SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF COMMERCIALIZATION
OF SMALLHOLDER RABBIT PRODUCTION IN MT DARWIN
DISTRICT OF ZIMBABWE

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF COMMERCIALIZATION
OF SMALLHOLDER RABBIT PRODUCTION IN MT DARWIN
DISTRICT OF ZIMBABWE

DELIWE SYLVESTER

CLAYTON MASHAPA

LIGHTON DUBE

MAY MREMA

A study was conducted to analyze the socio-economic factors influencing commercialization of rabbit production in
communal areas of Mt Darwin district of Zimbabwe. A study sample of 85 smallholder rabbit farmers was randomly
selected across the study area. Data were collected by means of questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and
inferential statistics. Results revealed that 81.2% of respondents had attained some form of education and 63.5% had
more than 6 years of rabbit farming experience. It was also observed that access to agricultural extension services,
rabbit producer price, agricultural education and experience in rabbit keeping significantly (P < 0.05) influenced
commercialization of rabbit farming by the farmers. It was concluded that improved access to agricultural extension
services by a farmer, good rabbit producer prices, level of agricultural training attained by a farmer and years of
rabbit farming experience of a farmer ease farmer’s ability to adopt commercial rabbit production and hence a higher
production level. It was recommended that Zimbabwe national government create an enabling environment that
promotes adequate technology transfer to farmers. Also, an investment in agro-industries that deal with the value
chain components of rabbitory could be embarked upon by the government in order to improve on value-addition by
farmers which would in-turn lead to more favourable prices

Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

2014