Transforming smallholder orange farming in Tanzania: institutional constraints and sustainability pathways in Muheza District
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Date
2026
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
This study examines sustainability constraints facing smallholder orange farmers in
Muheza District, Tanzania, and identifies institutional and value-chain pathways for
strengthening resilience. Using a mixed-methods design, household survey data were
integrated with focus group discussions and key informant interviews conducted
between January and March 2024. Descriptive statistics characterized household and
production conditions, while thematic analysis captured institutional and market
dynamics. A binary logistic regression model assessed factors associated with the
adoption of at least one sustainable/climate-smart practice (e.g. mulching, water
harvesting, intercropping). Results indicate that limited extension services, insecure land
tenure, and demographic aging reduce adaptive capacity, while weak institutional
support, especially exclusion from credit and limited extension coverage reinforces
low-input production. Marketing is dominated by brokers and local spot markets,
exposing farmers to seasonal price volatility and constraining bargaining power.
Regression results show that education, land size, access to credit, access to extension
services, and cooperative membership significantly increase the likelihood of adopting
sustainable practices. The study concludes that vulnerabilities are interlocking: deficits
in household livelihood capitals interact with structural asymmetries in value chain
governance. By integrating the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and Global Value
Chain perspectives, the paper advances an analytically transferable approach for
diagnosing sustainability constraints in perennial crop systems. Transferability is
expected in settings characterized by constrained livelihood assets, limited credit and
extension access, and broker-dominated spot markets with weak collective organization.
The paper proposes policy options centered on tailored finance, strengthened extension,
cooperative revitalization, and governance reforms that improve market access and
incentives for sustainable practice adoption.
Description
Journal Article of Cogent Food & Agriculture
Keywords
Smallholder orange farmers, Sustainable agricultural practices, Institutional constraints, Credit and extension, Value chain governance, Muheza District, Tanzania
Citation
https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2026.2634429