Smallholder farmers operate in vertical supply chains. Therefore, an understanding of key opportunities and constraints up through the value chain becomes necessary for sustaining smallholder growth. Yet market analysis is of little value unless key private and public sector stakeholders agree...

This paper presents a critique of commercialising smallholder farming for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. First it questions the validity of an overarching ‘metanarrative’ approach to development. Then it discusses the different types of knowledge, values and method and draws attention to...

The main question which this research originally sought to answer was whether or not inorganic fertilizers are generally profitable used alone on maize, or with pesticides on cotton, for small farmers in Zambia. Rather than give a definitive answer for each Zambian farmer, the authors developed...

The overall objective of the assessment is to review the current agricultural marketing information system and to establish felt marketing needs for agricultural marketing participants and other interested parties. Specifically, the study aimed at achieving the following- to assess the marketing...

Food Security Research Project (FSRP) and Division of Agricultural Statistics (DSA) Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Forestry MINAGRI MINAGRI

Food Security Research Project (FSRP) and Division of Agricultural Statistics (DSA) Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Forestry MINAGRI

Paper prepared for the IFPRI/Renewal Conference on HIV/AIDS and Food and Nutrition Security, held in Durban South Africa, 13-17 April, 2005.

The purpose of this policy synthesis is to document major shifts in output and provide hypotheses about the reasons behind the changes. The paper also documents troubling trends in the traditional agriculture sector, underscoring the need for improved agricultural input and output systems.

The purpose of this policy synthesis is to document major shifts in output and provide hypotheses about the reasons behind the changes. The paper also documents troubling trends in the traditional agriculture sector, underscoring the need for improved agricultural input and output systems.

This research focuses on the performance in the Magoye ripper in maize and cotton production in Eastern and Southern Provinces during the 2004/2005 productions year. Findings include the following: In maize production, the ripper enabled higher yields compared to traditional animal ploughing, by...