The Role of Agro-Dealers in Forward and Backward Linkages of the Smallholder Agriculture Sector in Central Zambia

This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design to investigate the roles of agro-dealers in supporting smallholder agriculture in Central Zambia. The research integrated surveys of 180 farmers and 65 agro-dealers with qualitative data from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The findings establish that agro-dealers are the sole source of agricultural inputs for all smallholder farmers surveyed, partially filling the void left by the contraction of public agricultural extension services. However, significant deficiencies were identified, with 73% of agro-dealers demonstrating limited knowledge of agricultural inputs and 68% of farmers expressing dissatisfaction with the quality of advice received. The analysis revealed pronounced gender disparities, as male farmers had better access to services and visited agro-dealers more frequently than their female counterparts, primarily due to their greater access to household income and fewer household responsibilities. Regression analysis further demonstrated that the number of visits to agrodealers in a farming season was determined by access to trucks, farmer experience and income ( p < .05). Results from the ordinal logistic regression analysis show that farmers who reported being satisfied with the advice were significantly more likely to rate the services as good or very good. Further, the perceived qualifications of agrodealers also increased the chances of receiving a higher rating. More frequent interaction with agrodealers was generally linked to more positive ratings. The study recommends that policymakers prioritise mandatory training and certification for agro-dealers, address gender inequalities through targeted subsidies for female farmers, and reform the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to ensure equitable and high-quality service delivery. These interventions are crucial for unlocking the full potential of agro-dealer networks to enhance agricultural productivity and foster inclusive rural development in Zambia.