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Sokoine University of Agriculture Institutional Repository (SUA IR). This repository was built and is maintained by the university library (Sokoine National Agricultural Library-SNAL) , in order to collect, preserve and disseminate scholarly output generated by University research community (staff and students) members.
This repository hosts a variety of openly accessible materials including: scholarly articles and books, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings and technical reports. For assistance about depositing your research output in the repository click here. SUA IR Policy click here or any queries contact us at snal@sua.ac.tz.
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- The Agroforesty Community is a collaborative network dedicated to advancing sustainable land-use practices that integrate trees, crops, and livestock. It serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, research dissemination, and practical innovations in Agroforestry. By fostering connections among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and local communities, the Agroforestry Community promotes environmental conservation, enhanced agricultural productivity, and resilient livelihoods.
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Recent Submissions
Irrigation performance of a water distribution system: The case of Kigugu irrigation scheme-Mvomero district Morogoro region Tanzania
(Science publishing group, 2024) Chogohe, Mnega Hussein; Silungwe, Festo Richard; Tarimo, Andrew Kirumi Paul Rai
This study assessed the performance of the Kigugu Irrigation Scheme's water distribution system in Tanzania with an emphasis
on its impact on crop yields. We used a combination of participatory tools and direct observation to gather comprehensive data,
including weather patterns, water discharge rates, and farmer input levels. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed significant
variations in water distribution across canals, with Relative Water Supply (RWS) values ranging from 0.7 to 5.9, indicating
instances of both over- and under-supply. Despite these variations, satisfactory performance was demonstrated by the irrigation
system, with high Water Delivery Performance Ratio (WDPR) values consistently recorded above 0.65, indicating that water
demands were largely met across the system. Furthermore, the study found that equity in water distribution improved
significantly during the growing season, with the equity index dropping from 0.2 to 0.1. This underscores the critical need for fair
water allocation practices, particularly during low-flow periods, to ensure that all farmers receive an adequate supply. Based on
these findings, several recommendations for irrigation system modifications were proposed to further improve water distribution
and equity. In terms of productivity, a notable correlation between water distribution and crop yield was observed. A canal with a
design discharge of 0.0228 m 2 /s produced a yield of 552.18 metric tonnes, demonstrating efficient water utilization. In contrast,
canal SC.4-2, with a lower discharge of 0.0185 m2/s, achieved a smaller yield of 274.31 metric tonnes, further highlighting the
importance of optimal water distribution for enhancing agricultural productivity. Overall, the Kigugu Irrigation Scheme
maintains a reliable water supply, contributing positively to sustainable water resource management and agricultural
productivity. This, in turn, supports local economic growth, enhances food security, and improves community well-being. The
study’s findings provide critical insights for future improvements in irrigation management and resource allocation
Microenterprise finance in Tanzania: case study and policy design analyses
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2001) Chiduo C. M .P
The purpose of this study was to assess the status and provision of micro-finance
services in Tanzania and suggest necessary improvements in national microfinance policies and design of micro-finance programmes. Specific objectives of the
study were to (1) assess the status and provision of micro-finance services in
Tanzania basing on secondary information and analyses of selected case studies,
(2) evaluate the status of accessibility to micro-finance (credit) of selected MEs in
Dar es Salaam region, (3) determine the role of credit in micro-enterprises
performance in terms of changes in employment creation and income generation,
(4) analyse factors which determine performance of micro-enterprises, and (5)
following
achievement of the above objectives, recommend necessary
improvements in the design of national micro-finance policies and individual
programmes. Data for the study were collected from various primary and secondary
sources including, The Planning Commission, Vice President’s Office, Bank of
Tanzania (BOT), and National Micro-finance Bank (NMB). More data were collected
through MFI and ME level surveys from PRIDE Tanzania, Presidential Trust Fund
for Self Reliance (PTF), Huduma Ya Maendeleo Ltd (HYM) and their clients in Dar-
es-Salaam region. Major tools of analyses for the study were descriptive statistics
and multiple linear regressions. Results of the study confirmed that micro-finance
programmes operated by the MFIs in the study areas have been designed basing
on policies enshrined in the New Micro-finance Approach such policies have
contributed significantly to financial successes in many parts of the World. They
include: emphasis on group liability in lieu of formal collateral; charging of
commercial interest rates instead of subsidized rates, effecting intensive loan
collection, and demanding contributions towards insurance funds. Micro-enterprises
studied have contributed substantially to livelihood of families of the micro-
enterprise owners. Access of MEs to capital improves income generation and
labour employment capacity of ME although only to a small degree. Capital has also enabled MEs to operate more smoothly and more efficiently.
Recommendations of the study for policy relate to improvements in performance of
the micro-enterprise sector through provision of reasonable amounts of start-up
capital, and, provision of business management and marketing training, for the
purpose of assisting ME’s growth and development into the formal sector. It is also
recommended that, activities of MFI should be regulated through a micro-finance
board that shall develop and promote rules and regulations for self-guarding
interest of the various stakeholders in the micro-finance sub-sector.
Woodfuel consumption in Shinyanga rural district, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2013) Mangi, Jonas Kasala
This study was conducted in Shinyanga Rural district. Tanzania to assess the woodfuel
consumption at the household level. Specifically, its objectives were to identify woodfuel
supply sources, species and uses as well as to determine the quantity of woodfuel consumed
by households. Furthermore, woodfuel consumption influencing factors were also assessed.
Data were collected through household’s questionnaires, checklists, and participant
observations. The Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using the Statistical
Package for Social Sciences software tools. Findings showed that the natural forests and
man made forests were the ideal supply sources of woodfuel. Results also revealed that
about 65 tree species were recorded and botanically identified for woodfuel production.
