Spearheading Development through Empowering Smallholder Farmers along Beef Cattle Value Chains: a Case of Goromonzi and Murehwa Districts, Zimbabwe
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Angeline Mujeyi, Munyaradzi Mutenje, Godfrey Manyawu, Lovemore Gwiriri, Irenie Chakoma. (4/12/2015). Spearheading Development through Empowering Smallholder Farmers along Beef Cattle Value Chains: a Case of Goromonzi and Murehwa Districts, Zimbabwe. International Journal of Managing Value and Supply Chains (IJMVSC), 6 (4), pp. 31-44.
Abstract
Smallholder beef subsector can potentially contribute to the nation’s development. The paper presents the
results of the value chain analysis of the beef sub sector in Zimbabwe. Data was gathered through cross
sectional household survey of 380 beef farmers, six community focus group discussions, key informant
interviews and interviews of value chain actors. Empirical results showed that profitability of beef
marketing by farmers is constrained by low productivity caused by longer calving intervals, poor animal
husbandry practices and lack of market information .Three existing beef cattle value chains were identified.
A total of 91% of the producers sold cattle to the informal livestock market and only 9% through formal
market. Body condition, health of animal and age were reported as major factors used in setting cattle
prices. The study recommends setting up breeding programs, improved husbandry practices, improving
farmer access to market information and collective action among farmers.
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Chakoma, Irenie https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8224-4513