An Economic Comparison between Alternative Rice Farming Systems in Tanzania Using a Monte Carlo Simulation Approach

Ibrahim L. Kadigi,Jean-Claude Bizimana,Henry F. Mahoo,James W. Richardson,Winfred Mbungu,Stefan Sieber,Khamaldin D. Mutabazi,Damas Philip

doi:10.3390/su12166528

Abstract

Tanzania is the second-largest producer of rice (Oryza sativa) in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa after Madagascar. Unfortunately, the sector has been performing poorly due to many constraints, including poor agricultural practices and climate variability. In addressing the challenge, the government is making substantial investments to speed the agriculture transformation into a more modernized, commercial, and highly productive and profitable sector. Our objective was to apply a Monte Carlo simulation approach to assess the economic feasibility of alternative rice farming systems operating in Tanzania while considering risk analysis for decision-makers with different risk preferences to make better management decisions. The rice farming systems in this study comprise rice farms using traditional practices and those using some or all of the recommended system of rice intensification (SRI) practices. The overall results show 2% and zero probability of net cash income (NCI) being negative for partial and full SRI adopters, respectively. Meanwhile, farmers using local and improved seeds have 66% and 60% probability of NCI being negative, correspondingly. Rice farms which applied fertilizers in addition to improved seeds have a 21% probability of negative returns. Additionally, net income for rice farms using local seeds was slightly worthwhile when the transaction made during the harvesting period compared to farms applied improved varieties due to a relatively high price for local seeds. These results help to inform policymakers and agencies promoting food security and eradication of poverty on the benefits of encouraging improved rice farming practices in the country. Despite climate variability, in Tanzania, it is still possible for rice farmers to increase food production and income through the application of improved technologies, particularly SRI management practices, which have shown a promising future.

Highlights

The population of developing countries is increasing rapidly
By considering the annual net income distribution, rice farms under Alt.4 (SRI adopters) had the highest income distribution regardless of seasonal variability in price followed by Alt.3 and it was relatively low for the non-System of Rice Intensification (SRI) adopter
We categorized our sample into five alternative scenarios: (1) farms using traditional management practices; (2) farms using improved seed varieties; (3) farms using improved varieties plus fertilizers; (4) farms applying some of the SRI practices; and (5) farms using all the recommended SRI practices

Summary

Introduction

The population of developing countries is increasing rapidly. Many of these countries rely on rice (Oryza sativa) as a staple food, and it is estimated that the demand will increase by up to 70%over the three decades [1,2]. The population of developing countries is increasing rapidly Many of these countries rely on rice (Oryza sativa) as a staple food, and it is estimated that the demand will increase by up to 70%. It is estimated that 15–20 Mha of the world s 79 Mha of irrigated rice lowlands, which provide three-quarters of the world s rice supply, will suffer some degree of water scarcity [4]. These concerns can only be countered by applying improved agricultural practices, including rice irrigation schemes and hybrid rice varieties [5]. Other scholars [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14] have argued that low rice productivity could be addressed through judicious use of agronomic inputs like transplanting young single seedlings with wider spacing, alternating wetting and drying fields, and use of fertilizers

Objectives

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Discussion

Conclusion