ABSTRACT This study examines the influence of land consolidation for large-scale agricultural investments (LSAIs) on commercialisation of smallholder agriculture in the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT). Grounded in market integration and diffusion of innovation theories, it compares agricultural outcomes between villages affected by LSAIs and those unaffected, focusing on land cultivation, technology adoption, productivity, and perceived commercial orientation. Using structured surveys, data were collected from 180 maize-producing smallholder farmers across six villages (three with LSAIs, three without). The study is predominantly descriptive, laying groundwork for more complex analytical studies that may explore causal relationships. Results indicate that smallholders in villages affected by LSAIs exhibit several positive shifts: higher adoption of modern technologies (e.g., tractors (16.9% vs. 3.6%), purchased seeds (62.2% vs. 49.4%), inorganic fertilisers (80% vs. 70.4%)), and pesticides (64% vs. 37.9%), improved access to storage facilities (55.7% vs. 40.2%), higher productivity (8.9 vs. 5.4 bags/acre), and stronger perceived commercial orientation (63% vs. 35%). Despite these gains, smallholder farmers in villages affected by LSAIs cultivate marginally less land (3.8 vs. 4.2 acres) amid higher shortages, demonstrating a greater reliance on title deeds (34.1% vs. 15.9%). While LSAIs serve as catalysts for smallholder commercialisation by enhancing efficiency and market linkages, they exacerbate land inequalities and displacement risks if safeguards are not implemented. These findings underscore the need for inclusive policies and balanced approaches that harness positive spillovers while ensuring equitable and sustainable commercialisation. The study recommends further research that employs causal methods to quantify long-term impacts on commercialisation trajectories.

ABSTRACT Small-scale irrigation schemes play a pivotal role in enhancing the resilience of smallholder farming systems by shielding agricultural production from climate shocks such as droughts and erratic rainfall. These schemes are potential game changers for Malawi's agriculture sector, which is highly vulnerable to inconsistent rainfall patterns that undermine crop yields and threaten livelihoods. However, the effectiveness and sustainability of irrigation depend heavily on a reliable and well-managed water supply. This paper used data from 352 randomly selected respondents to investigate the factors influencing farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for improved water supply services within small-scale irrigation schemes. Based on the stated preference frameworks, the study results show an average annual WTP of USD 1.68 per plot, with significant determinants including age and gender of the household head, distance to water sources, soil and water conservation practices, input credit, and proximity to markets. The findings highlight the need for a differentiated pricing model that considers farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, such as youth and gender dynamics, experience levels, and resource access. Additionally, targeted training in soil and water conservation practices is essential to maximise the long-term benefits of investments in sustainable irrigation infrastructure.

ABSTRACT Tobacco is grown on more than 4 million hectares of global agricultural land in at least 124 countries. As a member state to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) international treaty, Uganda seeks to support economically viable alternative activities as a means to tobacco control because previous efforts with tobacco control that focused on the demand side have failed to control tobacco supply. This study employed the Tradeoff Analysis-Minimum Data (TOA-MD) model to assess tradeoffs and associated economic impacts of switching from tobacco to alternative crops in smallholder cropping systems. Results revealed that switching from tobacco to alternative crops is economically feasible for most of the farms owing to the higher net economic returns. The proportion of farms that expect higher returns from alternative crops is highest for cassava (97%) followed by maize (87%), rice (83%) and the least for beans (74%). Cassava is the best alternative for both small and large farms because of the highest gains in farm net returns, per capita income and poverty reduction. The next feasible crop alternatives for large farms are maize and rice. Despite their economic feasibility, alternative crops are typical of uncertain markets with unorganised structures for production. Since these are important incentives for tobacco farmers, the study recommends development of institutions that foster value chain development for alternative crops. Supporting agro-processors is likely to guarantee markets and provide for lump-sum payments, input credit for production and a reliable extension service system as way of incentivizing a sustainable switch to alternative cropping systems.

ABSTRACT Despite the relevance of agriculture in terms of its contribution to food security and environmental sustainability, empirical evidence on the nature and effects of barriers to innovation, remains very limited. This problem has often led to inconsistent policy design, failing to meet the needs and expectations of farming enterprises. Innovation profiling and segmentation have emerged as important tools for understanding how businesses innovate. Using data from the South African Agricultural Business Innovation Survey (AgriBIS-2016-2018), this study applies the K-modes clustering algorithm, to group farming enterprises based on the innovation barriers they face. The analysis identified three distinct clusters with differing innovation profiles. The findings show that businesses in Cluster 2 recognised institutional barriers such as Lack of Government Support (65.4%) and Stringent Agricultural Policies (93.6%) as key barriers to their innovations, while Cluster 3 businesses highlighted environmental factors as critical impediments to their innovation. Cluster 1 businesses faced a diverse range of resource-related barriers. This study addresses a key knowledge gap and increases our understanding of the barriers to agricultural innovation. The findings have important implications for innovation policy instruments and strategies aimed at promoting agricultural innovation, sustainability, productivity and resilience in the face of barriers to innovation.

