Browsing by Author "Kitundu Samson C."

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    Assessment of vegetable gardening and its contribution to household income in Tabora Municipality, Tanzania
    (SCIENCEDOMAIN international., 2024-10-19) Kitundu Samson C.; Mosha Devotha B.; Mlozi Malongo R. S.
    This study investigated the contribution of vegetable gardening to household income among vegetable growers in Tabora Municipality, Tanzania. Despite the potential of vegetable cultivation to improve livelihoods, many households remained reliant on limited income sources. This study aimed at ascertaining the contribution of vegetable gardening to the household income in Tabora Municipality, Tanzania. Specifically, the study identified the major vegetables grown in the area and examined the relative contribution of income from vegetable sales compared to other income sources. This study employed a cross-sectional design with a mixedmethods approach during data collection, where qualitative and quantitative data were collected. A structured questionnaire was administered to 120 respondents purposively selected from three wards: Ndevelwa, Mlisha, and Kabila. Qualitative data were gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The findings revealed that in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 cropping seasons, slightly more than half of the respondents (N=55.3% and N- 55.5%), recognized the significant contribution of vegetable gardening to their household income. This percentage increased significantly to 80.5% in the 2023/2024 season. Notably, the income generated from vegetable gardening surpassed other household incomegenerating activities. However, the study also highlighted substantial constraints: most respondents operated on small plots of land (<0.6 acres) and frequently failed to implement recommended agronomic practices effectively. These factors limited the overall productivity and profitability of vegetable production. To enhance yields and improve household income. Furthermore, it is recommended that the Tabora Municipality, through local authorities, should provide targeted capacity-building training on best agronomic practices to vegetable growers.