IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bjc/journl/v11y2024i11p773-783.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unpacking the Zimbabwean Smallholder Banana Farmers’ Dilemma along Value Chains: A Survey in Mutasa District

Author

Listed:
  • Kumbirai Terera

    (Women’s University in Africa)

  • Silas Mangwende

    (Women’s University in Africa)

  • Josphat Nyoni

    (Women’s University in Africa)

Abstract

This article unpacks the Zimbabwean smallholder banana farmers’ dilemma along value chain. Despite a plethora of interventions seeking to empower the smallholder banana farmers, cocktail of challenges compromises success. The study adopted a quantitative and descriptive research approach to examine the challenges faced by the Zimbabwean smallholder banana farmers. A survey in Mutasa District of Manicaland Province culminated in the collection of data from 218 smallholder banana farmers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and there was use of descriptive statistics in analysis. Smallholder banana farmers’ efforts were constrained by their limited voice and power to influence profitable returns. Value chain players guarded jealously their returns with limited to no support made to alleviate farmers from poverty. Smallholder farmers continue to be marginalised along the value chain, and encounter stumbling blocks during pre-production, production, post-harvest management, and marketing. The dilemma of Zimbabwean smallholder banana farmers along the value chain is subject to limited research. The study recommends strategies to economically empower the smallholder banana farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Kumbirai Terera & Silas Mangwende & Josphat Nyoni, 2024. "Unpacking the Zimbabwean Smallholder Banana Farmers’ Dilemma along Value Chains: A Survey in Mutasa District," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 11(11), pages 773-783, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bjc:journl:v:11:y:2024:i:11:p:773-783
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/digital-library/volume-11-issue-11/773-783.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/articles/unpacking-the-zimbabwean-smallholder-banana-farmers-dilemma-along-value-chains-a-survey-in-mutasa-district/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bob Doherty & Pichawadee Kittipanya-Ngam, 2021. "The Role of Social Enterprise Hybrid Business Models in Inclusive Value Chain Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-24, January.
    2. Christopher Agyekumhene & Jasper R. de Vries & Annemarie van Paassen & Marc Schut & Phil MacNaghten, 2020. "Making Smallholder Value Chain Partnerships Inclusive: Exploring Digital Farm Monitoring through Farmer Friendly Smartphone Platforms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Awal Abdul‐Rahaman & Awudu Abdulai, 2020. "Social networks, rice value chain participation and market performance of smallholder farmers in Ghana," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(2), pages 216-227, June.
    4. Melia, Elvis, 2019. "The impact of information and communication technologies on jobs in Africa: a literature review," IDOS Discussion Papers 3/2019, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    5. Xuan Hoa Ao & Trinh Vuong Vu & Khac Dong Le & Sopin Jirakiattikul & Kuaanan Techato, 2019. "An analysis of the smallholder farmers’ cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) value chain through a gender perspective: the case of Dak Lak province, Vietnam," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(1), pages 1645632-164, January.
    6. Carlos F. B. V. Alho & Amanda F. Silva & Chantal M. J. Hendriks & Jetse J. Stoorvogel & Peter J. M. Oosterveer & Eric M. A. Smaling, 2021. "Analysis of banana and cocoa export commodities in food system transformation, with special reference to certification schemes as drivers of change," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(6), pages 1555-1575, December.
    7. Alicia Ramírez-Orellana & Daniel Ruiz-Palomo & Alfonso Rojo-Ramírez & John E. Burgos-Burgos, 2021. "The Ecuadorian Banana Farms Managers’ Perceptions: Innovation as a Driver of Environmental Sustainability Practices," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Valeria Borsellino & Emanuele Schimmenti & Hamid El Bilali, 2020. "Agri-Food Markets towards Sustainable Patterns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-35, March.
    9. Rami Al Sidawi & Teo Urushadze & Angelika Ploeger, 2021. "Factors and Components Affecting Dairy Smallholder Farmers and the Local Value Chain— Kvemo Kartli as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-26, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kumbirai Gift Terera & Silas Parowa Mangwende & Josphat Nyoni & Edmore Masama, 2025. "Developing a Value Chain Model to Economically Empower Banana Farmers in Developing Countries," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(7), pages 302-314, July.
