Browsing by Author "Dube, Tomson"

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    Enhancing food security through micro- irrigation: Evaluating the contribution of treadle pumps to household food security in Umzingwane district of Zimbabwe
    (2014) Maphosa, Mandlenkosi; Dube, Tomson; Dube, Zenzo L.; Ncube, Gracsious; Tshuma, Nevel
    Amongst a plethora of challenges facing the African continent today is the food security issue. Close to 240 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are food insecure (Bremner, 2012). A number of reasons have been advanced to explain the food insecurity situation of which inter-alia include climate change, low food and agricultural productivity and production. This article is centred on assessing the use of treadle pumps micro irrigation technologies strategy in an attempt to counter low food and agricultural productivity in Umzingwane district of Zimbabwe. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used with data being collected through questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. A total of 100 smallholder farmers participated in the study which covered 6 Wards. Study findings reveal that the use of treadle pumps improves household food security though this inevitably comes at a cost to the natural environment. This is largely due to the way in which this form of micro-irrigation is practiced in the District. However, notwithstanding the positive contribution of treadle pumps to household food security, the use of these pumps is fraught with a number of challenges some of which include lack of backup services, spares, marketing and an unsupportive institutional environment.
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    The Impact Of Conservation Agriculture On Food Security And Livelihoods In Mangwe District
    (2012) Tshuma, Nevel; Maphosa, Mandlenkosi; Ncube, Gracsious; Dube, Tomson; Dube, Zenzo L.
    This study assessed the impact of conservation agriculture (CA) on food security and livelihoods in Mangwe district. The paper is based on findings from a research conducted in three wards of Mangwe district. Data was collected through indepth interviews, semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Findings show that the adoption of CA is widespread within the District. Key among the findings is that while CA does improve yields per acreage, the improvement does not necessarily translate to improved food security. This is mainly due to climatic factors, including the poor rainfall experienced in the District and the nature of the CA practised. In terms of the impact of CA on livelihoods the study unravelled that CA does extend the range of livelihoods albeit, on a limited scale, through improved yields and income. However, this is also dependent on rainfall levels. The study concluded that while CA holds promise for the food insecure households in Mangwe, the way in which it is currently being practised is too labour intensive and it is necessary to consider the adoption of much more efficient practices especially in the preparation of land.