Income Linkage as an Aspect Of Power Relations Among Chain Actors In The Groundnuts Seed Value Chain In Kongwa And Kiteto Districts, Tanzania
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Date
2022
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Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Community Development
Abstract
This study aims at addressing limited knowledge on income linkages and
power dynamics within the groundnuts seed value chain. The study
population comprised members from three clusters: research institutes,
village and district authority level, including innovation platform members in
Kiteto and Kongwa Districts. Primary data was collected through focus
group discussions and interviews, while secondary data was obtained from
records relating to the groundnut crop and its value chain. Four Focus
Group Discussions (FGDs) (two in Mlali Village-Kongwa District and two in
Kiteto District) with a total of 48 purposively selected respondents
participated in the discussions. Key informants were also selected using a
purposive sampling technique to obtain a range of cases with relevant
knowledge of the groundnut seed value chain. Social network data on
income linkages among actors was analysed using the UCINET statistical
software package integrated with the NETDRAW program to determine
centrality measures and the level of influence and importance among chain
actors. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews were also
analysed through content analysis involving breaking, comparing, and
categorizing to complement the social network data. The study revealed
that farmers and middlemen had the highest relative normalized
betweenness compared to other actors in both district and village levels,
indicating that they are powerful due to their importance in the value chain
setup. The study concluded that there is a need to ensure inclusive and
improved income linkages both vertically and horizontally with other actors
for stable and functional groundnuts seed value chain.
Description
Research article
Keywords
Income linkages. Power relations, Actors. Groundnut seeds, Value chain