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Economic Value of Farming Productions in Mwekera Farming Block: Case Study

Authors

  • Imbidi Mbashila School of Humanities and Business, Information and Communications University, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Peter Silwimba Risk Department, National Savings and Credit Bank and School of Humanities and Business, Information and Communications University, Lusaka, Zambia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6663-1866

    silwimbap47@gmail.com

Abstract

This study evaluates the economic value of smallholder agricultural production in the Mwekera Farming Block, Copperbelt Province, Zambia, focusing on its influence on household consumption and savings behavior. Despite growing recognition of smallholder agriculture’s role in rural welfare, there is limited empirical evidence quantifying how productivity variations translate into measurable household-level economic outcomes in Zambia. This study fills that gap by analyzing data from 100 households using descriptive and inferential statistics, including ANOVA, Fisher’s Exact Test, and Chi-square tests. These results showed that 76% of the households had increased their production, with most consuming farm produce for more than eight months of the year, thus confirming the centrality of agriculture to food security. However, ANOVA results showed no significant differences in household consumption across yield categories, as shown by F = 0.92 and p = 0.4001, implying relatively uniform household sustenance irrespective of yield. Similarly, saving analyses revealed no statistical difference between yield groups, as supported by F = 2.01 and p = 0.1402, and thus agricultural income contributes equally in all households toward raising their savings capacity. Employment analysis, F = 0.39 and p = 0.6805, also revealed no significant difference and, again, stresses the seasonality of rural work. These findings verify the hypotheses that agricultural production improves household consumption and saving potential, but the insignificance across categories may also represent small-sample limitations and homogeneity of operations among smallholders. The overall conclusion of this study is that agricultural production remains key in rural welfare, but increased financial inclusion, access to extension services, and use of agricultural technologies are required to ensure production growth translates into sustainable livelihoods.

Keywords:

Agricultural Production Consumption Economic Value Employments Food Security Savings

Article information

Journal

Journal of Economics, Business, and Commerce

Volume (Issue)

2(2), (2025)

Pages

234-246

Published

26-11-2025

How to Cite

Mbashila, I., & Silwimba, P. (2025). Economic Value of Farming Productions in Mwekera Farming Block: Case Study. Journal of Economics, Business, and Commerce, 2(2), 234-246. https://doi.org/10.69739/jebc.v2i2.1158

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