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Commercialisation of Food Crops and Farm Productivity: Evidence from Smallholders in Central Africa

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  • Justus Ochieng
  • Beatrice Knerr
  • George Owuor
  • Emily Ouma

Abstract

Commercialisation of agriculture has long been considered an important driver of intensification, production, food security and farm incomes in Africa. This article investigates whether commercialisation is able to increase the intensification and yield of banana and legumes in central Africa. The study utilises survey data from 480 smallholder farmers in selected regions in rural Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The findings show a positive effect of commercialisation on improved seed varieties use and food crop yields, even after controlling for an endogeneity problem. There is no strong evidence of commercialisation effect on fertilizer use among the sampled farm households. Apart from commercialisation, better education, larger farm sizes, access to markets and credit facilities, good roads and extension contacts are necessary for farmers to increase input use and crop yields. Overall, these findings suggest that programmes targeting to increase smallholder farm productivity through commercialisation will only work if they consider production and marketing conditions surrounding the target households.

Suggested Citation

  • Justus Ochieng & Beatrice Knerr & George Owuor & Emily Ouma, 2016. "Commercialisation of Food Crops and Farm Productivity: Evidence from Smallholders in Central Africa," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(4), pages 458-482, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ragrxx:v:55:y:2016:i:4:p:458-482
    DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2016.1243062
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kilimani, Nicholas & Buyinza, Faisal & Guloba, Madina, 2022. "Crop commercialization and nutrient intake among farming households in Uganda," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    3. Paramasivam Ramasamy & Umanath Malaiarasan, 2023. "Agricultural credit in India: determinants and effects," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 169-195, June.
    4. Esther J. Cheyo & Edmond Nyuyki Mainimo & Daniel M. Okello & Walter Odongo & Stephen W. Kalule, 2024. "Participation and commercialization in producer cooperatives: Insights on the role of cooperative functioning and equity strategies," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(3), pages 815-834, September.
    5. Warinda, Enock & Nyariki, Dickson M. & Wambua, Stephen & Muasya, Reuben, 2019. "Impact of smallholder farmers’ welfare through participation in on-farm regional projects in East Africa," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 59(1), August.
    6. Justus Ochieng & Beatrice Knerr & George Owuor & Emily Ouma, 2020. "Food crops commercialization and household livelihoods: Evidence from rural regions in Central Africa," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(2), pages 318-338, April.
    7. Theresa Tendai Rubhara & Maxwell Mudhara & Oluwaseun Samuel Oduniyi & Michael Akwasi Antwi, 2020. "Impacts of Cash Crop Production on Household Food Security for Smallholder Farmers: A Case of Shamva District, Zimbabwe," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-11, May.

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