Siamabele, B. orcid.org/0000-0002-7622-3695 and Manda, S. orcid.org/0000-0001-6064-114X (2024) Soyabean expansion and smallholder livelihoods in rural Zambia: dynamics, experiences and implications. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 10 (1). 2413402. ISSN 2331-1932
Abstract
This study investigates how expansion of soyabean production enhances smallholder livelihoods in rural Zambia. Using a mixed-methods research design that integrates questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews. The results show that a clear policy orientation has driven the expansion of soyabean production, which has been underpinned by market dynamics and private actors. Soyabean adoption among smallholders is top-down, and emphasizes income benefits among rural producers. Soyabean adoption enhances food security and provides wider benefits, including increased community, regional, and cross-border trade exchanges. Quantitative analysis shows that climate change adaptation of soyabean cultivation increases the probability of improved rural livelihoods of small-scale farmers in Zambia by 1.554 which is statistically significant at 0.05 significance level. However, the top-down nature of soyabean promotion raises questions about sustainability beyond current state policy and market dynamics. The hype around soyabean expansion has not been followed by significant smallholder improvements; hence, there is a need for capacity building in value addition and processing, including those that emphasize the nutritional dimensions of soyabean expansion.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent. |
Keywords: | Adaptation; climate change; food security; livelihoods; soyabean cultivation; and zambia |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Politics & International Studies (POLIS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 23 Oct 2024 12:31 |
Last Modified: | 23 Oct 2024 12:31 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/23311932.2024.2413402 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:218775 |