Interview by Yrla van de Ven for Vuurwerk magazine.
The introduction of large-scale farms brings about a lot of change in rural Zambia. The set-up of large farms increases the competitiveness of traditional small-scale farmers, especially female small-scale farmers, increases paid employment of females and makes mothers and daughters more competitive. In behavioral economic studies, competitiveness is routinely measured by a participant's willingness to engage in a task that rewards competition more than one’s own performance. This task simulates real-life competitions for jobs, promotions, customers, and sports.
The economists conducted their study in the Mumbwa and Mkushi districts of Zambia’s Central Province, where two large-scale farms were recently set up in the proximity of small-scale farming communities. The large-scale farm in Mumbwa was cultivating approximately 30.000 hectares at the time of data collection, the large-scale farming community in Mkushi approximately 4.000 hectares. This is in stark contrast to the traditional small-scale farms: 90 percent of farmers in Zambia cultivate less than 5 hectares of land.
The researchers collected data and performed several experiments in 29 randomly selected villages near and further away from the large-scale farms, which yielded interesting results. Kacana Sipangule explains: “Competitive behavior is more frequent in villages near the new large-scale farms, so it is higher in villages that are exposed to the change, than in villages further away. This can be interpreted as a positive spillover from market integration. In further away villages, males are more competitive than females. In near villages, however, females are just as competitive as males.”
Importance of competition
Competitive behavior of small-scale farmers is important as it may motivate them to produce higher crop yields (which can result in improved livelihoods) and to foster their aspirations to achieve careers beyond traditional small-scale farming. “Other studies have found a gender gap in competitive behavior, but in very different settings. With our study we expose this gap in rural areas and find a way to bridge this gap,” says Sipangule.
The introduction of large-scale farms seems to change the role division as well. “In further away villages, child care is a predominantly traditional female role. Interestingly, there is no detectable gender difference for this household task in the villages that are near the new farms. Given that twice as many women are engaged in paid employment on large-scale farms in near villages, it seems that women and men in such villages need to share the household tasks more,” says Sipangule.
Role models
Interestingly, there are also intergenerational effects. The children of families living in the near villages show more competitive behavior than those in the further away villages. Menusch Khadjavi: “With regard to children’s competitiveness, it may well be that mothers engaged in paid employment in near villages act as role models for daughters to become more competitive. Evidence for such a mechanism is provided in another study in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province.”
But there is also another possible explanation. “It might just as well be that children’s competitiveness is higher, because fathers are spending more time with their daughters when the mothers are away for business,” says Khadjavi. “This role model effect of fathers for their daughters has been documented in psychological research and is consistent with our field research findings in Zambia.”
Would you like to read more about this research? Then read this article in Vuurwerk magazine.
More information
Read the full article in academic journal World Development.
Would you like to know more about our research? Contact science communicator Yrla van de Ven, y.f.van.de.ven@vu.nl or 06-26512492.