SDG01 No poverty

Adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices by smallholder dairy farmers in Chipinge and Mutasa Districts of the Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe

2026-09-30T10:23:52Z

Adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices by smallholder dairy farmers in Chipinge and Mutasa Districts of the Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe Chavhunduka, Tinashe Climate change poses significant constraints on smallholder dairy production systems in Zimbabwe, particularly in drought-prone regions such as Manicaland Province. This study analysed farmers’ perceptions of climate change and their influence on the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices among smallholder dairy farmers in Chipinge and Mutasa districts. It further quantified the extent of adoption of adaptation- and mitigation-based CSA practices and identified socio-economic and institutional determinants shaping adoption decisions. Guided by the Climate-Smart Agriculture framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization, which integrates productivity, resilience, and greenhouse gas mitigation objectives, the study employed a cross-sectional survey design. Primary data were collected from 154 smallholder dairy households using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics indicated that feed shortages (59.6%) and water scarcity (55.0%) were the most severe climate-related constraints, while 84.7% of respondents reported high awareness of the impacts of climate change on dairy production. Inferential analysis revealed a statistically significant association between climate change perception and CSA adoption (χ², p < 0.05), indicating that perception significantly shapes adoption behaviour. Binary logistic regression results showed that CSA adoption was significantly influenced by household size, education level, herd size, farming experience, access to finance, and perception of climate variability (p < 0.05), confirming that both human capital and resource endowments are key adoption drivers. Further, multinomial logistic regression results demonstrated that district location significantly influenced farmers’ choice among adaptation-only, mitigation-only, and integrated CSA strategies (p < 0.05), highlighting spatial heterogeneity in adoption behaviour. The model exhibited acceptable explanatory power, confirming robustness in predicting CSA adoption categories. Despite high awareness levels (84.7%), CSA adoption remains constrained by structural socio-economic and institutional barriers. Adaptation practices are widely adopted but predominantly reactive and short-term coping strategies, while mitigation practices remain limited and are primarily motivated by productivity gains rather than by emission-reduction objectives. Agroforestry demonstrated moderate adoption (34%) and provided synergistic adaptation–mitigation benefits. v The study concludes that although smallholder dairy farmers exhibit adaptive capacity, their responses remain largely survivalist rather than transformative. Strengthening access to finance, enhancing extension services, and providing targeted incentives for mitigation-oriented technologies are critical to promoting integrated and sustainable climate-smart dairy systems in Zimbabwe

Savings groups and formal banking: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) economies

2026-09-22T09:44:10Z

Savings groups and formal banking: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) economies Moyo, Givemore The study aimed to evaluate savings groups and formal banking in Sub Saharan African (SSA) countries with respect to the impact of savings groups’ composition and status, performance and bank-specific factors on access to formal banking by the savings groups. The study used secondary cross-sectional data (latest by 31 July 2024) for a sample of 36 SSA countries from the Savings Group Information Exchange (SAVIX) dashboard, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Development Indicators dataset, World Bank’s Global Findex and Trading Economies website. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis was used as an estimation method. The study revealed that, on the impact of savings groups’ compositions and status on access to formal savings by savings groups, average savings per member had a negative and significant impact on access to formal savings and average loan outstanding per group had a positive and significant impact on access to formal savings by the savings groups. Bank concentration had a negative and significant impact on access to formal credit and ownership of mobile money account had a positive and significant impact on access to formal credit. Group composition and status indicators such as percentage female members per group (gender dynamics) and average number of members per group had insignificant impact on access to formal credit and savings by savings groups respectively. The study revealed that, on the impact of groups’ financial performance on access to formal savings by savings groups, average savings per member, mobile phone used to send money (% 15 years and above) and average loan outstanding per group had a positive and significant impact on access to formal savings. Bank concentration, number of borrowers from commercial banks and average number of members per group had negative and significant impact on access to formal savings. On the impact of group performance on access to formal credit, bank concentration, average savings per member, bank account ownership and average number of members per group had a negative and significant impact on access to formal credit by savings groups. The group performance indicator namely return on savings had statistically insignificant impact on access to formally savings. The study revealed that, on the impact of bank- specific factor on savings, average loans outstanding per group had a positive and significant impact on average savings per member. Percentage of members with outstanding loans had a negative and significant impact on average savings per member. The study revealed that, on the impact of bank- specific factors on average loan size per member, average savings per member had a positive and statistically significant impact on average loan size per member. All the bank- specific factors namely bank concentration, deposit interest rates, mobile money account ownership, mobile phones used to send money (% 15 years and above), bank branch network number of borrowers from the commercial banks per 1000 adults and number of ATMs per 100, 000 adults had insignificant impact on average savings per member and average loan size per member. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that there should be strong partnerships between banking institutions and mobile money service providers to provide savings groups with affordable formal banking products. Development actors should avail financial and digital literacy programs for savings groups to promote good financial behaviours and digital skills among savings group members.