    2. Vincent Cheruiyot Kirui1 & Dr. Paul Kipyegon Sang, 2020. "The Quest for Socioeconomic Development in Kenya: A Review of the Impact of Public Infrastructure on the Voyage," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 4(11), pages 145-158, November.
    3. McGrath, Karen & Brown, Claire & Regan, Áine & Russell, Tomás, 2023. "Investigating narratives and trends in digital agriculture: A scoping study of social and behavioural science studies," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    4. Silvia Scaramuzzi & Sara Gabellini & Giovanni Belletti & Andrea Marescotti, 2021. "Agrobiodiversity-Oriented Food Systems between Public Policies and Private Action: A Socio-Ecological Model for Sustainable Territorial Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-32, November.
    5. Tamar Papiashvili & Jie Shang & Ali Raza & Vasilii Erokhin, 2025. "Hyper-industrialization of China’s Agricultural Sector: Effects of Administration, Logistics, and Trade Integration," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 389-411, March.
    6. Nguyen Thi Nha Trang & Thanh-Thuy Nguyen & Hong V. Pham & Thi Thu Anh Cao & Thu Huong Trinh Thi & Javad Shahreki, 2022. "Impacts of Collaborative Partnership on the Performance of Cold Supply Chains of Agriculture and Foods: Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-28, May.
    7. Robert B. Zougmoré & Samuel T. Partey, 2022. "Gender Perspectives of ICT Utilization in Agriculture and Climate Response in West Africa: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-15, September.
    8. Abdulkareem Alhassan & Joshua Dzankar Zoaka & Salim Hamza Ringim, 2021. "Africa as headwaiter at the dining table of global value chains: Do institutions matter for her participation?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(3), pages 560-576, September.
    9. Patience Pokuaa Gambrah & Qian Yu, 2025. "Smallholder farmers’ network structure: a case study in Ghana," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 1-17, March.
    10. Ribašauskienė, Erika & Volkov, Artiom & Morkūnas, Mangirdas & Žičkienė, Agnė & Dabkiene, Vida & Štreimikienė, Dalia & Baležentis, Tomas, 2024. "Strategies for increasing agricultural viability, resilience and sustainability amid disruptive events: An expert-based analysis of relevance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    11. Xiyuan Yu & Wenli Liu & Lingli Qing & Di Zhang, 2023. "Improving Farm Cooperatives’ Performance and Sustainability: A Study of Agricultural Managers’ Competencies Based on the Grounded Theory and the fsQCA Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    12. Awal Abdul‐Rahaman & Gazali Issahaku & Wanglin Ma, 2023. "Agrifood system participation and production efficiency among smallholder vegetable farmers in Northern Ghana," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(3), pages 812-835, July.
    13. Deolu-Ajayi, Ayodeji O. & Aranguiz, Adolfo Alvarez & Alho, Carlos Francisco Brazão Vieira & Siegmund-Schultze, Marianna & Ndambi, Asaah & Selassie, Yihenew G. & Abebe, Yenesew & Groot, Jeroen C.J. & H, 2023. "Integrated analysis of opportunities and trade-offs for mixed crop-livestock farm types in Amhara, Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    14. Lasdun, Violet & Güereña, Davíd & Ortiz-Crespo, Berta & Mutuvi, Stephen & Selvaraj, Michael & Assefa, Teshale, 2024. "Participatory AI for inclusive crop improvement," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    15. Dwi Ratna Hidayati & Elena Garnevska & Paul Childerhouse, 2021. "Sustainable Agrifood Value Chain—Transformation in Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    16. Viet Hoang & An Nguyen & Carmen Hubbard & Khanh-Duy Nguyen, 2021. "Exploring the Governance and Fairness in the Milk Value Chain: A Case Study in Vietnam," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, September.
    17. Adamu, Haruna & Bello, Usman & Yuguda, Abubakar Umar & Tafida, Usman Ibrahim & Jalam, Abdullahi Mohammad & Sabo, Ahmed & Qamar, Mohammad, 2023. "Production processes, techno-economic and policy challenges of bioenergy production from fruit and vegetable wastes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    18. Ataharul Chowdhury & Khondokar H. Kabir & Abdul-Rahim Abdulai & Md Firoze Alam, 2023. "Systematic Review of Misinformation in Social and Online Media for the Development of an Analytical Framework for Agri-Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-25, March.
    19. Kenny, Ursula & Regan, Áine & Hearne, Dave & O'Meara, Christine, 2021. "Empathising, defining and ideating with the farming community to develop a geotagged photo app for smart devices: A design thinking approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    20. Odhiambo, Nicholas M., 2022. "Information technology, income inequality and economic growth in sub-Saharan African countries," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(6).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bjc:journl:v:11:y:2024:i:11:p:773-783. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Renu Malsaria (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.