Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 8.4. Marginal effects of the institutional factors implicated in horticulture production in Lesotho.
Variable
Discrete change (dy/dx)
Standard error
z-value
P
-value
x
Standard/grading
-0.012
0.032
-0.38
0.704
0.43
Land access
0.091
0.043
2.10
0.036
0.48
Transport facility
0.836
0.086
9.74
0.000
0.22
Title deeds
0.905
0.040
22.40
0.000
0.39
Market distance
0.018
0.012
1.71
0.088
3.935
Transport problems
-0.131
0.050
-2.63
0.009
0.49
Extension visits
0.854
0.097
8.84
0.000
0.09
Marginal effects after probit: y = Pr(production satisfaction) (predict) = 0.05027315.
it would seem that possession of title deeds, access to transport facilities, and extension
visits had the highest probability of impacting the attitude of the farmer that when these
factors were non-existent.
The results with respect to title deeds (as a proxy for property rights), transportation, and
extension visits deserve some elaboration. As is well known, traditional tenure systems are
the norm in Lesotho where the land is held by the monarch or traditional power élite
in trust for the population. At the same time, land is in short supply and most Basotho
lack access to land for farming. Of the 30,355 square kilometres of land area, only 9% is
suitable for arable agriculture (Kingdom of Lesotho, 2006). As it is, as many as 55% of the
population do not have access to land for productive purposes (Kingdom of Lesotho, 2006).
In the face of customs that frown at alienation of land outside the community, the scope
for acquiring land to start or expand agricultural production is quite limited ((Qhobela,
2001). For this reason, land holdings are generally low, with the average farm sizes at about
2 hectares. According to Pule and Thabane (2004), while it is difficult to find clear evidence
of tenure insecurity, the need for reform in the land ownership arrangements cannot be
over-emphasized. The results of this analysis does suggest that this tenure arrangement
is probably one of the most serious constraints faced by farmers and about which they
expressed the most concern, with the indication that there was as much as 90% chance of
dissatisfaction with the production results if the land tenure arrangement does not change
for a more liberal system that allows for farmers to increase their landholding and expand
production of horticulture.
The situation with respect to transportation is again understandable in view of the poor state
of the rural infrastructure in the country. The state of the infrastructure is not unrelated to
the nature of the terrain and topography of the country. Lesotho is a mountainous country
Search WWH ::
Custom Search