AfricaBib 
bibliographic database
| Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | The Impact of Policy Reform on Small-Scale Agribusiness: A Case Study of Maize Processing in Zimbabwe |
| Author: | Rubey, Lawrence |
| Year: | 1995 |
| Periodical: | African Rural and Urban Studies |
| Volume: | 2 |
| Issue: | 2-3 |
| Pages: | 93-119 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Zimbabwe |
| Subjects: | agricultural policy small farms agricultural technology grain processing Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Economics and Trade Politics and Government Development and Technology |
| Abstract: | Using survey evidence from Zimbabwe, this paper explores implications of choice of technology in the maize milling industry and examines the impact of economic reforms on the growth of small-scale milling firms. A central argument is that, prior to 1993, deep-seated policy biases protected large-scale mills from competition from small-scale firms. Recent surveys demonstrate that, under certain conditions, the growth of small-scale mills can simultaneously provide consumers with lower-priced maize meal products, expand employment opportunities and reduce the need for maize meal subsidies to large-scale millers. The paper explores policy biases in technology choice in Zimbabwe; compares alternative milling technologies with respect to production costs, employment generation, investment costs, foreign exchange utilization and other criteria; investigates the impact of policy reforms introduced in 1993 on the maize milling industry; and examines the post-reform marketing constraints facing production millers (millers who sell bagged and branded maize meal, as opposed to custom millers, who only offer milling services). The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of policy reform for the development of small-scale agribusiness. Bibliogr., notes, ref. |