Assessing the livelihood system of smallholder farm households: Potential for adoption of improved fallows and green manure in Zimbabwe

Seventy percent of the population in Zimbabwe resides on the smallholder farms, which are characterized by low levels of income. Low crop yields due to low soil fertility were identified as some of the causes of poor agricultural productivity. The households have low resource levels and operate complex systems in which farming activities are supplemented with non-farming activities. In this dissertation, a household LP model, sensitive to the diversity of smallholder farm households, was developed to simulate their livelihood systems and to use the model to evaluate the potential adoption of improved fallow and green manure technologies.; Mangwende Communal Area of Zimbabwe was selected to take advantage of results from experiments conducted in the area and in adjacent research stations. Data were collected through multiple-visit interviews from ninety-nine randomly selected households and through group interviews. Households, on average, had small farms of 2.6 ha and had two members working fulltime on the farm. Forty percent did not have draft power or cattle manure. Some households were vulnerable to food insecurity.; The model was validated in a participatory manner by a sub-sample of the sample households and, statistically, model output results were compared to survey data. In order to evaluate improved fallows and green manure technologies, data from experiments were added to the model as additional activities. Adoption of new technologies helped households plant more maize and raise their incomes. The benefits that households would derive from the new technologies would depend on their ownership of draft power, available household labor and size of the farm. Households with fewer resources would realize more benefits compared to those who are better endowed.; The potential impact of increases in fertilizer prices was evaluated before and after the introduction of the improved fallows and green manures. Results showed that the new technologies were likely to allow farm incomes to be less vulnerable to fertilizer price increases. Household level characteristics were important in determining the activity levels on the farm after the price increase.; The model developed in this study could be used for evaluating other technologies and policies intended for smallholder farmers. With appropriate modifications on the model, it could be used in other areas in Zimbabwe and in other countries.