroleum products and empty
shops. Consumer goods were hard to find and if one was fortunate to find them in the
black market, the prices would be exorbitant and the situation was even worse in rural
areas. Jatropha by-products saved the lives of Mutoko residents.
Soap making
The most commonly used by-product of jatropha in Mutoko is soap. With the aid
of NGOs, local people-mainly women-were able to produce jatropha soap for sale
in the district. The NGOs organised women into groups or cooperatives and trained
them how to press the jatropha seeds to produce jatropha oil that was subsequently
mixed with caustic soda, dyes and perfume to create soap. Almost all women who
were interviewed testified that the jatropha soap was very useful to their families as
it was used both for bathing and washing. In the face of the Cholera pandemic that
claimed almost 4,000 lives between 2008 and 2009 (Mason, 2009), the soap was used
to enhance residents’ hygiene and subsequently helped to prevent the spread of the
deadly disease.
Even though many women complained about the negative effects of the soap, they
agreed that it was better than bathing and washing without soap. They raised the
concern that the jatropha soap, however, leaves the skin with an itching sensation
after bathing. Despite that concern, the soap was marketable and became a source
of income for female producers. Nevertheless, the exact financial returns are hard
17. Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district 17
to ascertain due to the hyperinflation during that period. When asked why they
abandoned the soap making business, the women pointed out that since better and
industrial produced soaps are now widely available on the market at cheap prices,
rendering the production of jatropha has become undesirable. One woman stated:
“ndiyani angada kushandisa chimugondiya iyo green bar yazara kudai” (who wants to
use the jatropha soap whilst the green bar is widely available).
In addition to soap making, the jatropha oil was also used by women to condition their
hair. The women said the oil is a good chemical for relaxing hair giving it a fine straight
finish. They however cautioned that a bit of knowledge is needed to produce the best
results because if wrongly applied it can burn the hair. Most women burnt themselves
in the early days of using jatropha oil but with time they became acquainted to the
right mixtures.
Household uses
In Mutoko communal areas, jatropha oil and seeds are commonly used in households
for lighting. These areas are not electrified and paraffin is expensive and sometimes
unavailable in local shops. Just like paraffin, the oil is put in a small container and
a wick is dipped in through the top lid to make a lamp. Alternatively, the jatropha
seed can be joined with a thin wire and when the top seed is lit it can slowly burn,
producing light. This method is commonly used especially when a household
does not have money to buy paraffin. Respondents in Mutoko did not report any
discontentment with the smoke produced by such lights. Similarly, results from
Tanzania confirm the socio-economic benefits of local processing of jatropha. Kakute,
an NGO provided out-grower farmers with cooking stoves that uses jatropha oil and
it proved to be beneficial to local people (Van Eijck and Romijn, 2008; Marjolein and
Romijn, 2010).
Medical uses
A veterinary officer in Makosa ward highlighted some medical uses of jatropha leaves.
Although the leaves are toxic when consumed, the green pigment that comes out
of the leaves and the latex that comes from the stem can be used to stop bleeding
wounds on both humans and livestock.
10
Green bar is a common soap in Zimbabwe used for washing and bathing. The name is derived from its green colour.
11
Focus group discussion in Makosa ward, 15th June 2011 held at Makosa Township.
18. Conclusions And Recommendations
The foregoing discussion reveals that the Zimbabwean jatropha programme provided
little socio-economic impact upon lives of rural participants. The programme failed to
reap the intended target of rural development and feedstock production mainly because
of poor planning. The programme was neither participatory nor empowering and it is
revealed by the fact that the government unilaterally set the selling price of jatropha. In
addition, the conception of the programme was done by the central government without
the involvement of the public particularly the farmers who were going to produce the
jatropha feedstock. Consequently, the seedling propagation method used by NOCZIM
did not produce good trees as compared to the traditional cutting method which rural
farmers are familiar with. The programme therefore adopted a conventional top-down
approach which is heavily criticised for failing to meet the needs of the people.
A jatropha programme predominantly aimed at securing jatropha feedstock for central
production of biodiesel proved to be economically less viable to both producers who
only benefited from selling jatropha seeds and to the government which produces
biodiesel. The size of yields determines the economic returns, the larger the yield, the
larger the profit and vice versa. However, the study found that the yield from jatropha
planted on marginal land produces marginal yields and the situation is worsened
by low selling price. Solely relying on the out-grower scheme for feedstock is not
therefore sustainable, especially when jatropha is grown on marginal land.
