Browsing by Author "Samwel, J. K."

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Factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision to use quality seed of improved common bean varieties in Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2019) Samwel, J. K.
This study was done in Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Mbeya, Morogoro and Njombe regions, which represented major common beans producing regions in Western/Great Lakes, Northern, Southern and Eastern Zones. The study assessed the factors that influence smallholder farmers’ decision to use quality seed of improved common bean varieties in Tanzania. Specifically, the study sought to: (1) Determine smallholder farmers’ beliefs about quality seed of improved common bean varieties. (2) Determine attributes preferred by smallholder farmers in improved common bean varieties. (3) Examine smallholder farmers’ knowledge about quality seed of improved common bean varieties. (4) Evaluate smallholder farmers' attitude towards quality seed of improved common bean varieties, and (5) Assess smallholder farmers’ intention of using quality seed of improved common bean varieties. A serial cross-sectional research design with three-phases of data collection was employed. In the first phase, an elicitation study was conducted to determine smallholder farmers’ beliefs about quality seed of improved common bean varieties. In this stage, data were collected in October 2016. The second phase was carried out in 2017, data were collected in three stages namely market, field, and cooking preference tests to determine attributes, which were preferred by smallholder farmers at flowering, maturity, harvesting, marketing, and consumption stages. The third phase was done in 2018, and involved a survey of the respondents to assess their knowledge, attitude toward and the intention of using quality seed of improved common bean varieties. Questionnaire, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and observation were used to collect data from a representative sample of farmers, extension workers, and stockists. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while content and thematic analyses were used for analysis of qualitative data. These analyses aimed at examining if beliefs, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control influenced the respondents’ decision to use quality seed of improved common bean varieties. Moreover, the analyses sought to examine the influence of intention and perceived behavioural control on actual use of the seeds. The analyses also determined if the respondents preferred quality seeds, and whether they had adequate knowledge to use quality seeds of improved common bean varieties. The results showed that farmers’ decision of using quality seed of improved common bean varieties was influenced by various behavioural, normative and control beliefs. Generally, smallholder farmers had weak to moderate positive attitudes toward quality seeds of improved common bean varieties. Additionaly, smallholder farmers experienced weak to moderate social pressure on using quality seed of improved common bean varieties. Furthermore, smallholder farmers had a feeling of lacking or having very weak control over the use of quality seed of improved common bean varieties. These beliefs emanated from the fact that quality seeds of improved common bean varieties are not available, smallholder farmers had low income, produces from improved varieties had low market potential, there was inadequate extension services, and associated inputs had high costs among others. These behavioural, normative, and control beliefs significantly influenced smallholder farmers’ attitude (β = 0.583; p ≤ 0.001), subjective norm (β = 0.121; p ≤ 0.05), and perceived behavioural control (β = -0.141; p ≤ 0.05) respectively. The results further indicated that smallholder farmers’ attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control significantly influenced their intention to use quality seed at (β = 0.448, p ≤ 0.001; β = 0.110, p ≤ 0.05; and β = 0.164, p ≤ 0.001) respectively. Moreover, the study found that smallholder farmers’ preferences, knowledge and perceived behavioural control statistically significantly influenced their actual quality seed use practices at (β = 0.593, p ≤ 0.001; β = 0.530, p ≤ 0.001; and β = 0.157; p ≤ 0.01) respectively. Furthermore, smallholder farmers’ sex, marital status, household size, and the number of acres grown to common beans significantly influenced actual use of quality seed at (β = 0.199, p ≤ 0.001; β = 0.128, p ≤ 0.01; β = -0.125, p ≤ 0.05; and β = 0.219, p ≤ 0.001) respectively. It is then concluded that beliefs, preferred attributes, knowledge, attitude and intention vary considerably among smallholder farmers. Hence, the study, recommends that the efforts aimed at increasing the use of quality seed should address beliefs, attributes preferred, awareness creation and knowledge provision on quality seed. Smallholder farmers should be empowered to build their ability to acquire and confidence to use quality seed of improved common bean varieties. Key words: Common beans, Improved common bean varieties, Quality seed of improved common bean varieties, beliefs, preferences, knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioural control, intention
Impact of climate variability and change on rain-fed farming system in selected semi-arid areas of Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2015) Samwel, J. K.
Climate variability and change pose serious challenges to smallholder farmers and agro-pastoralists. Nonetheless, their trends and impacts on rain-fed farming system (RFFS) in semi-arid areas of Tanzania have not sufficiently been explored. This study was conducted in Iramba and Meatu districts to contribute to this knowledge gap. The study specifically (i) assessed meteorological data trends of rainfall and temperature between 1994 and 2011; (ii) determined farmers’ perception of climate variability and change in relation to meteorological data trends; (iii) determined changes in RFFS in response to climate variability and change; and (iv) examined changes in gender relations in response to climate variability and change. Although available meteorological data were less than 30 years suggesting climate variability, farmers’ perceptions covered up to 30 years and so addressed the question of climate change. A qualitative phase informed a household survey that covered a random sample of 388 households’ respondents (39% women). Qualitative data were transcribed into text and analyzed based on content and meaning of the text. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze quantitative data. The results showed that there was no significant increase (P > 0.05) in inter-annual rainfall variability. However, seasonal rainfall variability showed a clear decreasing trend in April and December, in Iramba; and in January and April, in Meatu. Decreasing rainfall trend in April occurred simultaneously with increasing temperature trend. In addition, farmers’ perception and meteorological data trends compared well on change and on increased rainfall unpredictability as well as on increased warming and dry years. Nonetheless, due to missing data in some periods, meteorological data trends did not show increased frequency of drought since the 2000s as opposed to farmers’ perception. As hypothesized (P > 0.05), men and women’s perceptions were almost the same. Similarly, perceptions of the poor, not so poor and the rich were almost the same (P > 0.05). Unlike the hypothesis, the binary logistic regression model showed that climate variability and change had significant impact on changing crop varieties and livestock grazing places relative to non-climatic factors. Warming (ß = -10.61, Wald = 36.26, P ≤ 0.001) showed the highest impact on changing crop varieties. In addition, drought (ß = 2.16, Wald = 6.82, P ≤ 0.009) showed the highest impact on changing livestock grazing places. Based on division of labour, control over resources and biased norms, climate variability and change increased and perpetuated existing asymmetrical gender relations. The study concludes that although inter-annual rainfall had not changed significantly, temperature, drought and seasonal rainfall variability had intensified relative to the situation in the 1970s. This had substantial impacts on cropping and livestock systems and on gender relations. Therefore, strategies used by the farmers and interventions promoted by the government and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) to address the impacts should comprehensively consider seasonal variability with gender perspectives.