IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cwk/ajocsl/2026-074.html

Investigating the Factors Affecting the Participation of Small Scale-Farmers in Agricultural Entrepreneurship in Zambia: A Case Study of Mpongwe Rural Communities, Copperbelt Province

Author

Listed:
  • Nanga, Isaac

    (Kwame Nkrumah University)

  • Mundia, Mukwalikuli

    (Kwame Nkrumah University)

  • Mwiya, Mufalali Simasiku

    (Kwame Nkrumah University)

Abstract

Small-scale farmers play a significant role in supporting rural livelihoods and agricultural production in Zambia. However, despite increasing opportunities to engage in agriculture as a business, many farmers remain confined to subsistence farming, while limited research has examined how socio-economic, institutional, and infrastructural and market-related factors influence their participation in agricultural entrepreneurship at the community level. This study investigated the factors affecting the participation of small-scale farmers in agricultural entrepreneurship in Mpongwe District of Zambia’s Copperbelt Province. Specifically, the study explored the influence of socio-economic, institutional, and infrastructural and market-related factors on farmers’ participation. A qualitative case study design was employed, involving 25 respondents comprising 20 small-scale farmers and 5 key informants from three villages in Mpongwe District. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically, guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The findings revealed that household income, land size, education, age, and gender influenced farmers’ participation, with limited financial capacity to purchase farming inputs emerging as the greatest constraint. Cooperative membership served as an important gateway to institutional support, while non-members had limited access to government input programmes, extension services, and agricultural credit. Poor rural roads, inadequate storage facilities, weak mobile network coverage, and limited market opportunities further constrained farmers’ ability to operate profitably. The study concludes that socio-economic, institutional, and infrastructural and market-related factors are interconnected and collectively constrain small-scale farmers’ participation in agricultural entrepreneurship in Mpongwe District. The study recommends strengthening cooperative outreach, improving timely input delivery, expanding extension services, increasing access to agricultural credit, and investing in rural roads, storage facilities, and communication infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • Nanga, Isaac & Mundia, Mukwalikuli & Mwiya, Mufalali Simasiku, 2026. "Investigating the Factors Affecting the Participation of Small Scale-Farmers in Agricultural Entrepreneurship in Zambia: A Case Study of Mpongwe Rural Communities, Copperbelt Province," African Journal of Commercial Studies, African Journal of Commercial Studies, vol. 7(5).
    • Handle: RePEc:cwk:ajocsl:2026-074
    DOI: 10.59413/ajocs/v7.i5.7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ijcsacademia.com/index.php/journal/article/view/705
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.59413/ajocs/v7.i5.7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Emily Ouma & John Jagwe & Gideon Aiko Obare & Steffen Abele, 2010. "Determinants of smallholder farmers' participation in banana markets in Central Africa: the role of transaction costs," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 41(2), pages 111-122, March.
    2. World Bank, 2019. "Enabling the Business of Agriculture 2019," World Bank Publications - Reports 31804, The World Bank Group.
    3. Ortmann, Gerald F. & King, Robert P., 2007. "Agricultural cooperatives II: Can they facilitate access of small-scale farmers in South Africa to input and product markets?," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 46(2), pages 1-26, June.
    4. Sitko, Nicholas J. & Jayne, T.S., 2014. "Exploitative Briefcase Businessmen, Parasites, and Other Myths and Legends: Assembly Traders and the Performance of Maize Markets in Eastern and Southern Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 56-67.
    5. Shamdasani, Yogita, 2021. "Rural road infrastructure & agricultural production: Evidence from India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    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. Admire Katunga & Edilegnaw Wale Zegeye & Gerald Ortmann, 2021. "Structure and entry barriers to access groundnut markets for intermediary traders in central and northern Malawi," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(3), pages 264-279, July.
    2. Ateka, Josiah M. & Onono-Okelo, Perez Ayieko & Etyang, Martin, 2021. "Selling at the farmgate? Role of liquidity constraints and implications for agricultural productivity," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 60(4), October.
