Natural Sciences

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    Challenges of livestock raising among Small-Scale Farmers in Southern Province: The case of Mbabala Area
    (2016-04-04) Muyuba, Euster
    This research is a detailed study that looks at all forms of livestock kept in Mbabala area by small-scale farmers. It examines the importance and problems faced by the livestock keepers in relation to their standards of living socially and economically. The research report shows that livestock play important roles among the Tongas of Mbabala. These include selling to raise capital for various purposes such as buying farming inputs, buying food and other household requirements and sending children to school. Other purposes are providing draught power, paying fines and slaughtering for consumption at family levels and during ceremonies. However, small-scale livestock keepers face a lot of problems concerning their livestock such as diseases, drought, lack of food, theft, land tenure and poor management. These problems have resulted in the reduction of livestock which in turn has led to a decline in the living standards of the small scale livestock keepers in Mbabala area. Hence the farmers and the government are faced with the challenge of redeeming the livestock enterprise. So far little has been done by both the farmer and the government. Therefore, it is recommended that among other things, steps should be taken to solve the problems faced by livestock keepers. For example farmers should Form groupings where they can put their resources together, constructing water reservoirs and giving loans to the farmers.
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    The adoption of Sorghum as a drought resistant crop by peasant farmers in Mukonchi area, Kabwe
    (2015-09-07) Kasulu, Linda
    This study attempts to find out the adoption of sorghum as a drought resistant crop by peasant farmers in Mukonchi, Kabwe rural, Central Province, Zambia. The study seeks to assess the extent to which peasant farmers have adopted sorghum due to the frequent droughts being experienced in the area. The research also hopes to assess the extent to which the agricultural extension services have contributed to the adoption of sorghum. This is as a result of the frequent droughts being experienced and yet farmers continue to grow maize instead of drought resistant crops. The methods used to collect data were by use of a Questionnaire and review of secondary sources. The collection of primary data was through direct interviews of the questionnaire to a sample of farmers who were randomly selected. The secondary information was obtained from; researchers in Kabwe, Mutwe-wa-nsof u and Mukonchi research stations. Information on rainfall and temperature pattern of the area was provided, by Lusaka meteorological station while the initial information on the subject was collected from the University of Zambia main library and mount makulu. Tables, charts and graphs are used to present the data collected. Analysis of data was done manually and it relies on percentages and the chi—square. The research findings indicate that there is a good number of farmers who have adopted the growing of drought resistant crops and that most of them grow millet as opposed to sorghum. The findings also show that agricultural extension services have contributed to the adoption of sorghum as a drought resistant crop in Mukochi area.
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    The effects of the structural adjustment programme on the social-economic status of households in urban areas: The case of Chilenje in Lusaka
    (2015-06-15) Mvula, Chizya
    When the movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) government came into power in 1991, it inherited problems of deterioration in all sectors of the economic including education and health. Zambia, like other developing countries in it's quest to resuscitate its poor economy embraced structural adjustment in its totality in 1991. This involved the liberalization of markets and control of prices by government, removal of subsidies, and the introduction of user fees in education and health sectors. This however, has had a number of effects on the population of Zambia.Most of the local industries have collapsed as a result of, removal of government protection of trade of these industries and this had results in massive job losses. The population of the urban unemployed face a number of economic hardships most people can hardly afford essential commodities including foodstuffs. Furthermore, people are unable to meet the cost of education and medical services provided by government.In terms of education and health, the study revealed that there was reduced access to these services due to financial difficulties in most cases. People were also unable to meet their daily needs since their incomes were low. In most cases, the incomes were far outweighed by the cost of food alone. The people were also affected by their employment status. Most people had lost employment due to retrenchment or liquidation of companies,therefore having an impact on their income.
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    An investigation on women's access to agricultural credit faclities: A case of Mutandalike area, Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia
    (2015-06-15) Sitimela, Culver
    This research report contains information on the investigation of the accessibility of agricultural credit facilities by women small-scale farmers of Mutandalike area, Choma district. The respondents in Mutandalike area mainly from Mung'anga and Siakayuwa villages were selected randomly. Data were collected using the scheduled structured interview questionnaire (see appendix 1). This research instrument was administered to the respondents directly by the researcher. The other information was obtained from FRA,PAM, and Farmer's Friends, village head-men and their secretaries(see appendix 2). The accessibility of credit facilities plays a very important role in agriculture. Women, however, have no access to credit and this is affecting them economically. The women of Mutandalike area are experiencing an inadequate access to economic resources such as agricultural credit. This is despite their playing significant roles in the household food and livelihood security. Women of Mutandalike are still constrained from being equitable beneficiaries of credit in the development of agricultural sector of the economy of Zambia. There are constraints that make accessibility of agricultural credit by women difficult. Although rural women are the real backbone of development in rural agriculture, they are constrained from accessing credit. This report gives these constraints as being economical, socio-cultural and institutional.Lack of access to credit by women have effects on them and their enterprises. Agricultural economic liberalisation took rural small-scale farmers by surprise. While many expected the agriculture sector's performance to improve, instead it worsened. Small-scale farmers, especially women were marginalised in accessing formal credit due to stringent credit conditionalities.