Article

Measuring payoffs to agricultural training among small holder tobacco producers

Edward Mutandwa Christopher .T. Gadzirayi^* and Richard Foti

Department of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe.

Department of Agricultural Education and Extension, Bindura University of Science Education.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: gadzirayichris@yahoo.co.uk.

Accepted 8 March, 2008.

   Introduction

The broad objective of this study was to ascertain whether training in tobacco farming influences tobacco yields and returns among smallholder farmers in Guruve District of Zimbabwe. A total of 40 farmers, selected using quota sampling, were interviewed using structured questionnaires. A multiple regression model was developed to test the working hypothesis that training of farmers impacts farm outcomes at the 5% level. The results of the study showed that yields for trained and untrained farmers were 1522 and 1480 kg/ha respectively. Tobacco returns for trained and untrained farmers were US$317 and US$350/ha respectively. Both variables were not statistically different at 5% level. Much of the variance in tobacco returns has been significantly affected by value of loans received and age of the farmer. These results suggest that tobacco farm credit support is important and should be consolidated. However, there is need to provide after-training extension services for farmers to ensure that training influences farm outcomes. 

Key words: Tobacco exports, training, smallholder, multiple regression, Zimbabwe.