Indigenous chicken market participation and smallholder farmers’ well-being outcomes in Chiredzi and Mwenezi Districts of Zimbabwe
From Firenze University Press Journal: Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development (JAEID)
Joseph Manzvera, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana
Edward Mutandwa, Department of Agricultural Business Development and Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Food Systems, University of Zimbabwe
Tererai Katema
Department of Agricultural Business Development and Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Food Systems, University of Zimbabwe
Jayne Stack
Resilience Knowledge Hub, Mercy Corps Zimbabwe, Harare Zimbabwe
Doreen Tirivanhu
Institute of Environmental Science, University of Zimbabwe
Scientific and empirical evidence has consistently shown that climate change mainly characterised by droughts remains a significant challenge among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (Thorlakson & Neufeldt, 2012; Franke, 2021; Kogo et al., 2021; Stuch et al., 2021). Due to reliance on rain-fed agriculture and lack of capital to invest in adaptive measures such as irrigation facilities, smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe are most vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change (Hassan & Nhemachena, 2008; Mugari et al., 2016; Makate et al., 2017; Descheemaeker et al., 2018; Mutandwa et al., 2019). Thus, apart from recurring constraints such as pest infestation, successive droughts have exacerbated the socio-economic plight of smallholder farmers in achieving well-being outcomes such as food and nutrition security. As a result, policy and development effort has progressively shifted towards building resilience of smallholder farmers against climate change shocks and stressors through reinforcement of enterprises which adapt well to local conditions (Gabrielsson et al., 2012; Mutambara, & Bodzo, 2020; Mujeyi et al., 2021). Promotion of agricultural enterprises which adapt well to local climatic conditions will greatly enhance farmers’ ability to manage and cope with changing climate and attain well-being outcomes. However, a major challenge is the identification of resilient agricultural enterprises on which livelihoods of farmers will be protected. Production and marketing of indigenous chicken (Gallus domesticus) which is a local landrace produced under free range system has been proposed as one potential strategy for assisting smallholder farmers to better manage and cope with climate change. Available evidence suggests that, indigenous chicken adapt well to harsh local climatic conditions and help farmers to diversify their income base (Mapiye et al., 2008; Chisango, 2017). At the same time, livelihood diversification with such resilient enterprises has been alluded to increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen their capacities to buffer against climate change shocks and stresses especially drought (Liao et al., 2015). Thus, income diversification through participating in indigenous chicken market is suggested to provide a pathway for smallholder farmers to build resilience in drought prone areas such as Chiredzi and Mwenezi districts. Although there has been significant research on the importance of indigenous chicken enterprise, there are few studies which explicitly investigate how production and participationin indigenous chicken markets can reduce smallholder farmers’ vulnerability against drought and attainment of well-being outcomes (Mapiye et al., 2008; Muchadeyi, 2014; Chisango, 2017). Thus, whilst many intuitively link participation in indigenous chicken markets with livelihood resilience, there is little empirical evidence particularly in study areas to ascertain such a hypothesis. Hence, it is not clear whether participation in indigenous chicken market is a viable form of enhancing smallholder farmers’ resilience and attainment of well-being outcomes such as food and nutrition security in drought prone areas of Zimbabwe. It is therefore against this backdrop which prompted this study to bridge the knowledge gap. The study examines how participation in indigenous chicken markets builds smallholder farmers’ resilience. This is important for policymakers to support coping strategies which resonates well with local realities and farmers’ needs (IFRCS, 2006). Specifically, the research study was aimed at addressing the following research questions:
- How does participation in indigenous chicken markets contribute to well-being outcomes?
- What are smallholder farmers’ perceptions of indigenous chickens as a resilience strategy? The findings of this study will help to bridge the knowledge gap on resilience literature particularly on what works in building resilience of smallholder farmers against drought in Zimbabwe.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/jaeid-11997
Read Full Text: https://www.jaeid.it/index.php/jaeid/article/view/11997
