Factors influencing micro and small enterprises’ access to finance since the adoption of multi-currency system in Zimbabwe.

Access to financial services is key to Micro and Small Enterprises’ (MSEs) operation and growth in Zimbabwe. A survey was done in a small town (Bindura), medium size city (Kadoma) and the city of Harare (large city) to determine major factors influencing MSEs’ access to finance since the adoption of the multi-currency system in Zimbabwe. A pilot study was done in the city of Gweru to 10 MSEs’. Structured questionnaires were administered to MSEs that have been operating for at least one year as well as registered with the respective town councils and a total of 115 responses were obtained in all the 3 urban areas. The model used was the Binary Logistic model. The best model selected was based on the Omnibus Tests of model coefficients, the Chi-Square tests, the Cox and Snell R-Sqaure and the Nagelkerke R-Squared values. The importance of each factor was determined using the Wald statistic value. The results showed that formality, value of assets, business sector, operating period, financial performance and size are all important factors in determining access to finance.MSEs; Finance; Multi-Currency; Logistic Regression

Formulating finger millet (Eleusine coracana L) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) food blend for enhanced micronutrients for children below 5 years

Malnutrition of children under 5 years is a public health concern because it is the most vulnerable stage of child’s growth where its impact results in long term health conditions such as stunting, wasting, obesity and poor cognitive development. This study aimed at developing a Rapoko-Cowpea porridge blend to enhance dietary micronutrients among children below the age of 5 years and assess its sensory acceptability. A mixed methods research approach was adopted consisting of a quasi- experiment and a cross sectional survey. Vendors from Mbare market were clustered based on the source of their finger millet and cowpea grains (Masvingo, Murewa, Gokwe). A Completely Randomised Design (CRD) was used with three treatments (blends) replicated three times. Proximate analysis was done using standard AOAC methods. Compared to cowpea, finger millet had the highest levels of carbohydrates (78.12g/100g), iron (8.7mg/100g), zinc (3.77mg/100g). Results also show that 75:25. Rapoko-Cowpea blend ratio had the ability to meet WHO daily nutrient requirements for children under the age of 5 years. Blend ratio of Rapoko: cowpeas (75:25) had the highest carbohydrates (69.41g/100g), protein (25.64g/100g), zinc (1.74mg/100g), iron (5.14mg/100g), energy (411.37kcal), and vitamins (0.11 mcg RAE) with RaCoB1 blend having the lowest nutrient composition. Results have showed that finger millet (Rapoko), cowpeas and RaCoB (Rapoko-Cowpea blend) blends have high macro and micronutrients (iron and zinc) to support daily nutritional requirements of children below the age of 5 years and may help in addressing malnutrition. Sensory evaluation was done with 100 panellists from the University of Zimbabwe and of the three blends, a 75:25 ratio was the most preferred (90.88%). Further studies need to analyse the effects of anti-nutritional factors, bioavailability of nutrients, shelf life of the food blend and commercialization potential of RaCoB blends. The government is therefore encouraged to provide agronomic support for increased productivity of small grains and pulses through improved research and extension. There is a need to develop a policy at national level that promotes blending of cereals and pulses as well as innovative small scale food processing initiatives through private-public partnerships.http://ajfand.netAnthropology and Archaeolog

Gender influence on participation in cassava value chains in smallholder farming sectors : evidence from Kigoma region, Tanzania

When the agricultural value chain involves profit making, it results in changes in the production and distribution relationships among men and women in terms of access to and control of markets, resources and benefits emanating from product value chain participation. This affects not only individual incomes but also gender equality. This study examined gender relationships in the cassava value chain in the Kigoma region of Tanzania. The aim was to assess gender participation in the cassava value chain. Multi-stage sampling was used to select the respondents in four districts. A structured questionnaire was administered to 384 randomly selected household heads. A chi-square test was used to test for significant relationships among the variables. Results indicated that gender was significantly related to socio-economic characteristics. About 34% of the women participating in the cassava value chain were young, some below 17 years of age. There were significant relationships between gender and access to resources (land, extension services and markets), control over resources (land, house and household assets) and benefits (revenue) generated from cassava value chains. Overall, there was gender disparity in participation along the cassava value chain. These results suggest that any intervention in the cassava value chain should consider gender relations to benefit men and women and alleviate household poverty.https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/experimental-agriculturehj2020Anthropology and Archaeolog

Gender and Cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) value chains: An intra-household gendered analysis of smallholder farmers in Tanzania

