African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 13 (5), pp. 001-009, May, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determinants of Cattle Marketing in Northern Namibia: A Case Study of the Kunene Region

Kapimbi Y. and Teweldemedhin M. Y.

Senior Lecturer at the Polytechnic of Namibia Windhoek, Namibia.

Accepted 12 March, 2025

The purpose of this study was to examine key determinants of cattle marketing in Northern Namibia in the Kunene region. A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed, but only 90 were used for analysis as the rest were either not returned or were rejected as incomplete. The sampling technique was a non-probability (convenience) sampling technique. Since the data was not distributed normally, a non-parametric run-test with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed to reduce the multicollinearity problem and improve the estimation power of the regression model. The results suggested that improving the marketing system would help farmers to participate in cattle marketing. Further, it is important to strengthen the existing farmers’ associations or unions, and extension staff to empower farmers through identification of cattle marketing problems and solutions thereto. The study also found that development of capacity building and training programme is crucial.

Key words: Cattle marketing, communal farmers, non probability and non-parametric run-test.
 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 13 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Family Farm Inputs and Dynamics: A Case Study of Olive Farming Operations

Jawad Atef Al-Dala'een

Department of Agricultural Economics, Karak University College, Al Balqa Applied University, Karak, Jordan.

E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 00962-78-6264002.

Accepted 16 March, 2025

This study is aimed at studying the input patterns of farming practices in family agricultural business. Olive farms were used as example for agricultural family business. Simple random sample was selected including 150 farmers in Karakgovernorate in Jordan. Out of these farmers about 89 farmers were included in the analysis practicing the agricultural family business. The questionnaire included parts reflecting the use of external work labor through the growing season. The results showed that the famers concentrate on minimizing the expenses to maximize the profit.

Key words: Agricultural family business, olive production, input patterns.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 13 (5), pp. 001-011, May, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Diversifying Livelihoods in Drought-Prone Areas: Determinants of Rural Household Livelihood Strategies in Ethiopia

Gebrehiwot Weldegebrial Gebru1* and Fekadu Beyene2,3

1School of Environment, Gender and Development Studies (SEGDS), Awassa College of Agriculture, Hawassa
University, P.O.Box: 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
2Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science,
Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia.
3Pastoral and Agro-pastoral Studies, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia.

Accepted 24 February, 2025

Despite the continuing economic centrality of agriculture in the district, farm households engage and pursue diverse non-farm livelihood activities to cope with diverse challenges and risks such as drought. This paper aims to assess the relative importance of existing livelihood strategies adopted by the different socio-economic groups; the link between households’ ownership and access to different ‘livelihood assets’; and identify determinant factors for households to adopt and choose certain livelihood strategies in the district. A survey of 130 households in six administrative Kebeles and informal discussion with key informants were used to collect data. Results of the multinomial regression to identify determinants of rural household livelihood options indicated that the role of education and productive family, access to credit and receiving regular remittance, membership to formal cooperatives, access to market and business oriented extension service are of poor farm households to diversify their livelihood income into off-farm and non-farm activities. Even though-variations in livelihood strategies exist, the overall picture is still one of considerable and broad-based poverty in the area. So development stakeholders should work together and implement target based interventions that help households to improve their livelihood in a sustainable manner by adopting higher return and sustainable livelihood strategies.

Key words: Ethiopia, livelihood strategies, rural household, assets, determinants, on-farm, off-farm, non-farm, drought-prone areas.
 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Economics of Finger Millet Production in Peri-Urban Nepal: A Comparative Study of Kalabang and Begnas

Raj K. Adhikari

Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal.
E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 27 February, 2025

A study was conducted on the economics of finger millet production and marketing in peri urban area of Pokhara valley of Nepal in 2006 AD. The sampling frame was 154 and 193 producers selected from Kalabang and Begnas study sites respectively. Sampling intensity of 30% was used to randomly select the population sample size which gave 47 for Kalabang and 58 for Begnas. Household survey was carried out to collect the primary information from the selected finger millet producers and traders by using the pre-tested interview schedules. The cost of production (NRs. 23847.60/ha) and gross revenue (NRs. 24638.23/ha) were significantly higher at Kalabang site than in Begnas. The productivity (1156.12 kg/ha) of finger millet was significantly higher in Kalabang. The price of finger millet was NRs. 16.91/kg at Kalabang and NRs. 17.35/kg at Begnas. Profit of finger millet cultivation was higher (NRs. 790.58/ha) at Kalabang than in Begnas (NRs 602.45/ha) while higher benefit cost ratio (1.05) was in Begnas. Share of female labor cost to total cost of cultivation was highest among cost factors in both sites. Share of male labor, female labor and fertilizer costs were positively significant to total revenue at Kalabang while only fertilizer and female labor costs were positively significant at Begnas. Direct marketing of finger millet from producers to the consumers was most frequent in rural areas while involvement of middlemen was common in the urban areas. Attack of rat to standing crop and damage by disease especially, blight were the major production problems.

Key words: Finger millet, production, marketing, Cobb-Douglas, elasticity coefficients.
 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Market Channel Choices in Communal Vegetable Production: A Logistic Analysis of Determinants in Zimbabwe's Chinamhora District

Emmanuel Zivenge* and Charles Karavina

Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe.

Accepted 8 March, 2025

Communal vegetable production is a key activity in Zimbabwe, contributing significantly towards food security and rural development. A study carried out in Chinamhora District determined factors influencing tomato market channel choices. Primary data were collected through formal interviews and questionnaires included household and production characteristics, markets information and social capital. Interviews with buyers provided information on prices and farmer-market relations. The logistic model was used to analyse determinants of market choices. The study revealed that informal markets are more accessible than formal markets and produce price was the major determinant of market channel choice. Thus, informal markets offer great prospects for the development of communal farmers. The study recommended that farmers should develop effective mechanisms for collaboration and linkages and invest in market intelligence for them to improve their livelihoods.

Key words: Communal, horticulture, formal, informal, market choice, typology.
 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Wealth Depletion and Consumption Constraints: The Unintended Consequences of Livestock Theft in Lesotho's Agricultural Sector

Selloane Khoabane1* and Philip Black2

1Research Department, Central Bank of Lesotho, South Africa.
2Department of Economics, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Accepted 24 February, 2025

While livestock theft in Lesotho is primarily caused by increased poverty among unemployed workers and drought stricken crop farmers, its effect on stock farmers can be devastating. Using an asset-based approach we show how such theft reduces the affected households’ own consumption of both the “returns” on their wealth, for example milk and wool, and of wealth itself, for example meat and hides. It also restricts their ability to apply asset smoothing by forcing them to sell their remaining livestock wealth in the market place and use the proceeds to acquire the necessary food and non-food products. Some policy implications are briefly highlighted.

Key words: Livestock theft, unemployed, drought, asset-based approach, livestock wealth, returns on wealth, household utility, asset smoothing, other coping methods.