Impact of structural adjustment programme on agricultural economic activities and systems in a rural economy: the case of Shamva District

Abstract

This study is part of a comprehensive study evaluating the impact of the economic structural adjustment programme (ESAP) on the rural economy in Zimbabwe. This empirical study reviews micro level changes occurring in the rural marketing systems as a result of macro economic policy, by specifically investigating the changes of agricultural produce marketing within a rural economy resulting from the introduction of the economic structural adjustment programme. Efficient supply of agricultural inputs and easy market access are important components of the economic development process. The structural adjustment programme removed the responsibility of agricultural produce marketing from state owned enterprises to individual producers and organisations. There is therefore need to investigate how individual agricultural producers and enterprises are adjusting to these changes.