The study was conducted in 2011 at Hamamavhaire and Mhende irrigation schemes in Chirumanzu district in Zimbabwe to determine the typology of the farmers using different irrigation technologies. A structured household survey was carried out on a sample of 79 respondents drawn from farmers using the sprinkler (n=32), flood (n=39) and drip (n=8) irrigation systems. The information gathered was analysed and interpreted using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics in the form of the chi-square test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The main findings showed that there are significant differences (P < 0.05) in yield per hectare (for green maize, maize-grain, wheat and sugar-beans) across the three irrigation systems. Farmers using sprinkler irrigation were found to be better-off in terms of livestock ownership and household assets compared to those using drip and flood irrigation. The study recommended that there is need to provide agricultural training to farmers in irrigation schemes to enhance their productivity.
This study empirically investigates farm level technical efficiency of production and its associated determinants for Marirangwe smallholder dairy farmers, in Manyame district, Mashonaland east province in Zimbabwe. Using a stochastic production frontier model and a two step estimation approach, results for a sample of 27 smallholder farmers indicates that for the agricultural season 2013/2014, the average efficiency level was 54.9% particularly suggesting that dairy farmers are operating far below their production potentials. In particular, age, veterinary and extension, gender, farming experience and market performance were found to be significant factors affecting technical efficiency of the dairy farmers. The results of the study reveal that market performance, farming experience and gender positively affect the efficiency of dairy farmers. The results on gender implies that male farmers are more inefficient in dairy farming when compare to their female counterparts. On the other hand, age and veterinary and extension services was found to be positively associated technical inefficiency.
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