Wetland entrepreneurs: diversity in diversification in Zambian farming

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore enterprise diversification amongst wetland farmers in Zambia as a way of reducing poverty and improving sustainability. This paper identifies ways in which such entrepreneurial activities can be supported and applied more widely.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study of Zambian farmers, based on a series of workshops and interviews held in Zambia with farmers and farm business advisers.

Findings

Despite adopting new technologies most farmers are restricted to the local market where their increased production holds down prices. However, a very small number of farmers are able to progress to production and marketing for markets in major urban centres hundreds of kilometres away, and considerably more are able to use the capital accumulated from wetland farming to diversify their household enterprises to reduce poverty and improve the sustainability and resilience of their livelihoods.

Originality/value

No work has previously been undertaken in diversification strategies of small-scale farmers in Zambia.

Citation

McElwee, G. and Wood, A. (2018), "Wetland entrepreneurs: diversity in diversification in Zambian farming", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 25 No. 5, pp. 752-768. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-03-2017-0089