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BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT THE VIABILITY OF JATROPHA CARCUS CROP AS A LIVELIHOOD STRATEGY IN WARD 11, UMGUZA DISTRICT. BY MUCHATI OBIAS (B1025872) DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO BINDURA UNIVERSITY GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE HONOURS DEGREE IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES. MAY 2014 i APPROVAL FORM The under signed certify that they have read this dissertation and have approved its submission to the Geography department after confirming that it conforms to the requirements of the department. SUPERVISOR……………………………DATE………/…………/………… ii DECLARATION FORM I, Muchati Obias declare that the research project herein is my own work and has not been copied or lifted from any source without acknowledgement of the source. SIGNED……………………………….. DATE………. / …….…/…………………. iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my wife, Emmaculate and son, Wisdom, for their love, support and prayers which saw me successfully complete this work. I also dedicate it to the Lord, for the courage and strength he gave me each day. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost I would like to thank the Almighty God for seeing me throughout the entire course of my studies. At the Bindura University of Science Education, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Mr. E. Mavhura for the tireless support and inspirational supervision, his guidance throughout the research is deeply appreciated. I thank all the Geography department staff for sharing wisdom. To my friends (S. Mapurazi and E. Zivenge), thanks for the good times, your support and for the smiles you bought unto my face during hard times. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the support and encouragement that I received from my family; my wife, Emmaculate and son, Wisdom. v ABSTRACT The bio fuel crop, Jatropha curcas (J.carcus ), has been widely promoted as suitable for smallholder cultivation in Umguza District, providing opportunities for cash income and feedstock for the biodiesel. NOCZIM used the contract farming model for massive mobilization of farmers to take up the green gold crop as a cash crop. This research sought to assess the viability of J. carcus crop as a livelihood strategy in ward 11 of Umguza District. The objectives of the study were, therefore to determine the adoption of J.carcus crop by smallholder farmers, to identify socio-economic factors influencing J.carcus production among smallholder farmers and to describe the economic feasibility of J.carcus production among smallholder farmers. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies with data collection methods which include administration of questionnaires, observations and interviews. Results revealed that smallholder farmers are engaged in a varied number of livelihood activities including farm and non-farm activities to attain human welfare. The study also revealed that smallholder farmers adopted J.carcus production because of assistance they were offered by the government. It has also been noticed the motive behind farmers to embark on J.carcus cultivation was as a result of the crop’s potential to boost food security through income generation and acquisition of by-products like soap and candles which enhance rural-agro industry. However, very low prices of the crop output, monopoly in the marketing system and limited capacity by smallholder farmers restricted them from realising full socio-economic benefits of the crop production. Hence, the study would regard J.carcus crop as unviable livelihood strategy in ward 11 of Umguza. The study recommends potential investors to come in for capacity building, Jatropha market liberalization and the need to strengthen research and development aspects so that varieties with required characteristics are propagated and better farming methods to be developed. vi LIST OF TABLES Page Table 4.1 Total Farm Size for Smallholder Farmers 33 Table 4.2 Income Contributions for Different Livelihood Activities 36 vii LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 3.1 Map for Study Area Location 20 Figure 4.1 Sex of Household Head 30 Figure 4.2 Farmers’ Adoption Period for Jatropha Production 31 Figure 4.3 Area under Jatropha Cultivation 32 Figure 4.4 Support Received by Farmers for Jatropha Cultivation 34 Figure 4.5 By-products Obtained from Jatropha 35 viii LIST OF APPENDICIES Page Appendix 1 Questionnaire Guide for J.carcus Smallholder Farmers 47 Appendix 2 Interview Guide for Key Informants 51 Appendix 3 Frequency Tables for Sex of Household Head 53 Appendix 4 Frequency Table for Adoption Years by Farmers on J.carcus Production 54 Appendix 5 Frequency Table for Area under Jatropha Cultivation 55 Appendix 6 Frequency Table for Support Received by Farmers 56 Appendix 7 Frequency Table for By-products Obtained from Jatropha 57 ix ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AREX Agricultural Rural and Extension CF Contract Farming GoZ Government of Zimbabwe ICA Intensive Conservation Area IMF International Monetary Fund JCL Jatropha Carcus NGO Non Governmental Organisation NOCZIM National Oil Company of Zimbabwe PPO Pure Plant Oil x Table of Contents APPROVAL FORM ....................................................................................................... i DECLARATION FORM ............................................................................................. iii DEDICATION .............................................................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................... v ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... viii LIST OF APPENDICIES ............................................................................................. ix ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................... x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background to the Study ...................................................................................... 1 1.3 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................... 3 1.4 Aim ...................................................................................................................... 3 1.4.1 Objectives ..................................................................................................... 3 1.4.2 Research Questions ....................................................................................... 3 1.5 Justification of the Study ..................................................................................... 4 1.6 Delimitations ........................................................................................................ 5 1.7 Definitions of Terms ............................................................................................ 5 1.8 Organization of the Study .................................................................................... 6 1.9 Summary of Chapter ............................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER 2: LITRATURE REVIEW ......................................................................... 7 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Characterisation of J. Curcas ............................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Ecological Requirements .............................................................................. 8 2.2.2 Types of Land and Potential of Plantations .................................................. 9 2.2.3 Soil ................................................................................................................ 9 2.3 Promotion of J. Carcus Production in Zimbabwe .............................................. 10 2.3.1 The Influence of Adoption by Smallholder Farmers .................................. 10 2.4 Uses of J. Carcus ................................................................................................ 11 2.5 Influences for J.carcus Production in Zimbabwe Agriculture ........................... 12 2.5.1 Potential for Socio-economic Benefits by J. Carcus Production ............... 13 2.6 J. Carcus and Rural Livelihoods ........................................................................ 14 xi 2.6.1 J. Carcus and Employment Creation .......................................................... 15 2.6.2 Jatropha and Income Generation ................................................................ 16 2.6.3 Environmental Benefits of J. Carcus .......................................................... 16 2.7 Potential for Sustainable Utilization of J. Carcus Crop in Rural Livelihoods ... 17 2.8 Impact of J. Carcus as a Livelihood Strategy .................................................... 18 2.9 Summary of Chapter .......................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ......................................................... 20 3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................