Exploring the nexus of cotton (gossypium hirsutum) productivity, food access and copying strategies to cotton price volatility in the Zambezi Valley. A case study of the Mbire District.

Abstract

This study investigated the complex relationship between cotton productivity, food access, dietary diversity and coping strategies among smallholder farmers in Mbire District, Zimbabwe. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study surveyed 150 households using structured questionnaires to assess cotton output, food security, and coping mechanisms. Complementary qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to gain deeper insights into farmers' perceptions and adaptive strategies. The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework guided the analysis, focusing on how cotton-derived income impacts food security and resource allocation under varying socio-economic and climatic contexts. The results reveal a gender imbalance in farming, with approximately 66.7% of farmers being male. The average age of the farming population is 43, suggesting a middle-aged demographic that may affect their openness to adopting new agricultural practices. Households typically consist of 5 to 6 members, indicating high dependency ratios that directly influence food security. While the average cultivated area per household is 3.75 hectares, with over half allocated to cotton, this reliance on a single cash crop poses risks. The mean cotton output was 879.4 kg per household, with significant variation in access to resources affecting productivity. Notably, cotton sales accounted for 62.1% of total household income, emphasizing its critical role but also the trade-offs with food security. The findings reveal key relationships among cotton productivity, food access, and dietary diversity. A positive correlation exists between cotton income and dietary diversity (r = 0.57, p < 0.01), indicating that higher cotton earnings lead to greater dietary variety. Conversely, a negative correlation between cotton income and food access (r = -0.62, p < 0.01) suggests that reliance on cotton can limit food availability. Additionally, food access negatively correlates with dietary diversity (r = -0.68, p < 0.01), indicating that limited food access restricts dietary options. The study highlights that while cotton is vital for income generation, its cultivation often compromises food security due to land competition and market constraints. Farmers employ diverse coping strategies to navigate these challenges. Short-term mechanisms include reducing meal portions, borrowing money, and seeking alternative income sources, while long-term strategies involve crop diversification and investing in sustainable agricultural practices. Factors such as access to credit, extension services, education level, and climatic variability significantly influence these coping strategies. The study concludes that sustainable improvements in cotton productivity must be integrated with targeted food security interventions. The study concludes that while cotton is essential for income generation, its cultivation often compromises food security due to land competition and market challenges. Farmers adopt various coping strategies, such as crop diversification and reducing meal portions, influenced by factors like credit access and climatic conditions. Recommendations for improving cotton productivity include promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, enhancing access to credit and extension services, and bolstering market infrastructure. The findings suggest that policymakers should take a holistic approach to balance agricultural productivity with food access, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers in the region.