Purpose -The purpose of this study is to analyze smallholder farmers' perceptions on climate change and its stressors, their adaptation strategies and factors that influence their adaptation to climate change.Design/methodology/approach -The study was conducted in Kweneng district, located in the south eastern part of Botswana. Multi-stage sampling was used to obtain a representative sample from three subdistricts in the district. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data by using face-to-face interviews.Findings -Majority of farmers perceived an increase in mean annual temperature and the number of hot days and a decrease in mean annual rainfall and the number of rainfall days over the past 10 years as indicators of climate change. The prominent adaptation strategies included changes in planting dates for crops and supplementary feeding for livestock. The logistic regression results show that gender, age, household size, poverty, shortage of land, mixed farming and knowledge about climate change significantly influence adaptation. Practical implications -The findings indicate that climate change policy should target agricultural diversification at the household level and dissemination of information on climate change and adaptation strategies. Originality/value -Policy recommendations can be suggested: government climate change interventions should target agricultural diversification at the household level, and this study provides insights on what influences adaptation strategies and what should be targeted to build resilience in the agricultural sector.
Goat farming is a major livelihood activity for most smallholder farmers in Botswana. To ensure sustainable livelihoods for these farmers, a shift from the prevalent traditional and subsistence system to a more market-oriented one is considered necessary. Market participation is widely viewed as an effective means of addressing poverty which is particularly rampant in most rural areas of Botswana and other developing countries. Little evidence is however available on the link between market participation and household welfare, especially among livestock and, in particular, small stock farmers. This paper evaluates the effect of market participation on household welfare among smallholder goat farmers. Estimating an endogenous switching regression model, the results show a positive and significant effect of market participation on household income for both participant and non-participant farmers. This effect was found to be more pronounced among the non-participants had they decided to sell. The results suggest that goat farmers should be encouraged to engage in market participation other than their traditional ways of keeping goats. This implies that existing policies and programs that increase market participation and encourage market-oriented farming should be revised in order to provide efficient and sustainable support. Furthermore, the study recommends that information on goat markets should reach rural areas where most farmers reside and are unable to access technology.
The majority of the rural population in Botswana keep small stock as a source of livelihood. However, small stock farmers face many constraints which impede maximization of their production and returns. Yet there is dearth of information on the major challenges they face. This study was intended to give an overview of major production and marketingconstraints faced by small stock farmers; and to identify factors influencing farmers’ participation in the LIMID program in Boteti sub-district, Botswana. Multistage samplingtechnique was used to collect data from 150 respondents selected randomly. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis and probit regression analytical techniques were used in data analysis. Factors that significantly influenced effective participation of small stock producers in the program are positive perception of the program, distance to a LIMID office, distance to a nearby cattle post, and household income. Production constraints included predators, theft, pasture scarcity, natural disasters, water scarcity and lack of transport. Further, marketing constraints were reported to be low prices, delayed payments from the government, poor roads and lack of marketing information. The study provides a basis for policy formulation to improve the effectiveness of smallholder farmers and develop measures required to help them improve their productivity.
For smallholder livestock farmers to benefit from their livestock, they need to fully participate in the market. This study identifies the determinants of market participation by smallholder livestock farmers in Botswana. The study used data collected from 132 smallholder livestock farmers in Kweneng West in 2007. A logit model was used to identify factors that determine whether smallholder farmers will participate in the market or not. The results indicate that the age of household head negatively and significantly affects market participation, implying that older farmers are less likely to participate in the market; planting crops increases the chances of market participation, as does the accessibility to market price information. The major limitation facing smallholder livestock farmers is the requirement that the animals should have a bolus (for traceability) and veterinary permits. In order to stimulate the participation of smallholder farmers in the market, policies aimed at promoting participation of youth in agriculture should be explored. In addition, policies should target service delivery improvement by all institutions involved in the marketing of cattle including those issuing cattle movement or veterinary permits. This will go a long way in increasing smallholders' income from livestock and hence improve their living standards.
This study analyzes the market potential of the underutilized indigenous Morama (Tylosema esculentum) products by determining the consumers' preferences and willingness to pay. Simple random sampling was used to select 372 respondents to participate in the cross-sectional survey. Contingent valuation method was used to determine the customers' willingness to pay and the two-step Heckman selection model was employed to analyze the factors that influence the willingness to pay for the different Morama products. The majority of the respondents were knowledgeable of Morama and its product; consequently 84% showed interest in purchasing products developed from Morama. About 90% were willing to purchase Morama oil whereas 87% were willing to purchase Morama butter at least twice a month and 82% would be willing to buy Morama snack bar at least three times a month. The results indicate that Morama products have the potential to penetrate the market and hence can be used to improve both the standard of living for rural communities and household food security and thus alleviate poverty. The mean willingness to pay for Morama oil and butter are comparable to the conventional product, indicating that these products have good market prospects and can compete and potentially substitute the current products if domesticated and commercialised.
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