August 2013

Viability of tobacco production under smallholder farming sector in Mount Darwin District, Zimbabwe

  Smallholder commercial agriculture in developing countries is hinged on cash crop production and in Zimbabwe tobacco is increasingly becoming an important smallholder cash crop. This study therefore, analyzed the viability of tobacco production by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. Cross sectional survey data was collected for the 2010 and 2011 production season from 60 smallholder households in the Mount...

Author(s): James Masvongo, Jackqeline Mutambara and Augustine Zvinavashe

August 2013

The implications of refuge requirements for Bt cotton in India on world cotton markets

  The study evaluated the potential impacts of refuge requirements for Bt cotton in India on world cotton markets. The objective was accomplished by estimating regional cotton yield functions in the Indian fiber model, and connecting it with rest of the world fiber model. Results revealed that the refuge requirements have potential to impact world cotton markets; magnitudes of impacts are smaller, however. The...

Author(s): Rohit Singla, Phillip Johnson and Sukant Misra

August 2013

Determinants of smallholder sweet potato farmers’ participation in different market options: The case of Vihiga County, Kenya

  Market participation has a potential to increase farmers’ rural incomes and employment opportunities especially if farmers concentrate on production and marketing of local crops requiring low inputs such as sweet potatoes. The purpose of this research was to investigate the factors that determine farmers’ shift in market participation from village to regional market in Vihiga County....

Author(s): Benjamin K. Mutai, Elvi N. Agunda, Augustus S. Muluvi, Lawrence K. Kibet and Mary C. Maina

August 2013

Econometric estimation of herd stocking decisions in South Ethiopia

  This paper aims to share knowledge and the theoretical basis for understanding herd dynamics in pastoral communities of Hadiya, Southern Ethiopia, with the intention that it may improve effectiveness of development interventions. The study is based on data collected from two districts considering 160 pastoral households. Focus group and key informant discussions were also made to generate data to supplement...

Author(s): Misginaw Tamirat