Land acquisition and compensation by cannabis companies: narratives of displeasure by communities in Berea District, Lesotho

2026-08-25T09:25:24Z

Land acquisition and compensation by cannabis companies: narratives of displeasure by communities in Berea District, Lesotho Mathetha, Malehlonohono Mary This study analyses the impact of land acquisition (viewed as investment on land) by the cannabis companies on local communities and the fairness of compensation that is paid to displaced/dispossessed landowners, in Berea District in Lesotho. It adopted qualitative case study design with semi-structured interviews used to collect data from the landowners, local leaders, the representatives of the cannabis companies and the officials from the Ministry of Health. Data was analysed thematically with an application of both deductive and inductive methods. The study revealed that stakeholders acknowledged the benefits such as employment opportunities and community development; however, they expressed concerns regarding inadequate compensation, communities’ inclusion and unmet promises among others. The study concludes that if well administered, the cannabis initiative could improve the communities’ livelihoods and boost the Lesotho’s economy. Therefore, it recommends implementation of the existing land related legal frameworks, fostering inter-ministerial planning and maintaining ongoing community sensitisation.; Lolu cwaningo luhlaziye umthelela wokuzuzwa komhlaba (ebukwa njengotshalomali kwezemihlaba) yizinkampani zama-cannabis kwimiphakathi kanye nokulingana kwinkokhelomali yabanikazi bemihlaba abasusiwe, kwisifunda sase-Berea e-Lesotho. Isebenzise uhlelo locwaningo lwekhwalithi olusebenzisa izingxoxo ezihlelwe ngokulinganiselwe zokuqoqa idatha kubanikazi bomhlaba, abaholi bendawo, abamele izinkampani ze-cannabis, kanye nezikhulu ezivela eMnyangweni Wezempilo. Idatha yahlaziywa ngokwezihloko ngokusebenzisa izindlela zokufunda eziqondile nezokuhlola. Ucwaningo lukhombise ukuthi ababambiqhaza bayazivuma izinzuzo ezifana namathuba emisebenzi nokuthuthukiswa komphakathi; noma kunjalo, baveze ukukhathazeka maqondana nenhlawulo enganele, ukungafakwa kwemiphakathi kanye nezithembiso ezingagcwaliswanga phakathi nokunye okuningi. Ucwaningo luphethe ngokuthi uma iphrojekthi ye-cannabis ilawulwa kahle, ingathuthukisa izindlela zokuphila zomphakathi futhi ikhuphule umnotho waseLesotho. Ngakho-ke, luphakamisa ukusetshenziswa kwemithetho yendawo esekhona, ukukhuthaza ukuhlela phakathi kwamahhovisi kahulumeni ahlukene, nokugcina ukuqwashisa komphakathi okuqhubekayo.; Phuputso ena e manollotse kameho ya phumano ya naha (e nkwang e le letsete la naha) ya dikhamphani tsa matekwane baahing ba lehae le ho dumella beng ba tlositsweng naheng ho hlahisa maikutlo a bona ka tefo eo ba e lefilweng, Seterekeng sa Berea, Lesotho. E sebedisitse patlisiso e kenelletseng ya ketsahalo ho ya ka kutlwisiso ya boemo ba yona ba nnete, e nang le diinthaviu tse tataiswang ka dipotso tse hlophisitsweng le tse botsisisang ho ya ka dikarabo tseo ho fanweng ka tsona tse sebedisitsweng ho bokella datha ho beng ba naha, baetapele ba lehae, baemedi ba dikhamphani tsa matekwane le diofisiri tse tswang ofisisng ya Letona la tsa Bophelo. Data e ile ya manollwa ho ya ka mookataba ho sebediswa mekgwa ya ho fuputsa e tlohang kakaretsong ya theori kapa molao ebe mofuputsi o e sebedisa ketsahalong e itseng le mekgwa e sebedisang phetapheto ya ketsahalo e itseng ebe mofuputsi o etsa qeto e akaretsang. Phuputso e bontshitse hore bathahaselli ba ananetse melemo e jwalo ka menyetla ya mesebetsi le ntshetsopele ya maphelo a baahi; le ha ho le jwalo, hara dingongoreho tse ding, ba hlahisitse tefo e sa lekaneng, ho se kenyeletse baahi mererong le diqetong tse nkwang le ditshepiso tse sa phethahatsweng. Phuputso e nkile qeto ya hore haeba mohato oo ho iqallwang oona o amanang le matekwane o ka tsamaiswa hantle, o ka ntlafatsa maphelo a baahi le ho matlafatsa moruo wa Lesotho. Kahoo, e kgothalletsa ho kengwa tshebetsong hwa meralotshebetso e teng ya molao e amanang le naha, ho kgothalletsa mafapha kapa matona a mangata a mmuso ho sebetsa mmoho ho etsa meralo le ho tswella ho lemosa baahi ho tseba ditshebeletso tseo ba di fuwang le ho utlwisisa bohlokwa ba tsona.

The effects of poverty on female-headed household food security: a case of Ga-Ramokgopa village, Limpopo Province, South Africa

2026-08-18T15:11:28Z

The effects of poverty on female-headed household food security: a case of Ga-Ramokgopa village, Limpopo Province, South Africa Mashabathakga, Moloko Confidence The primary objective of this study is to analyse the effects of poverty on the food security of female-headed households in Ga-Ramokgopa village, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study adopts a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through a structured household survey administered to 114 female-headed households, using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) to assess the prevalence and severity of food insecurity. Qualitative data were generated through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions with female household heads, and key informant interviews with government officials, community leaders, and civil society actors. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, and qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings reveal that poverty and food insecurity are widespread and structurally embedded among female-headed households in Ga-Ramokgopa, with nearly three-quarters of households experiencing some level of food insecurity. While households employ coping strategies such as social grants, informal borrowing, and community support, these measures sustain short-term survival but deepen long-term vulnerability. The study concludes that food insecurity among female-headed households reflects systemic entitlement failures and calls for integrated, gender-responsive food security, social protection, and rural development interventions that prioritise access, nutrition, stability, and dignity. Abstract and text in English