Jun 2026· Eastern Africa Journal of Official Statistics· Vol 2· 0 citations· 3 references
Abstract
Agricultural productivity in Tanzania remains low, limiting food security and rural livelihoods. To inform evidence-based interventions, this study analyzed determinants of smallholder staple crop harvests using Wave 5 of the National Panel Survey with 237 households having complete socio-economic, farm input, and environmental data. A generalized linear model with a Gamma distribution and log link was used to account for the right-skewed, strictly positive nature of harvest data. Stepwise models were estimated separately for socio-economic, farm input, and environmental/institutional factors. The socio-economic model showed positive effects of asset ownership (β = 0.0125, p < 0.1) and negative effects of older household heads (β = –0.0159, p < 0.05; log pseudolikelihood = –1804.43, AIC = 15.28, BIC = –967.21, deviance = 355.92). The farm input model identified plot size as strongly positive (β = 0.216, p < 0.01) and irrigation as negative (β = –1.701, p < 0.05; log pseudolikelihood = –1802.23, AIC = 15.28, BIC = –895.19, deviance = 351.53), indicating slightly better fit than the socio-economic model. The environmental/institutional model performed poorly (log pseudolikelihood = –1840.04, AIC = 15.59, BIC = –830.58, deviance = 427.15). The full combined model, integrating all variables, provided the best overall fit (log pseudolikelihood = –1775.08, AIC = 15.15, BIC = –889.35, deviance = 297.22), with positive effects of plot size, asset ownership, household size, and organic fertilizer, and negative effects of irrigation, hired labor, and older household heads. Findings indicate that socio-economic and farm input factors jointly drive productivity, emphasizing interventions to strengthen household resources and improve input efficiency.
Farmland access remains a key constraint for smallholder farmers in Nigeria, with increasing reliance on the land rental market. This study investigates the determinants of farmland market participation among smallholder farmers in Ogun State across different land arrangement types, socio-economic characteristics, and participation outcomes. Primary data from 150 respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic regression, bivariate logit model, and a problem ranking index. Result of the socio-economic analysis revealed that most farmers were above 40 years, with farming as a secondary occupation for many. Participation in the rental market was notable, with 58% renting in land and 41.3% renting out. Multinomial regression results showed that education significantly reduced the likelihood of choosing ownership (p < 0.001), communal (p = 0.056), and sharecropping (p = 0.009). Farm size positively influenced selection of ownership (B = 0.81, p = 0.001) and communal (B = 1.11, p = 0.004) arrangements. Bivariate logit estimates showed land size significantly reduced the likelihood of renting in (B = -0.84, p = 0.012) but increased renting out (B = 1.02, p = 0.018). Household size increased rent-in participation (B = 0.56, p = 0.031), whereas age significantly influenced rent-out decisions (B = 0.44, p = 0.022). The significant correlation coefficient (rho = 0.411, p = 0.008) indicated interdependence between both decisions. The findings reveal a dynamic farmland market shaped by socio-economic pressures and land scarcity. Land tenure arrangements, farmers' cooperatives, and land information services need to be strengthened to improve land access and rural productivity.
Q. G. Nafiu, W. M. Ashagidigbi, A. O. Ijaoba et al.· FUDMA Journal of Agriculture...· 0 citations
Climate variability poses significant challenges to agricultural production and rural livelihoods, particularly among smallholder farmers who depend largely on rain-fed agriculture. This study examined the impact of climate variability on agricultural investment decisions and household income among smallholder farmers in Eastern Province, Zambia. The study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional research design guided by the positivist research paradigm. Primary data were collected from 345 smallholder farming households selected from seven districts using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analysis were employed to analyse the data. The findings revealed widespread perceptions of increasing climate variability, with 99.1% of respondents reporting changes in rainfall patterns over the past decade. Conservation farming, improved seed varieties, and drought-resistant crops were identified as the principal adaptation strategies adopted by farmers. However, regression analysis showed that climate variability was not a statistically significant predictor of agricultural investment decisions (β = -0.015, p = 0.421) and explained only a negligible proportion of the variation in investment decisions (R² = 0.002). Similarly, the relationship between climate variability and household income was found to be very weak (R² = 0.001, p = 0.574), indicating that household income is influenced by a wider range of socioeconomic and institutional factors beyond climate variability alone. The study concludes that although climate variability remains a major concern for smallholder farmers, it does not independently determine agricultural investment decisions or household income in Eastern Province. The study recommends strengthening access to climate information, extension services, affordable agricultural credit, irrigation development, and improved seed varieties to enhance the resilience and productivity of smallholder farming households.
George Chalwe, A. Phiri· African Journal of Commercia...· 0 citations
In developing agrarian economies, smallholder maize production serves as a critical pillar for rural livelihoods and national food security, yet conventional agricultural interventions consistently struggle to close persistent yield gaps. While structural policy frameworks heavily prioritize upstream input distribution, the systemic interplay between field-level management, post-harvest preservation, and empirical data accuracy remains poorly understood. Smallholder maize productivity in sub-Saharan Africa remains substantially below biological potential; Bungoma County in Western Kenya exemplifies this yield gap. This cross-sectional study examined agronomic and socio-economic factors associated with maize yield among 400 systematically sampled households using a post-harvest, plot-level survey. A thirteen-item Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) score was constructed (mean = 5.15/13; SD = 1.68) and decomposed into production and post-harvest sub-indices. Yield was measured on a six-category ordinal scale (<6 to ≥30 bags per acre). Ordinal logistic regression models were estimated alongside alternative specifications, including ordered probit models and wealth controls, to evaluate the robustness of identified yield determinants. Improved storage was the only predictor consistently associated with higher reported yield across all specifications. The post-harvest GAP sub-index correlated positively with yield (OR = 1.282, p = 0.033), whereas the production sub-index lacked statistical significance. Wealth was also positively associated with yield after adjusting for agronomic practices (OR = 1.206, p = 0.035). These findings suggest that post-harvest management significantly influences reported productivity in recall-based surveys. They further highlight the necessity of distinguishing between harvested production and grain retained after storage. Consequently, agricultural policy should pivot from a narrow focus on seed and fertiliser subsidies toward improving post-harvest infrastructure and localized storage technologies.
