Abstract
Capital productivity was one of the factors influencing the growth of the cross-border trade of maize,this study used trade policy as a moderating factor. The study examined the influence of capital productivity on cross-border trade growth of maize businesses and the influence of the moderating role of trade policies on growth of cross-border trade of maize business at the Tunduma border. Data was gathered from 311 respondents using closed-ended questionnaires and analysed using PLS-SEM system. Questionnaires were created based on labour productivity, capital productivity and opportunity cost as independent variables with maize business growth as the dependent variable and trade policy as a moderating variable. The study discussed capital productivity as one of the important factors, connected to its significant effect on maize business growth. Tanzania has a comparative advantage over Zambia in producing maize and the primary data revealed an increase of revenue and profit resulted from production increase. The findings informed policy makers, agribusiness, and cross-border stakeholders to strategize in enhancing cross-border maize trade by improving the productivity of cross-border maize business and optimizing policy frameworks. The results contributed to the cross-border trade operations knowledge and opened room for further studies related to cross-border trade.
References
Aung, W.S, (2009). The Role of Informal Cross-border trade in Myanmar, Asia Paper,
Institute for Security & Development Policy.
Baron, R. and Kenny, D. (1986). The Moderator-Mediator Variable Distinction in Social
Psychological Research: Conceptual, Strategic, and Statistical Considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173-1182. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173
Baijukya, F., Sabula L., Mruma S., Mzee, F., Mtoka, E., Masigo, J., Ndunguru, A. & Swai,
E. (2020). Maize production manual for smallholder farmers in Tanzania. Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA.
Bollen, K. A. (1989). Structural Equations with Latent Variables. Wiley.
Cooper D.R, Schildler P.S & Sharma, J.K, (2012). Business Research Methods, (11Ed.). Mc
Graw-Hill.
Erenstein, O., Jaleta, M., Sonder, K. Global maize production, consumption and trade: trends
and R&D implications. Food Sec. 14, 1295–1319 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-022-01288-7
Encarta, (2008). 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation
FAO, (2022) Agricultural production statistics 2000–2022 FAOSTAT Analytical Brief 79
FAO, (2022), (https://www.fao.org/giews/countrybrief/country.jsp?code=MWI&lang=en)
Retrieved on 21st January, 2024: 18:56 Hours.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (3 ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Kotler, P. (2000). Marketing Management. (10th Ed.). Pretice Hall.
Kumar S. and Upadhaya G., (2017), Structure Equation Modeling Basic Assumptions and
Concepts: A Novices Guide. International Journal of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods Vol.5, No.4, pp.10-16, European Centre for Research Training and Development UK.
Mungai, G. (2011). Tourism marketing Masai Mara National Reserve. (Bachelor thesis)
Nitumezi Farm (https://nitumezifarms.com/cost-of-maize-farming-in-zambia/) site visited on
27/09/2024 11:59 Hrs.
Saunders. M, Lewis. P & Thornhill A, (2012). Research Methods for Business students, 6th
Edition, Pearson Education Limited
Sekaran. U. (1992). Research Methods for Managers: A skill building approach. (2nd Ed),
John Wiley and Sons. Inc.
Southern Africa Regional Supply and Market Outlook Update, (2024),
[https://fews.net/sites/default/files/2024-10/Southern%20Africa%20RSMO%20September%202024.pdf] Retrieved on 02nd April, 2025 at 12: 01 hours.
Sumari, G. (2013). Analysis of business growth strategies and their contribution to
business growth; a Tanzania case study. International Journal of Commerce,
economics and Management. Vol I.
UNCTAD, (2019), A report on Informal Cross-border Trade in Malawi, the United Republic
of Tanzania and Zambia, UN, Geneva.
URT, (2023), National Trade Policy 2003, Edition 2023, Ministry of Industry and Trade
URT, (2023), The Implementation Strategy of the National Trade Policy 2023for the period of 2023-2033, Ministry of Industry and Trade
URT, (2022), Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture
Wilson R.T & Lewis J. (2015). The Maize Value Chain in Tanzania; A report from
Southern Highlands Food Systems Programme.
World Bank, (2022). Maize Trade Policies in Zambia: Options for Growth. World
Bank, Washington, DC. © World Bank
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Eastern Africa Journal of Official Statistics