Browsing by Author "Mathema, Ndabanye"

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    Poor maize productivity in Zimbabwe: Can collusion in pricing by seed houses be the cause?
    (Cogent OA, part of Taylor & Francis Group, 2019-11-04) Tibugari, Handsen; Chikasha, Tinei; Manyeruke, Ngonidzaishe; Mathema, Ndabanye; Musara, Joseph P.; Dlamini, Dumisa; Mapuranga, Rangarirai; Mapanje, Olga; Banda, Annabel; Parwada, Cosmas
    High cost of hybrid seed can affect food self-sufficiency. A study was conducted to investigate the structure, conduct and performance of the hybrid maize seed industry in Zimbabwe to determine whether the level of competition in the industry caused high and unstable prices. Primary data on the quantity of hybrid maize produced and/or marketed, pricing strategies and hybrid maize seed prices for the period 2011 to 2015 was collected using questionnaires administered to marketing managers of 10 seed houses involved in hybrid maize seed production and marketing in Zimbabwe as well as key stakeholders. The questionnaires were also used as interview guides for key informant interviews with production managers of respective seed houses. Secondary data were obtained from annual reports and technical bulletins of respective companies. The analysis involved respondent triangulation as well as triangulating the data from responses with secondary data in order to increase the convergent validity of the data. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and trend analysis were used for data analysis. Results indicated that the hybrid maize seed industry in Zimbabwe is highly concentrated meaning that there is low competition. The study established that there may be tacit collusion in the pricing of hybrid maize seed in the form of dominant firm price leadership. The study showed that prices have not been stable for the period 2011 to 2015. It is recommended that the government should enact policies that; prohibit abuse of a dominant position, prohibit mergers which create or strengthen a dominant position and prohibit state aid that creates monopolies.
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    Worrying cadmium and lead levels in a commonly cultivated vegetable irrigated with river water in Zimbabwe
    (Cogent OA, part of Taylor & Francis Group, 2020-08-10) Tibugari, Handsen; Mafere, Gerald; Dube, Sinikiwe; Chakavarika, Murawu; Mandumbu, Ronald; Musara, Joseph P.; Mapuranga, Rangarirai; Gumbo, Tapiwa; Banda, Annabel; Mathema, Ndabanye; Goche, Tatenda; Zvigumbu, Bernard M.; Mpofu, Nkosentsha
    Vegetable cultivation using river water, which may be polluted with heavy metals, can cause health problems to consumers. A study to establish cadmium and lead levels in water from Msasa, Manyame; Mukuvisi and Nyatsime Rivers was conducted in 2019. A questionnaire survey involving 105 randomly selected urban vegetable growers was conducted to examine farmer knowledge of the potential of polluted water to contaminate produce through heavy metals. Water, soil and vegetable samples were also collected and analysed for heavy metal presence using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that some farmers (62%) were aware that wastewater could contain heavy metals. The majority of farmers (67%) applied phosphate-based fertilisers, a potential source of cadmium. Tested at P < 0.05, the results showed that sampled water from the four sites failed to meet the Standards Association of Zimbabwe 5560 (1997) standards. Cadmium tissue concentration from wastewater from Msasa and Manyame rivers was 1.3 and 1.17 mg g−1 respectively, which were 59 and 65 times higher than 0.02 mg g−1 from the control. Water from Manyame and Nyatsime rivers contains levels of heavy metals which exceed the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) safety guidelines. Farmers need to be educated on health hazards from contaminated wastewater. Enforcing regulations on effluent disposal, licencing of vegetable vendors and labelling of vegetables with information on source of water used to irrigate the crop can help reduce exposure of unsuspecting vegetable consumers.