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Volume 36, Issue 1, March 1997 >
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| Title: | HERD SIZE AND EFFICIENCY ON MIXED CROP AND LIVESTOCK FARMS: CASE STUDIES OF CHIWESHE AND GOKWE, ZIMBABWE |
| Authors: | Muchena, M.
Piesse, Jenifer
Thirtle, Colin G.
Townsend, Rob F. |
| Issue Date: | 1997-03 |
| Abstract: | This study is based on two 1991 sample surveys, each of ninety farms, in the predominantly
arable region of Chiweshe and in the low rainfall area of Gokwe, where animals are more
important. The two samples are reasonably representative of the range of conditions found in
the communal areas in Zimbabwe. Programming techniques are used to determine the
efficiency levels of the farms in each region. The results show that efficiency is positively related
to the numbers of both cows and oxen, with only a few farms in Gokwe possibly having too
many animals. Farms in Gokwe are on average about two thirds as efficient as those in
Chiweshe, which is a measure of the effects of the poorer climate and soils. Non-farm income is
also lower, due to lesser opportunities in the more remote region. In both regions, the majority
of farms are too small and the estimates suggest that increasing farm size could almost double
productivity. |
| URI: | http://purl.umn.edu/54978 |
| Institution/Association: | Agrekon>Volume 36, Issue 1, March 1997 |
| Total Pages: | 22 |
| From Page: | 59 |
| To Page: | 80 |
| Collections: | Volume 36, Issue 1, March 1997
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| Muchena - March 1997.pdf | | 142Kb | PDF | View/Open |
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