However, the failure of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme does not discredit the
growth of jatropha. Rather, my argument is that when non-commercial small scale
plantation of jatropha and local value addition is promoted, rural farmers will benefit from
the growth of jatropha. Farmers in Makosa ward, who planted jatropha as hedge prior
to the national jatropha project, experimented with small scale processing of jatropha in
2008 before the government imposed itself as the sole buyer of jatropha. They produced
soap, paraffin and candles. Also, jatropha plants proved to be of great importance to
rural farmers as they can be used to reclaim degraded land, protect crops from animals
(live fence), for medical and cultural or traditional purposes. In addition to these local
uses, rural farmers will have the option to sell excess seeds to the government. This
therefore implies that the growth and processing of jatropha on a non-commercial small
scale have positive economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits.
To have a successful biofuel project, the out-grower scheme should therefore supplement
the large scale estate or plantation scheme. The government should produce own feedstock
rather than relying on small scale producers. In that respect, the report recommends;
Urgent need of a national biofuel policy
The Zimbabwean government needs to finalise the national policy on biofuel production
and use. Instead of letting the Ministry of Energy and Power Development to develop
the policy alone, all stakeholders including communal farmers, commercial farmers,
civil society organisations, women organisations, youths organisations, general public,
fuel dealers and related government ministries such as Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
Commission, Science and Technology need to be consulted and participate in the
process. This will produce a coherent policy that will clearly spell the duties of each
stakeholder. Also, the policy should clarify on the process of land acquisition and
compensation mechanisms that are fair and transparent to protect citizens’ land rights.
18 The Kenya Charcoal Policy Handbook Current Regulations for a Sustainable Charcoal Sector
12
Interview with Makosa ward veterinary official, 23th June 2011 held at Makosa Township.
19. Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district 19
Incentives for jatropha production
To encourage the production of jatropha the government should provide incentives
to lure more people to join the programme. This is not limited to make the selling
price more attractive relative to other income generating activities and goods such as
cash crops and tomatoes, but also extends to the promotion of private investment
in the programme through various ways such as tax exemptions to participating
organisations and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). This will ensure funding
as well as the creation of competition necessary for efficiency and widening the
choice for jatropha producers. Ethanol production in the Eastern part of the country
(Chisumbanje) proved that private investment is crucial. In 2008, the Government of
Zimbabwe brokered a PPP agreement with Mcdom Private Limited company to take
charge of ethanol production. The company managed to build the processing plant
and is currently producing 120,000 litres of ethanol per day yet the government led
jatropha biodiesel programme is not yet operational (ZimEye, 2011).
Support for local value chain and intensification
Rather than buying seeds from small scale farmers, the programme should be
readjusted to encourage local processing of jatropha. Just like any other cash crop,
jatropha producers only enjoy the first part of the value chain which is basically
producing and selling raw materials often at low prices. Local processing of jatropha
would enable producers to fully embrace all the prophesied benefits of jatropha. To
do this, government with the help of other agencies such as NGOs, should provide
both technical assistance and financial resources necessary for local people to start
processing the seeds into different by-products like soap.
The initiative should be empowering and sustainable to enable local people to be self-reliant.
However, this does not mean dropping the biodiesel project. For biodiesel production, the
government should consider making use of the plantation mode although careful planning
is necessary to avoid the risks associated with large scale mono plantation such as
appropriation of land from local people and loss of biodiversity (Davison, 2011).
The use of intensification
Instead of using large tracts of agricultural land, government should consider
employing agro-techniques on small pieces of land, also known as intensification.
Further research is, however, needed on the sustainability of this scheme before it is
implemented. Davison (2011) argues that large scale biofuel investments have a high
risk of failure due to lack of proper planning. To substantiate the argument he provides
a couple of failed projects in Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya and many more
(see Davison, 2011: 19-20). Therefore, the Government of Zimbabwe should invest
heavily in research before the institutionalisation of this scheme.
The use of social organisations
Small scale jatropha producers should make use of the institutional resources available
to strengthen their negotiating power and to air out their concerns. Instead of selling
jatropha as individual producers, farmers can make use of social organisations that
already exist such as village or ward committees. These committees will collect and sell
jatropha on behalf of farmers. Within which collective voice is effective agent of change.
20. 20 Jatropha: the broom of poverty; myth or reality? A critical analysis of the Zimbabwean jatropha programme in Mutoko district
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