Development of a framework for economic , social and environmental sustainability of cotton production in Zimbabwe:A case study of Gokwe.

Abstract

Until the year 2000, cotton was among Zimbabwe’s largest foreign exchange earners, accounting for approximately 30% of the country’s total foreign exchange earnings and a source of livelihood for most rural households. However, its production has progressively declined, and this suggests a need to investigate the potential for reviving the crop’s production and viability. The present study assessed the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of cotton production in Zimbabwe using Gokwe as a case. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 300 farmers. The farmers were selected using stratified random sampling from three villages in Gokwe South namely Ganye, Machakata, and Zambezi, and three villages in Gokwe North namely Chigoronga, Mlambi, and Maringa. In each village, selected cotton farmers were grouped into three strata, namely highproducing, medium-producing, and low-producing, with each stratum containing an average of 100 farmers. The first objective investigated the economic sustainability of cotton production in Zimbabwe particularly in Gokwe. To address this objective, gross margin analysis was conducted to determine the viability of cotton farming. The results revealed that smallholder farmers in the lowproducing stratum in Gokwe obtained negative profits with average of -US$51.63 per hectare per season. Medium producing farmers attained slightly higher profits with an average of US$23.16 per hectare, and high producing farmers attained highest profits averaging US$283.97. Furthermore, quantile regression analysis showed that age has a positive relationship with gross margin, with coefficients of 29.8 (P < 0.017) and 157 (P < 0.000) at the 25th and 75th quantiles, respectively. Seed type also has a significant positive impact, with coefficients of 103.84 (p < 0.000) and 247.75 (P < 0.000) at the 25th and 75th quantiles. Gender has a positive impact on gross margin, with coefficients of 25.4 (P < 0.057) and 23.25 (P < 0.469) at the 25th and 75th quantiles, respectively. Education has a negative coefficient at both quantiles, although the relationship is not significant (P < 0.759 and P < 0.658). Household size has a mixed impact on gross margin, with coefficients of 3.8 (P < 0.466) at the 25th quantile and -20.48 (P < 0.124) at the 75th quantile. Marital status has a positive impact at the 25th quantile (coefficient = 24.76, P < 0.066) and a negative impact at the 75th quantile (coefficient = -19.91, P < 0.508). Pest management has a positive coefficient at the 25th quantile (coefficient = 23.76, P < 0.103) but is not significant at the 75th quantile. Farmers should adopt sustainable farming practices, diversify their income sources, and strengthen their marketing and bargaining power. Further studies should focus on comparative analysis with other crops to compare the profitability and sustainability of cotton production with crops, such as maize, soybeans, and tobacco