International Journal of Sustainable Development Research

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Perceptions and Experiences Regarding the Current Market System by Communal Farmers in Mhondoro-Mubaira (Zimbabwe)

Received: Aug. 14, 2018    Accepted: Sep. 01, 2018    Published: Sep. 19, 2018
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Abstract

The objective of this research was to ascertain the communal farmers’ perceptions and experiences regarding the current communal market system. The study was carried out in the area of Mhondoro-Mubaira, situated in Mashonaland West province of Zimbabwe. The population samples for the study comprised of communal farmers (N=150) and extension officers (N=25. According to the study, private buyers are the most preferred buyers for all the produce, for field, garden crops and livestock. The reason for favorable rating of the private buyers is they offer competitive prices, they pay the farmers on delivery of produce and sometimes they cover transport costs. Even though the private buyers are the most preferred buyers, farmers still prefer selling produce between themselves and the open market because they have control of the prices especially for livestock. The Grain Marketing Board and the Cold Storage Commission, which are government run, are the least favorable markets for the farmers. This is because these institutions offer the lowest prices, they do not pay on delivery and offer any assistance to the farmers regarding transport/transport costs. The results show that the farmers are not satisfied with the of the current market system which they deem restrictive, minimally supported by the government, low participation by the private sector, and the current economic situation in Zimbabwe overburdens the situation. The government of Zimbabwe needs to create a conducive environment for private players to participate with government interferences through overburdening policies.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13
Published in International Journal of Sustainable Development Research ( Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2018 )
Page(s) 31-35
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Marketing, Communal Farmers, Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Mashonaland West

References
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[2] Muchesa, E. (2013). Sustainable extension support to land reform beneficiaries in Zimbabwe (Mashonaland West) (Masters dissertation, University of Pretoria).
[3] Köhler, H., & Link, S. (2018). SQL schema design: foundations, normal forms, and normalization. Information Systems, 76, 88-113.
[4] Makhura, M. N., Mdluli, M., & Senyolo, G. M. (2006). Development Indicators of Emerging Farmers of South Africa, Survey 2006. DBSA Research Report.
[5] Ndokweni, M. F. (2002). Improving sustainable livelihoods through organic produce marketing opportunities: evaluation of the Ezemvelo Farmers Organisation.
[6] Mthembu, N. (2005). Survival Strategies of Individuals and Households Affected by Unemployment in the Ethekwini Municpality. Durban: Centre for Civil Society RASSP Research Reports, 1, 2.
[7] Machethe, C. L. (2004). Agriculture and poverty in South Africa: Can agriculture reduce poverty. Paper presented at the DBSA/HSRC/UNDP. Conference on overcoming underdevelopment in South Africa's second economy. Pretoria 28-29 October 2004.
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[9] Bell. M, Hotchkiss. P. (1991). Garden cultivation, conservation and household strategies in Zimbabwe, Cambridge.org.
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[12] Cousins.B. (1993). Property and Power in Zimbabwe’s Communal Lands: implications for Agrarian Reform in the 1990`s. University of Zimbabwe. http://dlc.dlib.indiana.edu/dlc/bitstream/handle/10535/3706/cousins property and power in zimbabwes communal lands implications for agrarian reform in the 1990s.pdf?sequence=1.
[13] Esther M. Kihoro. P.I, Nyikal. R, & Maina. I.N. (2015). An analysis of factors influencing farmers’ choice of green gram marketing channels in Mbeere south sub-county, Kenya. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/ bitstream/249331/2/198.%20Factors% 20influencing%20marketting %20in%20 Kenya.pdf.
[14] Hurungo, J. (2007). Zimbabwe’s Look East Policy: Pros and cons. Harare: Trade and Development Studies Centre.
[15] Makhura. M. T. (2001). Overcoming transaction costs barriers to market participation of smallholder farmers in the Northern Province of South Africa. Unpublished PhD thesis. Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development. Pretoria: University of Pretoria.
[16] Mhazo N, Hanyani-Mlambo B, Proctor S, and Nazare R.M. (2001). Constraints to small scale production and marketing of processed food products in Zimbabwe. [WWW document]. URLhttp://foodafrica.nri.org/enterprises/ enterprisespapers/ SharonProctor.doc.
[17] Moyo, S. (2009). The land and agrarian question in Zimbabwe. In Buthelezi, S. (ed) The land belongs to us: The land and agrarian question in South Africa. Alice, Fort Hare University Press.
[18] Mutibvu. T, Maburutse. BE, & Mbiriri. DT. (2012). Constraints and opportunities for increased livestock production in communal areas: A case study of Simbe, Zimbabwe - Livestock Research, 2012 - researchgate.net.
[19] Nel.E & Davies. (2015). Farming against the odds: an examination of the challenges facing farming and rural development in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Department of Geography, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, Department of Geography, University of Wales: Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
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    Evans Muchesa, Douglas Nkosi, Elliot Zwane, Johan Van Niekerk. (2018). Perceptions and Experiences Regarding the Current Market System by Communal Farmers in Mhondoro-Mubaira (Zimbabwe). International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 4(2), 31-35. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13

