Crop-livestock integration practices, knowledge, and attitudes among smallholder farmers: Hedging against climate change-induced shocks in semi-arid Zimbabwe
Domestic and international crops and livestock trade remain fragile among Zimbabwean smallholder farmers. Commercial crop-livestock integration in climate change vulnerable areas is low and sparsely documented. Practice, knowledge, and attitude indicators influencing participation of smallholder far...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
2021-12-01
|
| Series: | Open Life Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2021-0135 |
| _version_ | 1797998071114629120 |
|---|---|
| author | Musara Joseph P. Tibugari Handsen Moyo Busani Mutizira Chinomukutu |
| author_facet | Musara Joseph P. Tibugari Handsen Moyo Busani Mutizira Chinomukutu |
| author_sort | Musara Joseph P. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Domestic and international crops and livestock trade remain fragile among Zimbabwean smallholder farmers. Commercial crop-livestock integration in climate change vulnerable areas is low and sparsely documented. Practice, knowledge, and attitude indicators influencing participation of smallholder farmers in crop-livestock integrated platforms as a hedge against climate change-induced risks and uncertainties were assessed. A survey with 240 farmers in Insiza district, Matabeleland province, Zimbabwe was conducted. A modified knowledge, attitude, and perception framework was used to analyze data from six wards supported by World Vision through supplementary livelihood programs on crop-livestock integration. Conventional crop-livestock (63%), mixed crops-livestock (25%), and traditional grains-livestock (12%) options were dominant. There was a thin presence of stakeholders with a limited number of local buyers, contracting companies, and agro-dealers who participate on these platforms. Farmers have the knowledge, positive attitude, and motivated perceptions about the potential of traditional grains-livestock mechanisms to reduce climate change welfare compromising factors. Unbalanced policies, limited financing, and uncompetitive marketing channels limit the uptake of this option. Traditional grains-livestock alternatives should be supported in semi-arid environments to reduce food, income, and nutrition insecurity. Public-private partnerships should establish value addition systems to increase the market size of traditional grains-livestock products and enhance commercialization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:42:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd9c86bdb7834920ac4afda1d3f383b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2391-5412 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:42:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Life Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd9c86bdb7834920ac4afda1d3f383b62022-12-22T04:29:08ZengDe GruyterOpen Life Sciences2391-54122021-12-011611330134010.1515/biol-2021-0135Crop-livestock integration practices, knowledge, and attitudes among smallholder farmers: Hedging against climate change-induced shocks in semi-arid ZimbabweMusara Joseph P.0Tibugari Handsen1Moyo Busani2Mutizira Chinomukutu3Department of Crop Science, Gwanda State University, P.O. Box 30, Filabusi, ZimbabweDepartment of Crop Science, Gwanda State University, P.O. Box 30, Filabusi, ZimbabweDepartment of Animal Science, Gwanda State University, P.O. Box 30, Filabusi, ZimbabweDepartment of Agritex, Insiza District Office, P.O. Box 70, Filabusi, ZimbabweDomestic and international crops and livestock trade remain fragile among Zimbabwean smallholder farmers. Commercial crop-livestock integration in climate change vulnerable areas is low and sparsely documented. Practice, knowledge, and attitude indicators influencing participation of smallholder farmers in crop-livestock integrated platforms as a hedge against climate change-induced risks and uncertainties were assessed. A survey with 240 farmers in Insiza district, Matabeleland province, Zimbabwe was conducted. A modified knowledge, attitude, and perception framework was used to analyze data from six wards supported by World Vision through supplementary livelihood programs on crop-livestock integration. Conventional crop-livestock (63%), mixed crops-livestock (25%), and traditional grains-livestock (12%) options were dominant. There was a thin presence of stakeholders with a limited number of local buyers, contracting companies, and agro-dealers who participate on these platforms. Farmers have the knowledge, positive attitude, and motivated perceptions about the potential of traditional grains-livestock mechanisms to reduce climate change welfare compromising factors. Unbalanced policies, limited financing, and uncompetitive marketing channels limit the uptake of this option. Traditional grains-livestock alternatives should be supported in semi-arid environments to reduce food, income, and nutrition insecurity. Public-private partnerships should establish value addition systems to increase the market size of traditional grains-livestock products and enhance commercialization.https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2021-0135climate change resiliencesmallholder farmerssemi-arid areacrop-livestock integrationstakeholder networking |
| spellingShingle | Musara Joseph P. Tibugari Handsen Moyo Busani Mutizira Chinomukutu Crop-livestock integration practices, knowledge, and attitudes among smallholder farmers: Hedging against climate change-induced shocks in semi-arid Zimbabwe Open Life Sciences climate change resilience smallholder farmers semi-arid area crop-livestock integration stakeholder networking |
| title | Crop-livestock integration practices, knowledge, and attitudes among smallholder farmers: Hedging against climate change-induced shocks in semi-arid Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Crop-livestock integration practices, knowledge, and attitudes among smallholder farmers: Hedging against climate change-induced shocks in semi-arid Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Crop-livestock integration practices, knowledge, and attitudes among smallholder farmers: Hedging against climate change-induced shocks in semi-arid Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crop-livestock integration practices, knowledge, and attitudes among smallholder farmers: Hedging against climate change-induced shocks in semi-arid Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Crop-livestock integration practices, knowledge, and attitudes among smallholder farmers: Hedging against climate change-induced shocks in semi-arid Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | crop livestock integration practices knowledge and attitudes among smallholder farmers hedging against climate change induced shocks in semi arid zimbabwe |
| topic | climate change resilience smallholder farmers semi-arid area crop-livestock integration stakeholder networking |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2021-0135 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT musarajosephp croplivestockintegrationpracticesknowledgeandattitudesamongsmallholderfarmershedgingagainstclimatechangeinducedshocksinsemiaridzimbabwe AT tibugarihandsen croplivestockintegrationpracticesknowledgeandattitudesamongsmallholderfarmershedgingagainstclimatechangeinducedshocksinsemiaridzimbabwe AT moyobusani croplivestockintegrationpracticesknowledgeandattitudesamongsmallholderfarmershedgingagainstclimatechangeinducedshocksinsemiaridzimbabwe AT mutizirachinomukutu croplivestockintegrationpracticesknowledgeandattitudesamongsmallholderfarmershedgingagainstclimatechangeinducedshocksinsemiaridzimbabwe |