Assessing improved sorghum seed adoption and market participation under contract farming in Dodoma region, Tanzania: an endogenous switching regression approach
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Date
2026-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
COGENT ECONOMICS & FINANCE
Abstract
Sorghum farming is vital due to its resilience and suitability in the marginal lands of
Africa, playing a key role in food security and economic stability. This paper analyzed
the effect of Contract Farming (CF) on the adoption of improved seeds and market
participation among sorghum farmers in Tanzania. Data were collected from 400 sor-
ghum households across three districts in Dodoma: Kongwa, Mpwapwa and
Chamwino. Using an Endogenous Switching Regression model, the results show that
contract farming significantly increases both improved seed adoption and market par-
ticipation. Additionally, the study identifies key determinants of contract farming
involvement, including location, age, gender, household size, off-farm activities, experi-
ence, sorghum demonstrations, labor, land type, leadership position, bulking distance,
contract farming trust and the number of groups per village. Therefore, it is recom-
mended that policymakers and stakeholders promote and facilitate targeted contract
farming programs that strongly enhance input availability, financial services and
extension services, as these improvements are crucial for boosting seed adoption and
market participation. Targeted efforts in these areas are likely to yield significant
improvements in sorghum production and enhance the economic stability of the
farmers.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Contracts, improved seeds, sorghum, market participation, Sub-Saharan africa