This study examined intra-household gender inequalities in the cassava value chains in Tanzania with the aim of enabling women to escape poverty and food insecurity through enhanced women empowerment and participation in cassava value chains. This is because women in developing countries are often omitted from key parts of the agricultural value chains. In contrast to global high value chains, traditional food value chains such as cassava and associated gender relations as well as power dynamics within households have received little attention. A reason for this tendency is because much of the value chain studies have ignored intra-household gender dynamics and concentrated much of their investigations on the macro level without taking a gendered analysis at the micro level. A convergent mixed-methods design was adopted which consists of a quantitative strand and qualitative strand being conducted independently of each other, with the integration of the two strands occurring at the interpretation stage. Data were collected from Kigoma, Zanzibar, Mkuranga and Geita through structured interviews conducted with 228 farmers, triangulated with key informant interviews, direct observations, repeated household visits, and desk review. Descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Biprobit and ordinary least squares regression models were used to estimate the determinants of women’s participation in cassava cultivation and marketing in Tanzania. The findings reveal that there are weak linkages within the cassava value chain, which were highly gendered. While the production and processing nodes of the cassava value chains were dominated by women and children, women were not well-integrated within high value nodes such as marketing in urban areas and cross-border trading, which were dominated by men. Transportation of cassava to highly lucrative markets was also dominated by men. Women were confined to local weekly markets with low prices while men dominated as middlemen and urban marketers. Cassava processing was conducted at the household level as well as within small-scale cooperatives, with the major portion of this work being done by women. Supporting institutions were found to be involved in the supply of cassava planting material, training, and the provision of processing equipment. Both men and women were not accessing credit and extension support. In general, men played a prominent role in the control of resources, marketing, and income. The mapping of cassava value chains could help to identify avenues for upgrading capacities, reducing gender inequality, and enhancing women’s participation in marketing and income control.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2018.Anthropology and ArchaeologyPhDUnrestricte

Exploring food fortification potential of neglected legume and oil seed crops for improving food and nutrition security among smallholder farming communities : a systematic review

A systematic review of literature on value-addition and food fortification of cereals using neglected legume and oil seed crops among smallholder farming communities was done. There is scanty and very limited empirical evidence on the use of legumes in food fortification of cereals at the household level. This is largely because of a neglect of local micronutrient provision initiatives at the household level, with much attention being done at policy and industrial scale food fortification levels. Besides, the current policies do not provide for the fortification of most food crops commonly grown in smallholder farming communities and there are very few initiatives that are in place to promote localised fortification options among rural communities. The paper consolidated existing knowledge on food fortification in general, value addition of small grains and neglected legume and oil seed crops. It explored fortification potential of sesame, cow pea and groundnuts and mapped existing gaps and missing links hampering the enhancement of food security and nutrition. This study recommends the promotion of groundnuts and sesame production, their value addition, and their use in the fortification of cereal food products to complement protein, Vitamins, Fe, K, Na, Mg, Zn, and Ca provision. This will significantly contribute to the alleviation of malnutrition among rural communities particularly in developing countries where agriculture is the mainstay of economies.The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and RUFORUM Community Action Research Programme PLUS (CARP+).http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-agriculture-and-food-researchhj2022Anthropology and Archaeolog

Research priorities for global food security under extreme events

Extreme events, such as those caused by climate change, economic or geopolitical shocks, and pest or disease epidemics, threaten global food security. The complexity of causation, as well as the myriad ways that an event, or a sequence of events, creates cascading and systemic impacts, poses significant challenges to food systems research and policy alike. To identify priority food security risks and research opportunities, we asked experts from a range of fields and geographies to describe key threats to global food security over the next two decades and to suggest key research questions and gaps on this topic. Here, we present a prioritization of threats to global food security from extreme events, as well as emerging research questions that highlight the conceptual and practical challenges that exist in designing, adopting, and governing resilient food systems. We hope that these findings help in directing research funding and resources toward food system transformations needed to help society tackle major food system risks and food insecurity under extreme events

Research priorities for global food security under extreme events

Extreme events, such as those caused by climate change, economic or geopolitical shocks, and pest or disease epidemics, threaten global food security. The complexity of causation, as well as the myriad ways that an event, or a sequence of events, creates cascading and systemic impacts, poses significant challenges to food systems research and policy alike. To identify priority food security risks and research opportunities, we asked experts from a range of fields and geographies to describe key threats to global food security over the next two decades and to suggest key research questions and gaps on this topic. Here, we present a prioritization of threats to global food security from extreme events, as well as emerging research questions that highlight the conceptual and practical challenges that exist in designing, adopting, and governing resilient food systems. We hope that these findings help in directing research funding and resources toward food system transformations needed to help society tackle major food system risks and food insecurity under extreme events