Obstacles to the profitable production and marketing of horticulture products in Lesotho: an offset-constrained probit modelling of farmers’ perception - Institutional Constraints to Small Farmer Development in Southern Africa - page 156

8.3 The data

The variables examined in the study are presented in Table 8.1. Research examining
institutional constraints to smallholder development as part of other studies have generally
included these variables.

The signs of the coefficients show the direction of influence of the variables on the dependent
variable. It follows that a positive value indicates an increase in the likelihood that there will
be a change to the alternative option from the baseline to the alternative (Gujarati, 1992).
Hence, in this study, a positive value implies an increase in the probability of increasing the
production and marketing of horticultural products.

a. Gender (GNDR): Gender is clearly an important factor in horticulture production
and marketing especially in a country like Lesotho where gender-based stereotyping is the
norm. Decision making roles are normally divided between men and women depending on
the nature of the economic or social activity involved. In general, the legal system regards
women as minors and do not have the power to make important decisions in the household

Table 8.1. Definition and description of variables examined in the study.

Variable Variable description Anticipated sign +/-

Dependent
Production satisfaction

dummy: satisfied = 1, 0 otherwise

Independent
Gender dummy: male = 1, 0 female +/-

Age continuous +

Years of education experience continuous +

Market information dummy: have access = 1, 0 otherwise +

Access to production skills dummy: have access = 1, 0 otherwise +

Visits by extension personnel categorical: yes = 1, 0 no +

Extension quality service dummy: good = 1, 0 otherwise _

Grading to market standards dummy: meet standards = 1, 0 otherwise +

Access to title deeds dummy: have access =1, 0 otherwise +/-

Transport dummy: yes=1, 0 otherwise +

Membership of farmer association dummy: yes=1, 0 otherwise

Storage dummy: yes=1, 0 otherwise +

Contractual markets dummy: yes=1, 0 otherwise +

Road infrastructure dummy: yes=1, 0 otherwise +