Factors affecting the adoption of woodlots by smallholder tobacco farmers: A case of Mutoko district, Zimbabwe

Tobacco in Zimbabwe is ranked among the top major crops which give foreign currency to the country and is also a major cash crop among smallholder farmers. Deforestation in Zimbabwe has been a country-wide problem most tobacco farmers are reluctant to observe regulation about the environment when their growing tobacco for the market in their farms. Addressing this problem is very crucial so that environmental degradation can be reduced. The objective of this study was to assess the factors affecting the adoption of woodlots by smallholder tobacco farmers in Mutoko District of Zimbabwe. The research specifically focused on evaluating farmers’ perceptions towards woodlots as a source of energy for tobacco curing, determining farmers’ awareness of the regulations requiring the establishment of plant woodlots and the challenges that hinder the successful integration of woodlots on smallholder tobacco farms. Two wards, Nyamuzizi ward 28 and Huyuwuyu ward 29, were purposively selected based on tobacco production and prior activities related to the promotion of woodlots. Then a sample size of 100 households was collected. Data analysis was based on descriptive and inferential statistics in the form of measures of central tendency and the binary probit model respectively. The findings showed that 55% of the farmers had adopted woodlots on their farms. The majority (95%) were supportive of the idea of using woodlots. However, the main constraints were lack of access to water, the incidence of pests and diseases and high plant mortality rates. The probit regression model results showed that the likelihood of woodlots adoption was mainly influenced by livestock assets index (p>|z|;0.01), family size (p>|z|;0.01) and tobacco returns (p>|z|;0.01). Therefore, households that had more income, more livestock and larger families were more likely to adopt woodlots. Based on the results, there is a need for follow-up on tobacco farmers to ensure that woodlots are established. This can be achieved through a multi-sectoral approach that includes organizations such as TIMB, ZTF and TRB. Incentives such as tax reduction/holidays for adopters of woodlots. In this regard, there is a need for an integrative farmer contract which may tie the new loan or support to farmers’ ability to demonstrate that they would have established woodlots in the previous season (young stands). Keywords: Adoption, cash-crop, deforestation, environment, perception, smallholder-farmers, tobacco, woodlots