    3. Baiyegunhi, L.J.S. & Oppong, B.B., 2016. "Commercialisation of mopane worm (Imbrasia belina) in rural households in Limpopo Province, South Africa," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 141-148.
    4. Mausch, Kai & Woldeyohanes, Tesfaye & Heckelei, Thomas & Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul, "undated". "A Triple Hurdle Model of the Impacts of Improved Chickpea Adoption on Smallholder Production and Commercialization in Ethiopia," 92nd Annual Conference, April 16-18, 2018, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 273473, Agricultural Economics Society.
    5. Antoine Bouët & Aziz Elbehri & Duc Bao Nguyen & Fousseini Traoré, 2022. "Measuring Agricultural Trade Integration in Southeast Asia," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 37(2), pages 235-266.
    6. Momanyi, Denis & Lagat, Prof. Job K. & Ayuya, Dr. Oscar I., 2016. "Analysis of the Marketing Behaviour of African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables among Smallholder Farmers in Nyamira County, Kenya," MPRA Paper 69202, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 27 Jan 2016.
    7. Mastulah Kawala & Theodora Shuwu Hyuha & Ekere William & Peter Walekwa & Gabriel Elepu & Sloans Chimatiro Kalumba, 2018. "Determinants for Choice of Fish Market Channels: The Case of Busia (Uganda/Kenya) Border," Journal of Agricultural Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(8), pages 118-118, July.
    8. Kalle Hirvonen & Bart Minten & Belay Mohammed & Seneshaw Tamru, 2021. "Food prices and marketing margins during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from vegetable value chains in Ethiopia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(3), pages 407-421, May.
    9. Shichao Yuan & Xizhuo Wang, 2024. "Increase or Reduce: How Does Rural Infrastructure Investment Affect Villagers’ Income?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-21, December.
    10. Ouma, Emily Awuor & Jagwe, John, 2010. "Banana Value Chains in Central Africa: Constraints and Opportunities," 2010 AAAE Third Conference/AEASA 48th Conference, September 19-23, 2010, Cape Town, South Africa 96169, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    11. Thembi Xaba & Nyankomo Marwa & Babita Mathur-Helm, 2018. "Efficiency and Profitability Analysis of Agricultural Cooperatives in Mpumalanga, South Africa," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(6), pages 1-10.
    12. Bu, Tao & Tang, Daisheng & Zhang, Zheng & Jiang, Chengkai, 2025. "Rural road improvement and individual health in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    13. Husmann, Christine, 2015. "Transaction Costs on the Ethiopian Formal Seed Market and Innovations for Encouraging Private Sector Investments," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 54(01), pages 1-18, February.
    14. Kumar Gautam, Santosh & Shandal, Monica & Zucker, Ariel, 2026. "Roads to the Market or the Town Hall? New Evidence from India's PMGSY," IZA Discussion Papers 18468, IZA Network @ LISER.
    15. Sitko, Nicholas J. & Chamberlin, Jordan & Hichaambwa, Munguzwe, 2015. "The Geography of Customary Land in Zambia: Is Development Strategy Engaging With The Facts?," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 211222, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    16. Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr. & Lokossou, Jourdain C., 2026. "Extreme heat and markets: Theoretical and empirical evidence from Nigeria," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    17. Sitko, Nicholas J. & Kuteya, Auckland N., 2013. "The Maize Price Spike of 2012/13: Understanding the Paradox of High Prices despite Abundant Supplies," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 171871, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    18. Sengupta, Reshmi & Rooj, Debasis, 2025. "Road connectivity and contraceptive choices: Empirical evidence from rural India," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    19. Camara, Alhassane & Savard, Luc, 2023. "Impact of agricultural input subsidy policy on market participation and income distribution in Africa: A bottom-up/top-down approach," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    20. Ashok K. Mishra & Anjani Kumar & Pramod K. Joshi & Alwin D'Souza, 2018. "Cooperatives, contract farming, and farm size: The case of tomato producers in Nepal," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(4), pages 865-886, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q13 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

    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:cwk:ajocsl:2026-074. 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. Charles G. Kamau (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ijcsacademia.com/index.php/journal .

    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.