Entrepreneurial innovations for agricultural mechanisation in Zimbabwe: Evidence from an informal metal industry survey

Abstract

This study uses data collected from 602 randomly selected informal metal industry entrepreneurs across 15 cluster-sampled districts in eight of Zimbabwe's 10 provinces to analyse factors that influence technological innovations development by informal agribusiness entrepreneurs. It applies a binary logistic regression (logit) model and reveals that number of years in formal education, reason for choice of entrepreneurship, entrepreneur's experience, perceived role of vocational training centres and involvement in production of agricultural implements significantly influence design of technological innovations by the entrepreneurs. Following the implementation of extensive land reform in Zimbabwe since 2000, the farming household base expanded quite significantly and informal entrepreneurs have played an important role of supplying appropriate mechanisation technologies. During the economic crisis, formal large-scale industrial firms folded up and downscaled operations. More appropriate technological innovations have been developed by informal entrepreneurs as they seek to supply appropriate technologies to farmers and processors. The study recommends that more support should be availed in the form of affordable formal education and capacity building programmes to empower entrepreneurs for growth and sustainability.