Wilbrodah Adhiambo Orina (PhD), Stephen Okoth Owuor· International journal of res...· 0 citations
Maize production plays a critical role in enhancing food security, income generation, and rural livelihoods in Kenya. Smallholder farmers contribute a substantial proportion of national maize output, yet their productivity remains below potential due to various socioeconomic constraints. This study examined the socioeconomic factors influencing maize production among smallholder farmers in Bungoma-North Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya, with a view to enhancing food security. The study was guided by the Theory of Production, which explains how variations in production inputs and resources influence agricultural output. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, targeting smallholder maize farmers within Naitiri, Mbakalo, and Kabuyefwe wards. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The socioeconomic variables examined included credit accessibility, land ownership, labor availability, educational attainment, income levels, and demographic characteristics. Findings revealed that socioeconomic factors significantly influenced maize production among smallholder farmers. Access to credit enhanced the ability of farmers to purchase improved inputs and adopt modern farming technologies. Household income levels positively influenced investment in agricultural production, while educational attainment improved farmers’ capacity to adopt recommended agronomic practices. Land ownership and farm size were also found to significantly affect maize yields due to their influence on production scale and resource allocation. Regression analysis demonstrated that socioeconomic factors significantly predicted maize production outcomes, indicating that improvements in access to financial resources, education, labor, and productive assets could substantially increase maize productivity and strengthen household food security. The study concludes that socioeconomic factors remain fundamental determinants of maize production among smallholder farmers and should be prioritized in agricultural development programs. The study recommends strengthening rural credit systems, promoting farmer education and training, improving access to agricultural inputs, and supporting income-generating activities that enhance farmers’ production capacity. These interventions would contribute significantly to sustainable maize production and improved food security in Bungoma-North Sub-County and similar agricultural regions.
M. Kombe, R. Onamu, Lydiah Wamocha· African journal of agricultu...· 0 citations
This study investigates the efficiency of resource allocation in rice farming to support food security, economic equity, and regional self-reliance in Bireuen District. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative analyses using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) with qualitative methods comprising in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The data used is primary and secondary data. The results indicate that technical efficiency in rice farming remains relatively low, with average DEA and SFA scores of 0.88 and 0.86, respectively, implying a potential input reallocation of 10–15%. Key determinants of efficiency include farmers’ education, access to formal credit, participation in farmer groups, and proximity to markets. In contrast, limited capital, insufficient technology, and small landholdings (<0.5 ha) were identified as the primary sources of inefficiency. Qualitative findings corroborate the quantitative results, revealing that smallholder farmers are more vulnerable to inefficiency than larger-scale farmers (>1 ha). The study concludes that improving efficiency necessitates targeted policy interventions, including expanding access to microcredit, promoting mechanization, strengthening farmer group institutions, and stabilizing paddy prices. These measures are critical for enhancing food security, reducing economic disparities, and fostering sustainable regional self-reliance in Bireuen District.
H. Muttaqim, Fauzi Fauzi, Muhammad Rizal· JEMSI (Jurnal Ekonomi, Manaj...· 0 citations
Background:
Agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s economy; however, despite its importance as a major vegetable crop, onion productivity in the country continues to lag behind global benchmarks.
Aim:
This study analyzes the determinants and interdependence of the adoption of multiple sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) by smallholder onion farmers in the Wamakko Local Government Area.
Methods:
A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 162 onion farmers. Data were obtained through structured questionnaires administered via face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an adoption index, and a multivariate probit (MVP) model. A multivariate probit (MVP) model was employed to account for the possibility that farmers simultaneously adopt multiple sustainable agricultural practices and that these decisions are interdependent.
Results:
The results show that onion farmers are predominantly within their economically active age group, indicating a strong potential for improved agricultural practices to be adopted. The adoption pattern further reveals that sustainable agricultural practices are implemented jointly rather than independently, suggesting that practices are complementary. The multivariate probit estimates indicate that the adoption determinants vary across practices. Age negatively influences the adoption of Organic Farming (OF) but positively affects reduced tillage. Household size is positively associated with the adoption of Integrated Weed Management (IWM), while education significantly increases the likelihood of adopting IWM. Farming experience positively influences Crop Rotation (CR) but negatively affects Reduced Tillage (RT). In addition, farm size shows a negative relationship with IWM, and total onion output is negatively associated with organic farming. These findings suggest that both human capital and resource endowment play an important role in influencing farmers’ adoption decisions, although their effects differ across practices. The model’s joint significance confirms the relevance of the explanatory variables, while the multivariate framework captures the interdependence of adoption decisions. However, these relationships should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects.
Conclusion:
The study concludes that farmer characteristics and the interrelated nature of SAPs strongly shape adoption patterns. It recommends strengthening extension services, improving access to inputs and credit, enhancing farmer education, and promoting youth participation to increase SAP adoption and narrow the onion production productivity gap.
O. Obalola, J. Wahab, Kazeem Aboaba et al.· Journal of Research in Agric...· 0 citations