Woodfuel was found as major energy source for cooking in the study area. However, due to
woodfuel scarcity, crop residues and cow dung are also used as options at households for
cooking particularly during the dry and harvesting periods. Furthermore, the total amounts
fuelwood and charcoal consumed by the households per year were estimated at 711 m3 and
204 m3 while, fuelwood and charcoal per capita consumption were estimated at 0.67 m3 and
0.14 m3 respectively. Moreover, results revealed that, household’s family size and
household’s occupation significantly showed positive linear relationship with woodfuel
consumption at (p < 0.05). Whilst, education level and time use for its collection at
(p < 0.05) had no significant relationship with the quantity of woodfiiel consumed. Despite
its significant contribution to socio economic livelihoods, sustainability of woodfuel has
received low priorities for its utilization development in the study area. It is burden for the
collectors and also it is unenyironmentaily friendly since its collection involves cutting
small trees and shrubs which are at regenerating stage for tree growth development. In
order to ensure sustainable supply of woodfuel it is recommended that the use of improved
cooking stoves, tree planting, encourage agroforestry farming system as well as communityiii
awareness rising on woodfuel scarcity implication to surroundings and livelihood of
households, be promoted.
Assessment of food market structures and their implication to household food security in Rufiji district
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2008) Massawe, Samwel
This study analyzes food market structure and its implication to household food
security in Rufiji district with particular emphasis on Rufiji Demographic
Surveillance System (RDSS) area. Specifically, the study analyzed existing food
market structures in terms of number and size of marketing agents and marketing
channels for major food products in Rufiji district; analyzed market efficiency of
food products in terms of barrier to entry, vertical integration and market
transparency; derived the implication of existing market structures and efficiency in
terms of household food sufficiency; and proposed policy measures for addressing
food insecurity in Rufiji district. A cross sectional single-visit survey that included
randomly selected representative samples of 153 farmers and 66 food traders residing
in RDSS area was conducted in February 2006. Pre-tested questionnaires were used
to interview the sampled farmers and food traders selected so as to capture issues of
food production and marketing in the area. The results of analysis revealed that (i)
production of food crops for households with food deficit was low compared to
households with food surplus; (ii) more than 90% of the households accessed most of
their food items from food retail markets; (iii) in many areas food markets were
concentrated with few traders who operate under diseconomies of scale; (iv) the
entry major barrier faced by food traders is lack of access to capital; (vi) traders who
integrate vertically offered processed food products at lower price; and (vii)
correlation analysis between marketing margin and selling price of food products
showed that changes in food prices were passed by traders from one marketing
channel to another without significantly increasing their marketing margins. Based
on the findings, the study recommended that (i) Food crop production should beiii
increased by using appropriate modem technologies such as fertilizers, tractors and
improved seeds to enable farmers to be food self-sufficient and at the same time
increase marketed surplus; (ii) Traders should be sensitized by local government
through district cooperative officers to form Savings and Credit Cooperative
Societies (SACCOS) as an alternative to formal banks; (iii) The local authority in
collaboration with development partners in the district should adopt the approach
used by Rufiji Demographic Surveillance System (RDSS) to collect market
information from identified locations in each month so as to monitor movement of
food prices over time and space in order to improve district market information
system.
The effect of credit on income: a case of women’s micro projects for poverty alleviation in Shinyanga urban and rural districts
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2000) Mbeiyererwa, Arbogast Gwarbert
Micro-credit funding for women income generating activities is one of the current anti
poverty measures that are adopted by many developing countries to alleviate poverty
amongst the poor. This study was conducted in Shinyanga region to examine the
effectiveness of credit scheme models by this mode of funding to women’s micro
projects at the grassroots.
Both questionnaire and personal observation methods were used to collect data
amongst women beneficiaries in Shinyanga urban and rural area districts. A total of
121 respondents was interviewed, and the collected data were analysed using both
quantitative and qualitative approaches.
The results show that, credit loans for women micro-projects have an apparent positive
effect on the overall income of beneficiaries. But despite this, the credit loans to urban
beneficiaries have shown overall poor performance. The variation of performance
between the urban and rural beneficiaries was analysed by using the ‘current ratio’
(CR) measure. Thus, the
test shows that there is a significant (P < 0.05) association
between future sustainability of the micro-projects and the respective respondents’
location (either urban or rural area) - in terms of CR measure. The results also indicate
that most of the micro-projects (54.5%) in rural areas have CR > 2. The average CR
for the urban and rural area micro-projects were 1.3310 and 7.8250 respectively. This
implies that the performance of rural area micro-projects was superior to the urban
counterpart.
Factors that contributed to this effectiveness include suitable creditiii
policies and associated conditions that are flexible and affordable by the poor women
at the grassroots. These features are reflected by the size of the loan, the type of
projects for the targeted population and the modes of loan repayments.
Furthermore, the T test for the difference between means of different group pairs of
initial capital shows that there is a greater statistical (P < 0.05) difference between
respondents with zero initial capital and those ranging between zero and Tsh.15 000.00
each. Similar results are indicated by the test between respondents with zero initial
capital and those with capital ranging between Tsh.49 650. 00 and Tsh. 68 880.00.
Basing on the study results it is recommended that, in order to support the poor women
at the grassroots credit schemes for poverty alleviation must review their credit
policies, so as to meet the conditions of the resource poor. But again, the study has
noted that commercial oriented policies that create loan dependants are more likely to
worsen the poverty situation irrespective of the location and target factors that are to be
addressed. Credit policies can serve the poor when they address the factors that
perpetuate poverty in the different localities.
Credit agencies therefore, should make necessary reforms and preparations for the
schemes before implementation. Among other things, targeting has to identify the real
poor by assessing their actual requirements in the context of Tanzania environment.