Smallholder farmer participation in a modernizing food system: insights from the dairy value chain in Zambia

January 28, 2017 - D Neven, T Reardon, R Hernandez, G Tembo

Neven, D., Hernandez, R., Reardon, T., Tembo, G. (2017) Smallholder farmer participation in a modernizing food system: insights from the dairy value chain in ZambiaFAO.

Abstract

This report explores whether farm assets determine the participation of smallholder dairy farmers in sales to MCCs and how their duration as MCC suppliers affects their accumulation of farm capital and technology. A survival analysis approach used constructed panel data for dairy farmers over a 12-year period. Participation in MCC value chains is found to be determined by location, training and cooperative membership, thus having a mixed effect on the inclusion of smallholder producers. Duration as an MCC supplier is correlated with accumulation of capital and changes in technology. The implications are that policy-makers need to facilitate smallholder farmers in engaging in collective action and accessing modern infrastructure.


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