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Productivity and efficiency analysis of maize under conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe

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  • Ndlovu, Patrick V.
  • Mazvimavi, Kizito
  • An, Henry
  • Murendo, Conrad

Abstract

This study assesses the productivity and efficiency of maize production under conservation agriculture (CA). The analysis is based on a three year (2008–2010) panel sample of small holder farming households across 15 rural districts in Zimbabwe. We make a comparison of CA with alternative conventional farming methods. Our empirical strategy consists of two methods. First, using a fixed effects model, we estimate maize production functions and derive technical change estimates under CA and conventional farming. Second, we estimate a joint stochastic production frontier to compare productivity and technical efficiency between CA and conventional farming. Under CA, technical progress has been land-saving but seed and fertilizer-using, while it has been land-using but seed-saving in conventional farming. Lastly, the results of the efficiency analysis show that that farmers produce 39% more in CA compared with conventional farming, but technical efficiency levels are essentially equal in both technologies. Overall, the results show significant yield gains in CA practices and significant contributions to food production. CA is land-saving, and this is an important issue for land constrained farmers because they can still have viable food production on smaller area. However, high labor and fertilizer demands in CA present some problems in adoption amongst resource-constrained farmers.

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  • Ndlovu, Patrick V. & Mazvimavi, Kizito & An, Henry & Murendo, Conrad, 2014. "Productivity and efficiency analysis of maize under conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 21-31.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:124:y:2014:i:c:p:21-31
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2013.10.004
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    1. Nelson Mango & Clifton Makate & Benjamin Hanyani-Mlambo & Shephard Siziba & Mark Lundy & Caroline Elliott, 2015. "A stochastic frontier analysis of technical efficiency in smallholder maize production in Zimbabwe: The post-fast-track land reform outlook," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 1117189-111, December.
    2. Ali M. Oumer & Michael Burton & Atakelty Hailu & Amin Mugera, 2020. "Sustainable agricultural intensification practices and cost efficiency in smallholder maize farms: Evidence from Ethiopia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(6), pages 841-856, November.
    3. Murendo, Conrad & Gwara, Simon & Mpofu, Nkululeko & Pedzisa, Tarisayi & Mazvimavi, Kizito & Chivenge, Pauline, 2016. "The adoption of a portfolio of sustainable agricultural practices by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe," 2016 Fifth International Conference, September 23-26, 2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 246383, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    4. Michler, Jeffrey D. & Baylis, Kathy & Arends-Kuenning, Mary & Mazvimavi, Kizito, 2019. "Conservation agriculture and climate resilience," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 148-169.
    5. Ogunlesi, Ayodeji & Bokana, Koye & Okoye, Chidozie & Loy, Jens-Peter, 2018. "Agricultural Productivity and Food Supply Stability in Sub-Saharan Africa: LSDV and SYS-GMM Approach," MPRA Paper 90204, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Diao, Xinshen & Silver, Jed & Takeshima, Hiroyuki, 2016. "Agricultural mechanization and agricultural transformation:," IFPRI discussion papers 1527, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    7. Makaiko G. Khonje & Julius Manda & Petros Mkandawire & Adane Hirpa Tufa & Arega D. Alene, 2018. "Adoption and welfare impacts of multiple agricultural technologies: evidence from eastern Zambia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(5), pages 599-609, September.
    8. Amankwah, Akuffo & Gwatidzo, Tendai, 2024. "Food security and poverty reduction effects of agricultural technologies adoption − a multinomial endogenous switching regression application in rural Zimbabwe," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    9. Pannell, David J. & Llewellyn, Rick S. & Corbeels, Marc, 2013. "The farm-level economics of conservation agriculture for resource-poor farmers," Working Papers 166526, University of Western Australia, School of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
    10. Abadi, Bijan & Yadollahi, Arash & Bybordi, Ahmad & Rahmati, Mehdi, 2020. "The discrimination of adopters and non-adopters of conservation agricultural initiatives in northwest Iran: Attitudinal, soil testing, and topographical modules," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    11. Lalani, Baqir & Dorward, Peter & Holloway, Garth, 2017. "Farm-level Economic Analysis - Is Conservation Agriculture Helping the Poor?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 144-153.
    12. Cechura, Lukas & Hockmann, Heinrich & Malý, Michal & Žáková Kroupová, Zdenka, 2015. "Comparison of technology and technical efficiency in cereal production among EU countries," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 7(2), pages 27-37.
    13. Janna Frischen & Isabel Meza & Daniel Rupp & Katharina Wietler & Michael Hagenlocher, 2020. "Drought Risk to Agricultural Systems in Zimbabwe: A Spatial Analysis of Hazard, Exposure, and Vulnerability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-23, January.
    14. Yonas T. Bahta & Henry Jordaan & Gunda Sabastain, 2020. "Agricultural Management Practices and Factors Affecting Technical Efficiency in Zimbabwe Maize Farming," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-14, March.
    15. Luis A. De los Santos‐Montero & Boris E. Bravo‐Ureta, 2017. "Productivity effects and natural resource management: econometric evidence from POSAF‐II in Nicaragua," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(4), pages 220-233, November.
    16. Oumer, Ali M. & Burton, Michael, 2018. "Drivers and Synergies in the Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Practices: A Dynamic Perspective," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273871, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    17. Ali M. Oumer & Amin Mugera & Michael Burton & Atakelty Hailu, 2022. "Technical efficiency and firm heterogeneity in stochastic frontier models: application to smallholder maize farms in Ethiopia," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 213-241, April.
    18. Abebayehu Girma Geffersa & Frank Wogbe Agbola & Amir Mahmood, 2022. "Modelling technical efficiency and technology gap in smallholder maize sector in Ethiopia: accounting for farm heterogeneity," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(5), pages 506-521, January.
    19. Cechura, L. & Hockmann, H. & Malý, M. & Žáková Kroupová, Z., 2015. "Comparison of Technology and Technical Efficiency in Cereal Production among EU Countries," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 7(2), pages 1-11, June.
    20. John Basera & Clifton Makate & Takesure Tozooneyi, 2016. "Comprehending smallholder maize enterprises` profitability with the current maize marketing system in Zimbabwe: A case of Mazowe district," Asian Journal of Agriculture and rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 6(6), pages 90-105, June.
    21. Temitayo A. Adeyemo & Victor O. Okoruwa, 2018. "Value Addition and Productivity Differentials in the Nigerian Cassava System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-22, December.

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