¹Agricultural Partnership Trust, Zimbabwe.

²National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe.

*Corresponding Authors’ Contact Detail: E-mail Address ✉: daisyifeoma@gmail.com

Accepted August 15, 2021

Empirical evidence shows that vertical market linkages impact positively on farmers’ resilience capacities through increased income and productivity. This study had the primary aim of analyzing the impact of vertical market linkage outcomes on resilience capacities of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, and a secondary objective of comparing household characteristics portrayed by smallholders vertically linked to formal markets and those not vertically linked. Resilience capacities in this study are defined by the farmers’ ownership of productive assets, diversity of crop production and access to community social safety nets. Using the survey strategy, the study employed a disproportionate stratified random sampling technique in gathering data from 37 vertically linked farmers and 93 non-vertically linked farmers from a target population of 170 farming households. Findings from the regression analysis used in testing the model specification for the study show that vertical market linkages have a significant impact on farmers’ ownership of productive assets, and crop diversity but not community social safety nets. Findings also indicate that the household characteristics of vertically linked and non-vertically linked smallholder farmers are different. Extension access is identified in the study as a fundamental factor determining productivity gains and income improvement for vertically linked farmers.

Key words: Resilience; Vertical market linkage; Crop diversity; Productive asset; Community safety nets.

Full Text PDF(350 KB)