ABSTRACT A discrete choice experiment in Kinshasa (DRC) investigated urban consumers' preferences between imports and local options for five staple foods – cassava, rice, maize, sugar and cooking oil – under a random utility model. We also examined how distance, packaging and price influenced consumer choice. To assess whether preferences could be manipulated, we introduced two treatment groups – local, import – and a control group. We did not find support for a preference for imports. Instead, there is a statistically significant preference for local products, with the exception of sugar. Respondents are willing to pay 28% more for local food, a premium quantified at 1540 CF (.93 USD) per kg for maize and 1091CF (.66 USD) per litre for oil. Packaging is an attribute of influence as the willingness to pay (WTP) in full remains positive when products interact with packaging and with price. There is demand for local products for which consumers are willing to pay a premium. Yet, DRC imports 1.5 billion dollars of food yearly with only 10% of its arable land exploited. The increased urban consumption of imports does not signify a bias against local products, but rather points to structural issues undermining local supply. DRC needs to develop local value chains linking rural farmers to urban markets through the transformation of local foods to meet urban needs and to convert the WTP into a producer surplus benefiting rural livelihoods.

ABSTRACT Lucerne hay is undoubtedly one of the most important forage crops used in animal nutrition globally. This article sheds light on the intricacies of the South African lucerne hay sector by offering an industry overview. Lucerne hay quality is categorised into different grades: Supreme, Prime, Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3, each exhibiting its distinct characteristics and attributes based on the nutritional value of dairy cattle. The producer price of lucerne hay is driven by supply and demand in the market. These fluctuations reflect the attractiveness of new producers entering or producers exiting the industry, indicating the sensitivity of market dynamics to external factors like weather and international demand. On average, South Africa exports 160 to 240 thousand tons annually, mainly to neighbouring countries and the Middle East. Over the last several years, the Chinese markets imported a growing volume of South African-produced lucerne hay. Weather conditions are one of the leading drivers of changes in the availability, quantity, and quality of lucerne hay in South Africa, impacting the producer price of lucerne hay in the local market. This article aims to provide insight into the dynamics of the South African lucerne hay industry. Additional research is required to understand the interactions of weather conditions (temperature variations, rainfall and occurrence of rainfall) on lucerne hay production and quality. Understanding international demand for South African lucerne hay will provide insight into the competitiveness of South African lucerne hay in the international market.

ABSTRACT The water use practices in Menz Mama Midir woreda are very traditional and inefficient. To lessen this problem, water pricing (valuation) has been considered to be a promising tool. This study, therefore, examined smallholder farmers' willingness to pay and determinants affecting their decisions to pay for improved irrigation water use in Menz Mama woreda, North Shewa zone, Amhara national regional state of Ethiopia. Cross-sectional data collected from 215 randomly sampled irrigation beneficiaries were used for analysis. The mean WTP from double bounded dichotomous elicitation method ranges from 164.027 Birr (4.17 USD) to 221.059 Birr (5.62 USD) per year per hectare of irrigable land. The result from the seemingly unrelated bivariate probit model estimation revealed that the sex of the household head, total annual farm income, size of irrigable landholdings of the household, frequency of extension contacts, amount of credit, and dissatisfaction with the existing irrigation service positively and significantly influenced farmers' WTP decisions. In contrast, off-farm income and bid values were negatively related to WTP decisions. Therefore, the aforementioned factors affecting farmers' decisions to pay should be taken into consideration when constructing irrigation schemes in the study area and areas with similar economic and socio-cultural settings.

ABSTRACT Using primary data collected from 389 sample households in Dangla district, Amhara region of Ethiopia, this study examined smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for ZM-GrowTM foliar fertiliser. The study employed the Tobit model to estimate the determinants of the maximum willingness to pay and a seemingly unrelated bivariate probit model to estimate the mean willingness to pay for foliar fertiliser. The results of the Tobit regression model showed that the education level of the farm household, total annual income, access to credit service, access to agricultural extension service, perception about fertiliser, and cost of the existing fertiliser have a positive and significant effect on farm households’ willingness to pay. On the other hand, the age of farm households, availability of labour, and initial bid price have negative and significant effect on farm households’ willingness to pay for ZM-GrowTM foliar fertiliser. The mean willingness to pay for ZM-GrowTM foliar fertiliser, estimated using the seemingly unrelated bivariate probit model, was 121.16 birr/litre (2.75 USD/litre). The corresponding mean willingness to pay amount estimated from an open-ended format was 161.105 Birr/litre (3.65 USD/litre). The results suggest that foliar fertilisers could be good alternatives to the existing fertilisers and its adoption can be further facilitated through improved access to knowledge and finance/credit.

ABSTRACT Since 2000, Zimbabwe’s agricultural output has fluctuated despite the transfer of agricultural technology by various organisations and international partners. The low output response to technology transfer is attributed to the twin problems of lack of access and adoption of technology, which are largely explained by weak institutions, financial constraints, skill and knowledge deficiency, and poor rural infrastructure. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the effect of agricultural technology transfer on economic development using a dynamic Global Trade Analysis Project model for the reference year 2011. The study results indicated that economic performance improves when quality fertilisers, certified seeds, and machinery from other countries are used more intensively. Thus, policy interventions are required that enhance credit extension, roads, capital equipment, and good institutions such as property rights that incentivise farmers to adopt and invest in technology.