Abstract
Survey data on observed choices of protein feed supplements by smallholder dairy farmers in Chikwaka communal area of Zimbabwe were analyzed for factors affecting use of a specific agroforesty practice. The observed protein supplementation choices included multipurpose tree [MPT] fodder and purchased concentrates. These supplements were used mostly in combination and were thus considered jointly by multivariate probit analysis. The results indicated significant positive correlation suggesting joint use of the two protein supplements by these smallholder dairy farmers. Significant correlations also indicated that relative specialization in the dairy enterprise, where milk revenue is cited as the primary income source, is an endogenous factor in the choice of both protein supplements by farmers. Multinomial logit analysis was also applied to determine significant explanatory factors in supplement choice. It was found that dependence on off-farm wages, cropping season labor constraints and receipt of crop revenue as the primary income source each significantly reduced the probability of using both purchased concentrates and multipurpose tree fodder. The probability of using multipurpose tree fodder alone was reduced by relatively fewer years of experience in the dairy industry and in growing MPT fodder trees, but increased by having greater areas planted. Overall, continued use of MPT fodder and the potential of this technology to substitute for purchased concentrates appeared to be dependent on the ability to generate income from milk production and fodder yields from the technology in the short-term, and the learning curve with fodder tree growing in the long-term.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ben-Akiva M.E. and Lerman S.R. 1985. Binary choice analysis: theory and application to travel demand. MIT Press, Massachusetts, USA.
Caswell M.F. and Zilberman D. 1985. The choices of irrigation technologies in California. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 67: 224–234.
Clatsworthy J.N. 1987. Feed resources of small-scale livestock producers in Zimbabwe. In: Kategile J.A., Said A.N. and Dzowela B.H. (eds), Animal feed resources for small scale livestock producers, International Development Research Center, Ottawa, Canada.
Dorfman J.H. 1996. Modeling multiple adoption decisions in a joint framework. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 78(August): 547–57.
Dube L. 1995. An economic analysis of smallholder dairy farming in Zimbabwe. Unpublished MSc. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Dzowela B.H. and Mafongoya P.L. 1997. On-farm fodder bank research in Zimbabwe: results and recommendations from three years experience (1994-1997). ICRAF, Harare, Zimbabwe.
El-Osta H.S. and Morehart M.J. 1999. Technology adoption decisions in dairy production and the role of herd expansion. Agricultural and Resource Economics (April): 84-95.
Feder G.R., Just E. and Zilberman D. 1981. Adoption of agricultural innovations in developing countries: a survey. Economic Development and Cultural Change 33 (2): 255–298.
Francis J. 1993. Effects of strategic supplementation on work performance and physiological parameters of Mashona oxen. Unpublished M.Phil. Thesis, Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Franzel S. 1999. Socioeconomic factors affecting the adoption potential of improved tree fallows in Africa. Agroforestry Systems 47: 305–321.
Greene W.H. 2000. Econometric analysis. 4th Edition. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA.
Greene W.H. 1995. LIMDEP version 7.0 user manual. Econometrics Software Inc., New York, USA.
Griliches Z. 1957. Hybrid corn: an exploration in the economics of technological change. Econometrica 25 (October): 501-22.
Hanemann M.W. and Kanninen B. 1996. The statistical analysis of discrete response CV data. Working Paper No. 798. Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Berkeley, California, USA.
Huffman W.E. 1974. Decision making: the role of education. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 56: 85–97.
Hajivassiliou V. 1993. Simulation estimation methods for limited dependent variable models. In: Maddala G.S., Rao C.R. and Vinod D. (eds), Handbook of Statistics Volume 11, Econometrics. North-Holland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 519–43.
McFadden D. 1974. Conditional logit analysis of qualitative choice behavior. In: Zarembka P. (ed.), Frontiers in Econometrics. Academic Press, New York, USA, pp. 105–142.
Mupeta B. 1995. The potential development of communal areas for dairy production. A paper prepared for the technical program for Dairy Development Program-ARDA, Henderson Research Station, Mazowe, Zimbabwe.
Pannel D.J. 1999. Social and economic challenges in the development of complex farming systems. Agroforestry Systems 45: 393–409.
Rauniyar G.P. and Goode F.M. 1992. Technology adoption on small farms. World Development 20 (February): 275–282.
SPSS Inc. 1999. SPSS Base 9.0 applications guide. SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Szymanski M. and Colletti J. 1999. Combining the socioeconomic-cultural implications of community owned agroforestry: The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Agroforestry Systems 44: 227–239.
Train K. 1986. Qualitative choice analysis: theory, econometrics and an application to automobile demand. MIT Press, Massachusetts, USA.
Zepeda L. 1994. Simultaneity of technology adoption and productivity. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 19 (1): 46–57.
Zepeda L. 1990. Adoption of capital versus management intensive technologies. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 38 (1990): 457–469.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moyo, S., Veeman, M. Analysis of joint and endogenous technology choice for protein supplementation by smallholder dairy farmers in Zimbabwe. Agroforestry Systems 60, 199–209 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AGFO.0000024413.12439.ec
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AGFO.0000024413.12439.ec