ABSTRACT Pearl millet is among the crops which are performing well in Central and Lake Zone of Tanzania and due to its adaptation to semi-arid climate. The crop has a very high potential for improving livelihoods of farmers residing in those areas. Unfortunately, farmers are not getting maximum benefits from the crop due to some limiting factors. One of the key factors is low demand for the crop within and outside the semi-arid areas. Small quantity of pearl millet traded is an indication of ...
ABSTRACT Perceptions guides decision making and eventually determines the actions to be made by farmers on climate change adaptation. This study analyzed how farmers perceive cassava as climate change crop, determinants of farmer’s perception and also estimated the share of cassava to total household income in Kigoma Region. A multistage random sampling procedure was used to select a total of 140 household heads for analysis. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and key inform...
ABSTRACT This study was carried out with the main objective of analyzing the economic impacts of climate change on teff production in central Ethiopia. Specific objectives of the study were: i) To analyze the relationship of income from teff (Eragrostis tef) production with biophysical and socioeconomic variables, ii) To determine the marginal impact of temperature and rainfall on income from teff production, iii) To predict a range of potential future impacts on teff production under a mid-r...
ABSTRACT Sweet potato with a negligible amount of vitamin A has been consumed for a long time in Sub-Saharan African (SSA)countries including Tanzania. The production and consumption of improved sweet potato varieties including orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) with high Vitamin A content has been promoted due to its potential to combat Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD). Adding value to OFSP will increase both its shelf-life and market demand. This study was conducted toassess consumer acceptabilit...
ABSTRACT Despite 19 years of its existence, organic cotton production (OCP) system has not been adopted as envisioned. This study therefore sought to identify and assess constraints to its adoption and consequent diffusion, both in temporal and spatial dimensions. A survey study was conducted using almost equal number of both organic and conventional farmers. The key methodological features involved interviewing 59 organic and 60 conventional cotton farmers using structured questionnaire. Oth...
ABSTRACT This study aimed at analyzing the value chain for traditionally produced honey and identifying the most profitable value-adding activity practiced by traditional beekeepers. Specifically, the study intended (i) to analyze the value chain for traditionally produced honey in Kongwa district, (ii) to determine the contribution of honey to traditional beekeeper’s household income, (iii) to analyse costs and returns from honey value-adding activities in order to identify the most profit...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the effect of land titling on tenure security and subsequent investment on land improvement among smallholder farmers in Mbozi District, Tanzania. Specific objectives were; to determine the proportion of farmers who have formal land titles as well as the proportion of formalized land in Mbozi District, to identify how land tenure security is defined according to local criteria among farmers and determine indicators that express tenure security by la...
ABSTRACT This study was about economics of small scale irrigation schemes funded by TASAF. The study was conducted at the Mkindo irrigation scheme in Mvomero District, Morogoro. The main objective of the study was to analyze the economic viability and determine the impact of the irrigation scheme on household income and food security. Specifically study: (i) analyzed the economic viability of the irrigation scheme; (ii) determined the impact of the irrigation scheme on household income and in...
ABSTRACT The study of economic coordination in chicken production targets to a wide continuum of coordination activities in poultry subsector in Kibaha District. It also aims to delineate similarities and differences between the two chicken breeds (local and exotic). The specific objectives include mapping of the two value chains, identifying governance structures in the value chains, assessing of potentials of different actors categories and also determining factors influencing participation...
ABSTRACT Nzega is among the district located in semi-arid areas of Tanzania where drought is a limiting factor for agriculture. In the district farmers are advised to use early maturing maize varieties (EMMV). In contrary the adoption of EMMV in Nzega District is still low. Increase in use of EMMV is possible if factors which influence adoption are addressed. The present study aimed at identifying factors which influence adoption of EMMV. The main objective was to analyze challenges facing ef...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to analyse the production and marketing transaction costs of sugarcane outgrowers in Mvomero and Kilosa districts of Morogoro region in Tanzania. The specific objectives were to determine the level of transaction costs in different categories of outgrowers, to examine the influence of institutional arrangement on sugarcane transaction costs, and to examine the impact of transaction cost on the quality of sugarcane in terms of sucrose content (Rendement)....
ABSTRACT This study analyses the effect of mobile phone based market information services (MIS) on smallholder farmers’ maize market participation in Lilongwe rural, Malawi using survey data sourced directly from 196 smallholder farmers. The study reveals insufficient evidence to suggest that existing mobile phone-based MIS in Malawi which entails users subscribing to short (text) message service (SMS) price alerts, influence smallholder farmers’ market participation decisions. Knowledge ...
ABSTRACT Governments in many developing countries including Tanzania are promoting irrigation as a response to food insecurity. A current initiative in Tanzania for instance, is to scale up annual paddy irrigation production to 2 million tones in 2018 from the present 8 x 105 tones. Studies conducted in Ruvuma and Mbeya regions by the World Bank (WB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) shows improvement in irrigation efficiency and crop yield. The question whether t...
ABSTRACT Dry beans are an important source of protein especially among poor consumers in Tanzania. This makes dry beans a strategic food for combating malnutrition. Yet, per capita consumption of dry beans in Tanzania is relatively low. However, the reasons for low beans consumption are not well established. This study provides empirical evidence on beans consumption and factors influencing beans choice in households’ food purchasing decisions. The study used data collected by Legume Innova...
ABSTRACT Market liberalization has been one of the most important and widely implemented aspects of the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) in sub –Saharan Africa (SSA). The general objective of the study was to investigate the effect of cotton market liberalization on the smallholder cotton farmers’ livelihoods in two districts in Shinyanga region, Tanzania. Specificically the study sought to assess cotton production and marketing, examine income change, and establish wellbeing of sm...