Understanding the Dynamic of Rice Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique to Improve Production and Benefits to Smallholders
Rice farming systems (RFSs) in southern Mozambique are very heterogeneous and diversified, which has implications for smallholders’ adoption of each RFS, as well as on rice production and productivity in the region. In this regard, it is important to understand: (i) which RFS typologies can be lever...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/1018 |
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| author | Fátima Ismael Aires A. Mbanze Alexis Ndayiragije David Fangueiro |
| author_facet | Fátima Ismael Aires A. Mbanze Alexis Ndayiragije David Fangueiro |
| author_sort | Fátima Ismael |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rice farming systems (RFSs) in southern Mozambique are very heterogeneous and diversified, which has implications for smallholders’ adoption of each RFS, as well as on rice production and productivity in the region. In this regard, it is important to understand: (i) which RFS typologies can be leveraged to improve rice production and productivity; (ii) the drivers for smallholder farmers’ decisions to adopt an RFS; and (iii) which policies/incentives could enhance existing RFSs. The present study was based on surveys of 341 smallholder rice farmers in the Chókwè Irrigation Scheme (CIS), southern Mozambique. Data on the productivity of rice, size of the herd, and total other crop types were used to frame the RFS typologies. A multinomial logit model (MLM) and multiple linear regression (MLR) were applied to determine the driver for each RFS, and predict the constraints for production and yield. Based on cluster analysis, four typologies of RFSs were identified: the subsistence farming system (FS), specialised rice FS, mixed crops FS, and rice–livestock FS. Farms with longer experience reported applying more fertiliser and seedlings per unit hectare. The availability of labour increased the likelihood of adopting the mixed crops FS and rice–livestock FS. Older households were more likely to adopt the subsistence FS, and live closer to the farming fields. Yield of rice was positively associated with inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, and seedlings, as well as years of experience of the household. Our results suggest that smallholder farmers need more assistance and technical support to identify and adopt more productive and less costly RFSs in this region. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:12:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f6939b630734766b71b6f8dce32d295 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:12:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f6939b630734766b71b6f8dce32d2952023-11-21T20:40:23ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-05-01115101810.3390/agronomy11051018Understanding the Dynamic of Rice Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique to Improve Production and Benefits to SmallholdersFátima Ismael0Aires A. Mbanze1Alexis Ndayiragije2David Fangueiro3Department of Rural Development, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Campus Universitário de Unango, Universidade Lúrio, Sanga 3302, MozambiqueNova School of Business and Economics, Campus de Carcavelos, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Holanda 1, 2775-405 Lisbon, PortugalInternacional Rice Research Instituto (IRRI), Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique-IIAM, Avenida FPLM, Maputo 3658, MozambiqueLinking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, PortugalRice farming systems (RFSs) in southern Mozambique are very heterogeneous and diversified, which has implications for smallholders’ adoption of each RFS, as well as on rice production and productivity in the region. In this regard, it is important to understand: (i) which RFS typologies can be leveraged to improve rice production and productivity; (ii) the drivers for smallholder farmers’ decisions to adopt an RFS; and (iii) which policies/incentives could enhance existing RFSs. The present study was based on surveys of 341 smallholder rice farmers in the Chókwè Irrigation Scheme (CIS), southern Mozambique. Data on the productivity of rice, size of the herd, and total other crop types were used to frame the RFS typologies. A multinomial logit model (MLM) and multiple linear regression (MLR) were applied to determine the driver for each RFS, and predict the constraints for production and yield. Based on cluster analysis, four typologies of RFSs were identified: the subsistence farming system (FS), specialised rice FS, mixed crops FS, and rice–livestock FS. Farms with longer experience reported applying more fertiliser and seedlings per unit hectare. The availability of labour increased the likelihood of adopting the mixed crops FS and rice–livestock FS. Older households were more likely to adopt the subsistence FS, and live closer to the farming fields. Yield of rice was positively associated with inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, and seedlings, as well as years of experience of the household. Our results suggest that smallholder farmers need more assistance and technical support to identify and adopt more productive and less costly RFSs in this region.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/1018crop–livestockfarming systemsproduction and productivity of ricefertilisationsmallholder farmers |
| spellingShingle | Fátima Ismael Aires A. Mbanze Alexis Ndayiragije David Fangueiro Understanding the Dynamic of Rice Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique to Improve Production and Benefits to Smallholders Agronomy crop–livestock farming systems production and productivity of rice fertilisation smallholder farmers |
| title | Understanding the Dynamic of Rice Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique to Improve Production and Benefits to Smallholders |
| title_full | Understanding the Dynamic of Rice Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique to Improve Production and Benefits to Smallholders |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the Dynamic of Rice Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique to Improve Production and Benefits to Smallholders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the Dynamic of Rice Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique to Improve Production and Benefits to Smallholders |
| title_short | Understanding the Dynamic of Rice Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique to Improve Production and Benefits to Smallholders |
| title_sort | understanding the dynamic of rice farming systems in southern mozambique to improve production and benefits to smallholders |
| topic | crop–livestock farming systems production and productivity of rice fertilisation smallholder farmers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/1018 |
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