Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article examines the determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in
Zimbabwe, with a view to identifying key policy entry points for increasing farmer incomes. Market
linkages have been identified as key to the successful integration of grain legumes into the smallholder
farming systems of southern Africa. Data for this article is derived from a baseline household survey in
Guruve district of Zimbabwe. Using a sample of 187 smallholder farmers, we employed the Heckman’s
Probit model with sample selection to firstly, identify the factors affecting a farmer’s decision to
participate in soybean markets and secondly, evaluate the factors that affect the intensity of a farmer’s
participation. Study findings show that the use of inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties are
significantly correlated with participating in soybean markets. Results also show that ownership of
radios has a positive effect on the household’s decision to participate in the soybean market. Further
results show that male-headed households are less likely than female-headed households to participate
in soybean markets because legumes are seen as women’s crops in Zimbabwe. We conclude that in
order to leverage smallholder farmers’ market participation in soybean markets, it is important to
improve access to inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties and improving access to market
information. We recommend that authorities could improve access to market information to improve
farmers’ decision making on soybeans market participation.