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    ACS Style

    Evans Muchesa; Douglas Nkosi; Elliot Zwane; Johan Van Niekerk. Perceptions and Experiences Regarding the Current Market System by Communal Farmers in Mhondoro-Mubaira (Zimbabwe). Int. J. Sustain. Dev. Res. 2018, 4(2), 31-35. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13

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    AMA Style

    Evans Muchesa, Douglas Nkosi, Elliot Zwane, Johan Van Niekerk. Perceptions and Experiences Regarding the Current Market System by Communal Farmers in Mhondoro-Mubaira (Zimbabwe). Int J Sustain Dev Res. 2018;4(2):31-35. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13,
      author = {Evans Muchesa and Douglas Nkosi and Elliot Zwane and Johan Van Niekerk},
      title = {Perceptions and Experiences Regarding the Current Market System by Communal Farmers in Mhondoro-Mubaira (Zimbabwe)},
      journal = {International Journal of Sustainable Development Research},
      volume = {4},
      number = {2},
      pages = {31-35},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsdr.20180402.13},
      abstract = {The objective of this research was to ascertain the communal farmers’ perceptions and experiences regarding the current communal market system. The study was carried out in the area of Mhondoro-Mubaira, situated in Mashonaland West province of Zimbabwe. The population samples for the study comprised of communal farmers (N=150) and extension officers (N=25. According to the study, private buyers are the most preferred buyers for all the produce, for field, garden crops and livestock. The reason for favorable rating of the private buyers is they offer competitive prices, they pay the farmers on delivery of produce and sometimes they cover transport costs. Even though the private buyers are the most preferred buyers, farmers still prefer selling produce between themselves and the open market because they have control of the prices especially for livestock. The Grain Marketing Board and the Cold Storage Commission, which are government run, are the least favorable markets for the farmers. This is because these institutions offer the lowest prices, they do not pay on delivery and offer any assistance to the farmers regarding transport/transport costs. The results show that the farmers are not satisfied with the of the current market system which they deem restrictive, minimally supported by the government, low participation by the private sector, and the current economic situation in Zimbabwe overburdens the situation. The government of Zimbabwe needs to create a conducive environment for private players to participate with government interferences through overburdening policies.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Perceptions and Experiences Regarding the Current Market System by Communal Farmers in Mhondoro-Mubaira (Zimbabwe)
    AU  - Evans Muchesa
    AU  - Douglas Nkosi
    AU  - Elliot Zwane
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    Y1  - 2018/09/19
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13
    T2  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
    JF  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
    JO  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
    SP  - 31
    EP  - 35
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1832
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.13
    AB  - The objective of this research was to ascertain the communal farmers’ perceptions and experiences regarding the current communal market system. The study was carried out in the area of Mhondoro-Mubaira, situated in Mashonaland West province of Zimbabwe. The population samples for the study comprised of communal farmers (N=150) and extension officers (N=25. According to the study, private buyers are the most preferred buyers for all the produce, for field, garden crops and livestock. The reason for favorable rating of the private buyers is they offer competitive prices, they pay the farmers on delivery of produce and sometimes they cover transport costs. Even though the private buyers are the most preferred buyers, farmers still prefer selling produce between themselves and the open market because they have control of the prices especially for livestock. The Grain Marketing Board and the Cold Storage Commission, which are government run, are the least favorable markets for the farmers. This is because these institutions offer the lowest prices, they do not pay on delivery and offer any assistance to the farmers regarding transport/transport costs. The results show that the farmers are not satisfied with the of the current market system which they deem restrictive, minimally supported by the government, low participation by the private sector, and the current economic situation in Zimbabwe overburdens the situation. The government of Zimbabwe needs to create a conducive environment for private players to participate with government interferences through overburdening policies.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension, University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

  • Department of Animal Production, Agriculture Research Council, Centurion, South Africa

  • Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension, University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

  • Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension, University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

  • Section