The Impact Of National Agricultural Input Voucher Scheme On Rice Production At The Kiroka Irrigation Scheme, Morogoro District

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted at the Kiroka Irrigation Scheme in Morogoro District with an overall objective of generating knowledge about the impact of National Agricultural Input Voucher Scheme (NAIVS) on rice production in Tanzania. The specific objectives of the study were (a) to examine farmers‟ perception and response towards NAIVS at the Kiroka Irrigation Scheme, (b) to assess the implementation of NAIVS at the Kiroka Irrigation Scheme, (c) to assess the impact of fertilizer and seed vouchers on rice production at the Kiroka Irrigation Scheme. Farmers were selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques to get a sample size of 120 input voucher users and 30 non-input voucher users. Primary data were collected by using structured questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version (16.0). Descriptive statistics, Conditional Outcome Model (COM) and Paired Samples T-test were used as analytical tools. Descriptive statistics shows that farmers were aware about Input Voucher Scheme. It was found that for the first two cropping seasons, vouchers were timely delivered while in 2011/12 cropping season vouchers were delivered late due to delayed vouchers delivery by MAFC. Also Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) disease and shortage of water during the dry season affect paddy production. Paired Samples T-test revealed that the difference between the mean difference of paddy yield of input voucher users and non-input voucher users (difference of the difference) before and after NAIVS is 2.2 t/ha. This implies a significant increase by 2.2 t/ha from 1.73 t/ha during the baseline survey. The COM shows that for every unit increase in seed rate (kg/acre), 153.2 kg/acre increase in paddy yield is predicted; holding other variables constant. Also for every unit increase in fertilizer rate (kg/acre), 0.6 kg/acre increase in paddy yield is predicted; holding other variables constant.