Policy Planning and Management Collection

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://10.10.97.169:4000/handle/123456789/1017

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Browsing Policy Planning and Management Collection by Subject "Agricultural production"

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    Irregular migration and smallholder farmers’ crop production: A case of Kasulu District, Tanzania
    (2017-06-29) Urassa, J. K.; Magweiga, S. R.
    Despite the fact that irregular migrants (IRMs) have often been facing a lot of challenges in sustaining their livelihood in Kasulu District, in recent years, there has been an increase of IRMs from within and outside Kasulu District in search of casual labour in the local communities. The study therefore was undertaken in four villages in Kasulu, Kitanga, Kagera-Nkanda, Mvugwe and Nyachenda to determine the contribution of IRMs to the growth and prosperity of smallholder farmers. Specifically, the study aimed to; compare agricultural productivity among farming households employing IRMs and those not, identify smallholder farmers’ reasons for employing or not employing IRMs and identify problems/issues in relation to smallholder farmers and IRMs interaction. A cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study in which simple random sampling, purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed to select a sample size of 120 respondents. Data were collected using a variety of methods, that is, a questionnaire, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and direct observations. Quantitative data were analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) whereby descriptive statistics were determined. In addition, gross margin analysis was done to determine farmers’ maize and beans production profitability. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. Generally, results show that households employing IRMs recorded a higher productivity both for maize and beans: The households also recorded significantly higher gross margins for both crops. Nonetheless, the results also show existence of a general negative attitude to IRMs by farmers in the study area. It can therefore be concluded that employment of IRMs is benefiting the households involved. However, based on the negative attitude by most of the surveyed households, there is need for the relevant authorities to ensure the well-being of both the recipient communities and that the IRMs are maintained. In addition, there is a general need for education for both the recipient communities and the IRMs with regard to the right procedures to be followed by migrants under the international law.
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    Private sector participation in delivering agricultural services to smallholder farmers in Tanzania: the case of agricultural inputs in Hai district, Kilimanjaro region
    (Sokoine university of agriculture., 2007) Kissinga, Anthony Emmanuel
    The average intensity of fertilizer use throughout Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains much lower than elsewhere and has been virtually stagnant during the past decade. Farmers’ failure to intensify agricultural production in a manner that maintains soil productivity is viewed as a key cause of decline in soil quality in many rural areas in SSA. There is general agreement that the improvements in soil fertility needed to stimulate agricultural productivity growth, improved food security, and increases in rural incomes will require substantial increases in fertilizer use in combination with improved land husbandry practices. Under economic policy reforms in agriculture, the private sector in Tanzania through input delivery services was expected to create incentives for farmers to adopt new farming methods. However, the response from the private sector was and still slow. The study aimed at determining the contributing factors to low participation of the private sector in delivering agricultural inputs to farmers. Limiting availability and accessibility of inputs by the majority of farmers was found to be one of the factors . The second factor was found to be the small market of agricultural inputs associated with poor quality of extension services offered to farmers. The third factor was low awareness of stakeholders on the benefits and consequences of implementing the privatization policy. The last factor was the introduction of subsidy programme which according to this study hindered the emergence and effective operation of the private sector. Several recommendations were given to encourage the private sector. These include: improvement of rural infrastructure; building the capacity of local inputs retailers through training, and trade finance; designing conducive and stable system of distributing subsidized inputs to poor farmers without undermining the profitability of inputs retailers; maintaining efficiency and quality of inputs distributed to farmers by formulating and enforcing regulations; and reducing the long marketing channels of inputs distribution which contribute to high costs of inputs.