In Mozambique, agricultural production is dominated by smallholder farmers with production mostly targeted towards own house consumption with very little for marketing. This study analyzed the trends of market participation, examined the socioeconomic characteristics of households and determined the effect of the factors influencing the household decision to participate in the market. The t-test and chi-square test is used to examine the socioeconomic characteristics of households and the analysis of factors influencing household decisions to participate in the market was achieved using the Cragg’s Independent Double Hurdle Model. This study used 2002-2012 data from Trabalho de Inquérito Agrícola (TIA). The trend analysis result showed a downward trend. The results from the t-test and chi-square test on each variables showed that the two groups (participants and non-participants) differ from each other except for few variables – age of household head, household size and the use of manure. The results from the double hurdle model showed a positive relation to the production quantity, household head being a male and the use of extension services and a negative relation for households who had experienced crop lost. This study concluded that male headed households’ had greater opportunity in food-crop markets and that the extension service is vital to market participation and on the quantities sold in the market. Therefore, it was recommended that agricultural programs should focus on male headed households and that extension services coverage should be broaden within each region in the country.

Keywords: Double hurdle model, Market participation,Trend analysis