Labour Dynamics in Climate and Techno Reliant Small Scale Maize Production

  • Ardinesh Kambanje Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare
  • Saul Ngarava Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare
  • Abyssinia Mushunje Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare
  • Amon Taruvinga Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v10i4(J).2426
Keywords: Improved Maize Varieties, Labour, Monte Carlo Simulation, South Africa

Abstract

 Adoption of improved technology tends to recalibrate labour use in agricultural production. The study examined how the adoption of various maize varieties impacted labour use in smallholder production. The study utilised a structured pre-coded questionnaire-based survey of 487 smallholder maize farmers in South Africa. The purposive sample was obtained from Ingquza Hill and Port St John’s Local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province. A multinomial regression model and Monte Carlo Simulation were utilised to analyse the data. Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) version 23 as well as Excel were the statistical tools utilised. Through multinomial regression analysis, the study found that weeding labour was the most significantly affected by a change in maize variety. It was observed that as maize variety transcends in use from Landrace to GMO, improved OPV and conventional hybrid, ploughing and weeding hours tend to decrease. The harvesting, storage and shelling hours tend to increase. Utilising the Monte Carlo Simulation, the study also found an increased impact of maize variety utilisation on harvesting as well as on shelling and storage labour hours.  The study recommends that varieties be promoted taking cognizance of the labour dynamics to tier maximize suitability and labour-based productivity, reducing tedious labour use in ploughing and weeding, whilst promoting employment in harvesting, shelling and storage.

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References

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Published
2018-09-14
How to Cite
Kambanje, A., Ngarava, S., Mushunje, A., & Taruvinga, A. (2018). Labour Dynamics in Climate and Techno Reliant Small Scale Maize Production. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 10(4(J), 262-276. https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v10i4(J).2426
Issue
Vol 10 No 4(J) (2018)
Section
Research Paper

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