Livelihood Effects of Smallholder Tobacco Contract Financing Schemes in Mutoko District, Zimbabwe

Tanaka M Mango, Tsepeso Setoboli, Nothando Tshuma and Emmanuel Sibanda
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Tanaka M Mango: Zimbabwe Open University, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tsepeso Setoboli: National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Nothando Tshuma: National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Emmanuel Sibanda: National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2025, vol. 9, issue 2, 2996-3011

Abstract: The global tobacco production has experienced significant fluctuations over the past two decades. Consequently, tobacco farmers in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have received stagnant or decreasing crop prices since 2013. Smallholder tobacco farmers under contract farming schemes in Zimbabwe have been consistently in debt due to unfavourable economic conditions and contractual issues. As such, concerns about the impacts of contract farming on the welfare of these farmers have risen. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the livelihood effects of contract farming schemes on tobacco farmers in Mutoko district, Zimbabwe. A questionnaire was used as the main data collection tool. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study results indicated that since the farmers joined tobacco contract farming, their access to inputs, income, food security, education level, asset ownership, vulnerability, and debt increased. Therefore, the study concluded that tobacco contract farming positively affects income, food security, health, education level, asset ownership, and input access, as well as negatively affects vulnerability and debt. The study suggests that the government and tobacco contracting companies should consider enhancing extension support for tobacco farmers, focusing on women, to boost household incomes and support rural livelihoods.

Date: 2025
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