Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
in relation to resource allocation. But the situation becomes complicated when a woman
is either widowed or has a non-resident spouse who is probably employed in South Africa
in a variety of income generating activities not readily available in Lesotho. In such cases,
women may make decisions when it comes to growing of crops, but under clear delegation.
b. Age (AGE):
This variable is the actual age of the household head/respondent measured
in years. According to Bembridge (1984), age determines the behavioural patterns of a
household. Younger farmers are expected to be more energetic in doing arduous farm tasks
than older farmers who are likely to avoid the more arduous operations and settle for those
that are less physically demanding. Age is also associated with experience and the length
of time over which an individual has been accumulating capital for investment in farm
operations. Younger farmers are expected to be less technically experienced as well as have
less capital at their disposal.
c. Years of education (YRSEDU):
Bembridge (1984), confirmed the importance of education
in decision-making processes with implications for capital accumulation and adoption of
innovative practices in production and marketing. In agricultural production, education
plays a significant role in the extent to which farmers process information about new
inputs and methods and the adoption of improved agricultural techniques. The absence
of education is therefore expected to have a negative impact on production and marketing
of horticultural produce. It is therefore hypothesized that there is a positive correlation
between education and horticulture production and marketing.
d. Production satisfaction (PRDNSATISF):
This dependent variable measure whether
a farmer is satisfied with his production or not. The variable is for production rates,
participation and level but with emphasis to production satisfaction of the farmer, and this
variable explains the production information of the farmers which is notoriously unreliable
at times as farmers tend to inflate for prestige purposes or deflate to evade taxation. But
when they are not required to state how much they have produced in a season, they are
more likely to be honest as to whether or not they are satisfied.
e. Contractual market (CONTRCTMKT):
This dependent variable measures whether
or not the farmer has access to market contract or not. The relationship between market
contract in horticulture production and especially marketing is an important one and at
the same time hard to attain because, for a farmer to have access to a market contract, there
are certain qualifications a farmer has to meet or have. For instance like taking part in the
formal market or having access to capital or credit. On the other hand, contracts ensure the
availability of a guaranteed market for the farmers, thus promoting market participation in
horticulture production because it is through contracts that farmers are assured of readily
available inputs, ready and accessible market, support and credit and loans to buy inputs
at lower prices.
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