Machethe, Charles Lepepeule2016-10-142016-10-142016-09-012016Mamba, TX 2016, The role of contracts in improving access to credit in the smallholder livestock sector of Swaziland, MSc Agric Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/57256>S2016http://hdl.handle.net/2263/57256Dissertation (MSc Agric)--University of Pretoria, 2016.The study investigates the role of contract farming in improving access to credit for smallholder cattle producers, cattle finishers and traders in Swaziland. The contracts are verbal or informal and involve smallholder cattle producers, cattle finishers and traders on the one hand and other stakeholders in the value chain on the other. The study determined (a) the credit access status of smallholder cattle producers, finishers and traders, and whether participating in contracts leads to improved access to credit; and (b) identified factors that determine smallholder farmers , finishers and traders access to credit from formal financial institutions and those that may lead farmers to become involved in contracts with other actors in the value chain. Two sets of structured questionnaires were designed to capture the required data for farmers, finishers and traders. The sample size was 111 randomly selected cattle farmers. They were divided into three stratas, that is, 53 cattle producers, 36 cattle finishers and 22 cattle traders. Two logistic regression models were applied. One model was employed to identify factors that determine access to credit from formal financial institutions. The other model was employed to identify factors that may lead farmers to become involved in contracts with other actors in the value chain. The descriptive results indicates that access to credit from financial institutions is 36 % for cattle producers, 36 % for cattle finishers, and 50 % for cattle traders have access to credit.. Informal channels, such as friends and relatives, are the predominant lenders. The results from the logit model for participation in formal contracts indicates that off-farm income, better access to extension services, being a member of a farmers association, having access to assured market and access to marketing information are positively associated with farmers involvement in contract agreements. The logit model on formal credit access indicates that income received from other business activities, age of the farmer, herd size, and training in beef cattle production had significant effects on a farmer s probability of having access to formal credit. The results further reveals that participating in contracts does not determine access to credit from formal financial institutions. The study makes recommendations for increasing farmers involvement in formal contract agreements, particularly by enhancing access to market, improvements in capacity building and, encouragement of collective action of farmers. In addition, their involvement might be improved by increasing farmers access to credit from formal institutions by encouraging beef cattle farmers to diversify, thus receiving income from other businesses, and also the provision of producer training (and trader training) on marketing and production activities. It is further concluded that participating in contracts does not lead to improved access to credit and also access to credit relatively decreases participating in contracts. There is need to target the implementation and the monitoring of credit interventions for smallholder cattle farmers in order to improve their access to credit and participation in contract farming.en© 2016 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.UCTDContract farmingSmallholder cattle producersAccess to creditCattle finishersCattle tradersValue chainFormal financial institutionsLogistic regression modelsExtension servicesFarmers associationMarket accessMarketing informationInformal lendersOff-farm incomeHerd sizeBeef cattle productionCollective actionCapacity buildingSwazilandNatural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-01SDG-01: No povertyNatural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-02SDG-02: Zero hungerNatural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-08SDG-08: Decent work and economic growthNatural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-09SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureNatural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-10SDG-10: Reduced inequalitiesDissertation12111008