The Influence of Banana Farming Practice on Livelihoods of Farming Households in Honde Valley, Mutasa District, Manicaland Province

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to investigate the Influence of Banana Farming Practice on Livelihoods of Farming Households in Honde Valley, Mutasa District, Manicaland Province. There is no transformation of livelihoods in the communities of Honde Valley and this is worrisome as the banana farmers still live in abject poverty and still lack household assets, need assistance in the form of food, seeds, finances, and farm inputs. The study was premised on the main objective of investigating the influence of banana farming practices on the livelihoods of smallholder farming households in Honde valley. Household survey questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussion were used as the main research tools when conducting this study as a qualitative research method. The smallholder banana farmers were the research participants basing on their level of knowledge on banana farming practice and how it influences their livelihoods. The study used a post-positivist research paradigm based cross-sectional descriptive survey research design. Using the saturation principle for the qualitative sample, the Raosoft sample calculator on the internet was used to create samples of 117 and 5 respondents for the quantitative and qualitative approaches, respectively. Since the research employed a mixed methods approach, the probability sampling method, simple random sampling techniques, non-probability method, and convenience sampling approaches were employed. The distribution of 87 self-administered questionnaires resulted in 78 being successfully completed and returned, showing a response rate of 89.7%. Five key informant interviews were also conducted. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and linear regression analysis techniques were used. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The study found that the smallholder farmers were implementing various banana farming practices. The study found out that banana planting material influenced the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers. The study established that soil fertility and water management and livelihoods of smallholder farmers were in a moderate positive relationship. The study established that integrated pest and diseases management and livelihoods of the smallholder farmers were in a strong positive association. The study established also that post-harvest handling techniques and the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers were in a strong positive association. The study results show that value addition and marketing had a significant influence on the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers. Table 5.1 summaries the findings of the hypotheses tests of the study. The study concludes that banana farming practice influences the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers and it was recommended that to improve the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers, banana farming practices have to be incorporated in the day-to-day running of the farming enterprise. The study also recommends that the farmers focus more on integrated pest and disease management in order to improve banana production productivity.