Determinants of Production of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and Millet (Eleusine coracana) in Zvimba District of Zimbabwe

I. Kutyauripo¹ , P. Mutombo²

Section:Research Paper, Product Type: Journal-Paper
Vol.6 , Issue.9 , pp.37-42, Sep-2020

Online published on Sep 30, 2020

Copyright © I. Kutyauripo, P. Mutombo . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
 

View this paper at   Google Scholar | DPI Digital Library

XML View     PDF Download

How to Cite this Paper

Abstract :
The adverse effects of climate change are hampering maize (Sub Saharan Africa’s major staple cereal crop) production. Small grains are resilient to high temperatures and low rainfall that result from climate change. Small grains can be produced as an alternative to maize in times of climate change induced drought. However, the proportion of households that are in sorghum and millet production remains relatively lower to maize-producing households. This study sought to investigate the determinants of choice of sorghum and millet production in Zvimba District of Zimbabwe. Farming households (120) were selected from 6 wards through multistage sampling. A structured questionnaire was distributed to household heads. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse data. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse factors affecting choice of production of sorghum and millet. Results from the survey indicated that 59.2% of the interviewed farmers are into sorghum and millet production with 47.5% producing millet whilst 11.7% produce sorghum. Results of binary logistic regression indicated that age and training in small grain production significantly affect (p ? 0.05) the choice of producing small grains. Labour intensiveness, lack of market information, lack of certified seeds and lack of technical support were identified as the major constraints to sorghum and millet production. It was concluded that farmer’s age, agriculture extension, market information, technical support, seeds and labour influence sorghum and millet production. The results of this finding will inform African farmers and stakeholders on the challenges that need to be addressed in small grain farming as a way of adapting to the changing climate.

Key-Words / Index Term :
climate change, millet production, sorghum production, Zvimba district

References :
[1] J. Rurinda, M. T. van Wijk, P. Mapfumo, K. Descheemaeker, I Supit, K. E.Giller, “Climate change and maize yield in southern Africa: what can farm management do?” Global change biology, Vol 21. No. 12, pp. 4588-4601, 2015.
[2] R. W. Lunduka. K. I Mateva, C. Magorokosho, P. Manjeru, “Impact of adoption of drought-tolerant maize varieties on total maize production in South Eastern Zimbabwe,” Climate and development, Vol 11. No.1, pp. 35-46, 2019.
[3] L. Nhamo, G. Matchaya, T. Mabhaudhi, S. Nhlengethwa, C. Nhemachena, S. Mpandeli, S, “Cereal production trends under climate change: Impacts and adaptation strategies in southern Africa,” Agriculture, Vol 9. No.2, pp. 30, 2019.
[4] P. Mukarumbwa, A, Mushunje, “Potential of Sorghum and Finger Millet to Enhance Household Food Security in Zimbabwe`s Semi-arid Regions: A Review. 3 r d African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE),” In Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) AAAE. 48 th Conference. Cape Town. South Africa, pp. 1-22, 2010.
[5] C. Handschuch, M. Wollni, “Improved production systems for traditional food crops: The case of finger millet in Western Kenya,” Food security, Vol 8. No.4, pp. 783-797, 2016.
[6] A. Pradhan, A. K. Panda, R.V. Bhavani, “Finger Millet in Tribal Farming Systems Contributes to Increased Availability of Nutritious Food at Household Level: Insights from India,” Agricultural Research. Vol 8. No.4, pp. 540-547, 2019.
[7] B. Darfour, K.A. Rosentrater, “Grain Cultivation and Its Association Problems: Overview of Ghana,”. In Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Conference Proceedings and Presentations. 479.IOWA State University, pp. 1-10, 2016.
[8] S. A. Derese, H. Shimelis, M. Laing, F. Mengistu, “ The impact of drought on sorghum production, and farmer`s varietal and trait preferences, in the north eastern Ethiopia: implications for breeding,” Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B—Soil & Plant Science, Vol 68. No.5, pp. 424-436, 2018.
[9] P. F. Arama, S. O. Ochola, A. M. Kange, E. K. Cheruiyot, J. O. Ogendo, “Pre-and post harvest factors affecting sorghum production (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) among smallholder farming communities,” International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research, Vol 5. No.4, pp. 40-47, 2014.
[10] C. W. Muui, R. M Muasya, D. T. Kirubi, “Baseline survey on factors affecting sorghum production and use in eastern Kenya,” African journal of food, agriculture, nutrition and development. Vol 13. No.1, pp. 7339-7353, 2013.
[11] Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee, “Rural Livelihoods Assessment,” Harare, Zimbabwe, 2016.
[12] Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee, “Rural Livelihoods Assessment,” Harare, Zimbabwe, 2017.
[13] T. M. Mashizha, “Adapting to climate change: Reflections of peasant farmers in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe,” Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies. Vol 11. No.1, pp. 1-8, 2019.
[14] T. Mhandu, T. F. Khumalo, M.C. Musingafi, “Health Problems in Zvimba Rural and Communal Areas in Zimbabwe,” Health, Vol 9. No.4, pp. 69-76, 2019.
[15] M. T. Dalu, T. Dalu, “Determinants of participation in rural non-farm economy in Zvimba District, Zimbabwe,” Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics (JARTS). Vol 120. No.1, pp. 63-70, 2019.
[16] B. G. Bate, J. N. Kimengsi, S. G. Amawa, “Determinants and policy implications of farmers’ climate adaptation choices in rural Cameroon,” Sustainability. Vol 11. No.7, pp. 1921, 2019
[17] F. Ndamani, T.Watanabe, “Farmers’ perceptions about adaptation practices to climate change and barriers to adaptation: A micro-level study in Ghana,” Water. Vol 7. No.9, pp. 4593-4604, 2015.
[18] B. A. Amelework, H. A Shimelis, P. Tongoona, F. Mengistu, M. D. Laing, D. G. Ayele, “Sorghum production systems and constraints, and coping strategies under drought-prone agro-ecologies of Ethiopia,” South African Journal of Plant and Soil, pp 1-11, 2016.
[19] A.Kumar, R.Kumar, V. P. S. Yadav, R, Kumar, “Impact assessment of frontline demonstrations of Bajra in Haryana state,” Indian Research Journal of Extension Education. Vol 10. No.1, pp. 105-108, 2010.
[20] E. Chepng’etich, S. O.Nyamwaro, E. K.Bett, K. Kizito, “Factors that influence technical efficiency of sorghum production: A case of smallholder sorghum producers in Lower Eastern Kenya, ”Advances in Agriculture, 2015.
[21] R.Mwadalu, M. Mwangi, “The potential role of sorghum in enhancing food security in semi-arid eastern Kenya: A review,” Journal of Applied Biosciences, Vol 71. No.1 pp. 5786-5799, 2013.
[22] A. Salami, A.B. Kamara, Z.Brixiova, “Smallholder agriculture in East Africa: Trends, constraints and opportunities,” African Development Bank Tunis, Tunisia. 2017
[23] G. Lubadde, P. Tongoona, J. Derera, J Sibiya, “Production determinants of the pearl millet cropping system in Uganda and implications to productivity,” Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol 8. No.7, pp. 97-111, 2016.
[24] S. J. Kebeney, B. M Msanya, J. M. Semoka, W. K Ngetich, A. K Kipkoech, “Socioeconomic factors and soil fertility management practices affecting sorghum production in Western Kenya: a case study of Busia county,” Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, pp. 1-11, 2015
[25] J. Zalkuwi, “Socio-economic factors that affect Sorghum production in Adamawa State, Nigeria,” International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Vol 4. No.2, pp, 1610-1614, 2015.