标题：Establishment of Partnerships between Supermarkets and Horticulture Irrigation Cooperatives in Mt Darwin, Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Dotito - Muchenje Irrigation
期刊名称：The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (JSDA)
电子版ISSN：1520-5509
出版年度：2010
卷号：12
期号：7
出版社：Institute of Sustainable Development in Africa
摘要：Most horticulture irrigation cooperatives in Zimbabwe are failing to establish strong relationships with supermarkets.
Instead, commodity brokers buy the fresh produce from the irrigation cooperatives and sell at a profit to the
supermarkets. The research sought to find out reasons why there are weak links between the supermarkets and
horticulture irrigation cooperatives and ways in which these relationships can be improved. A case study of Dotito -
Muchenje cooperative, located in Mt. Darwin, Zimbabwe, was carried out. Data was collected from 30 farmers through
questionnaires. Interviews and field observations at the irrigation cooperative were made to complement data collected
through questionnaires. Key information was obtained from officials in the Department of Irrigation in the Ministry of
Agriculture Mechanism and Irrigation Development. Interviews were carried out with 10 supermarkets in Bindura and
Mt. Darwin towns, the nearest towns to the scheme. The research findings show that the weak links between the
cooperatives and supermarkets are predominantly caused by the lack of marketing skills on the part of cooperatives and
excessive marketing costs. There is need for management in the cooperatives to improve governance methods and
women representation in decision making.
