Impact Of Pig Keeping On Farmers’ Livelihoods Outcomes: A Case Of Mbeya Region, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

In Tanzania, pig production for meat is becoming popular in many parts of the country and contributes significantly to the livelihood outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine how pig keeping can contribute to smallholder farmers’ livelihood outcomes. Specifically it focused on assessing the impact of pig husbandry introduced interventions on the livelihood outcomes of pig keepers, evaluating acceptability of the new model system, adopted technologies and products among smallholder pig farmers and at identifying factors affecting smallholder pig production. The study adopted a cross-sectional research survey and was conducted in Mbozi and Mbeya districts in Mbeya Region, Tanzania. Purposive sampling was used to select 160 smallholder pig farmers from intervention and control groups. Data were collected using a questionnaire, focus group discussion and key informant interviews. The study found out that pig keeping had contributed significantly to the livelihood outcomes of pig keepers in the intervention group as compared to the control group. Pig keepers in the former possessed more assets with high value following the intervention compared to the latter. In the intervention group four new management systems were introduced that included: knowledge/education, hygienic pig confinement, anthelmintic treatment and feed supplementation. Results from the study show that majority accepted and adopted the introduced interventions. Despite the contribution of pig keeping to the achievement of farmers’ livelihood outcomes, households in both intervention and control groups face several constraints, however, the control group were severely affected by diseases while lack of capital was more serious to the intervention group. It is therefore recommended that; the Government and other stakeholders to invest in research and come up with better ways of dealing with the common pig diseases. It is further recommended that, education on pig production should be extended to all pig keepers in the study areas.