An evaluation of the agro-dealers’ role in enhancing diversification among farmers of Chibombo district of Zambia.

Abstract

Background: Agriculture has a significant role in adding to financial development and guaranteeing food and nutrition security of any given nation. It is for this reason that the agricultural sector has been advocating for agricultural diversification especially among small scale farmers who are the majority in our country. To realise this, several players among them agro-dealers have a major role to play to enhance diversification for small scale famers. Therefore, this study tried to evaluate the role agro-dealers play in enhancing diversification among farmers of Chibombo district of Zambia
Methods: an explorative research design based on qualitative approach to data collection from 14 small scale farmers, 4 agro-dealers and district agriculture staff was used. Content and thematic analysis formed part of the analytical methods used for this study.
Results: The study findings reveal that agro-dealers are key players in advancing agricultural diversification among small scale farmers through increased farmers’ access to both crop and livestock inputs, thereby boosting agricultural productivity. In addition, the SSFs have also benefited from ago-dealers by forming out grower schemes who are supplied then supplied with inputs in a timely manner. Further, it was also found that if agro-dealers where to be financially capacitated, they can even do better by consistently and efficiently supplying the goods and services required by the farmers.
Conclusion:  It has been observed that agro-dealers do enhance agricultural diversification but not to their full potential. There are so many gaps that for diversification to occur there is need for intervention. Agro-dealership is a business and small-scale farmers should regard farming as a business for diversification to take place. There is need for all stakeholders to be encouraged to engage in awareness creation and capacity building of the agro-dealers to effectively equip them with skills and knowledge essential to help farmers.