An Analysis Of Crop Diversification, Food Security And Adoption Of Sustainable Soil And Moisture Conservation Tillage Practices By Smallholder Farmers In Zimbabwe: A Case Study Of Kandeya Communal Land

Abstract

This paper is based on an empirical case study quantifying the relationship between soil and moisture conservation practices, food and cash crop production and farm household welfare-food security and household income. The study tests the hypothesis that intensive agricultural production on the basis of cash crop production and application of soil and moisture conservation practices increase the land/iabour productivity with positive effects on household food output and income. The results confirm that sustainable cropping systems and management practices are profitable and improve household food security and incomes at the farm level. This provides a basis for wide spread adoption by the small farmers.