Education

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Browsing Education by Author "Banda, Martha Malita"

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    The use of e-voucher system by small scale farmers in Chongwe district: an adult education perspective.
    (The University of Zambia, 2019) Banda, Martha Malita
    Agriculture has been an important source of livelihood and income for small scale farmers in rural areas of Zambia where poverty has continued to be the greatest challenge the nation still faced. This study sought to explore the use of e-voucher by small scale farmers as an input distribution system in Chongwe District. The objectives of the study were to; establish the extent to which small scale farmers use the e-voucher as an input distribution system, identify adult education methods used in the dissemination of information on the e-voucher as an input distribution system, establish challenges faced by small scale farmers and providers of e-voucher as an input distribution system, and suggest strategies aimed at addressing challenges faced in the use of e-voucher as an input distribution system. It was hoped that this study would provide information to policy markers, small scale farmers, Agro-dealers and the Ministry of Agriculture on what was obtaining in the use of e-voucher. The study employed a descriptive design. A sample of 30 respondents comprising 26 small scale farmers, 2 officers from Zambia National Farmers Union and 2 from Zambia National Commercial Bank were purposively drawn from Chongwe District. Data was collected through interview guides and Focus Group Discussions. Data was analysed using content analysis and information was presented thematically and in narrations. The study revealed that smallest scale farmers were accessing farming inputs of their choice through the use of the e-voucher. It also revealed that radio programmes, door to door visits by extension workers and farmer meetings were adult education methods used in the dissemination of information on the e-voucher among small scale farmers. The study further showed that challenges faced by small scale farmers and providers of the e-voucher included late funding, slow loading and activation of e-cards and late delivery of farming inputs. Other challenges include late replacement of lost pin numbers and language barrier. Proposed strategies aimed at addressing challenges faced on the use of e-voucher as an input distribution system were that each area should have a focal person to handle problems faced by small scale farmers, the e-cards should be loaded and activated on time as well as delivery of farming inputs. The study concluded that the majority small scale farmers were accessing farming inputs of their choice using the e-voucher than the Farmer Input Support Programme. However, they faced a variety of challenges which made the system rather problematic. The study recommended that the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and other providers of the e-voucher should fund the Banks on time, specific officers should be used to handle e-voucher and farmer awareness campaigns should be done at the level of farmer cooperatives to enhance farmer participation and dissemination of information on e-voucher be done in the seven official local languages. Keywords: E-voucher, Small Scale Farmers and Dissemination