Meatu Districts Research Articles

Profit Efficiency and its Determinants among Traditional Beef Cattle Farmers in the Meatu District of Simiyu Region, Tanzania

Tanzania has taken great steps to commercialize the beef cattle industry since 1997. However, despite efforts, 22% of farmers live in poverty, and industry's contribution to GDP is low. This raises questions concerning beef cattle farmers' profit efficiency (PE). This study, thus, sought to gain empirical evidence on the level of profit efficiency (PE) and its determinants among farmers to discover ways to optimize the industry's commercialization to reduce poverty. This study uses field survey data from 393 farmers in the Meatu District of the Simiyu Region. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier profit function (CDSFPF), and Heckman treatment effect (HTE) models. The descriptive results showed that farmers had low levels of education, limited access to credit and veterinary services, and limited involvement in farmer cooperatives. Such limitations tend to lower profit maximization. Profit efficiency (PE) results showed that farmers lose 51% of their profits, with an average PE of 49%. Based on the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) of CDSFPF, the cost of medications, supplements, labor, parasite eradication, marketing, transportation, and local breed beef cattle had a significant negative impact on PE at a 5% (P < 0.05) level. While grazing land owned and cattle herd size positively influenced PE at a 5% (P < 0.05) significant level. Thus, controlling variable costs to the utmost will increase PE and provide a substantial benefit. Besides, the estimated CDSFPF, along with the inefficiency variables and robustness test, show that access to market information, credit, educational level, farming experience, off-farm income, and cattle fattening all have a negative influence on profit inefficiency at the 5% (P < 0.05) significant level, thereby enhancing PE. Whilst the distance to the market increased the level of profit inefficiency, thereby decreasing PE. Therefore, the government should address factors that influence cattle production efficiency to boost farmers' income, the economy, and food security and reduce poverty.

Does Tenure Matters? Assessment of Stand Parameters in Ngitili Management System in Meatu District Tanzania

Despite the fact that forests in Ngitili are managed under private and communal tenure regimes, few studies exists that shows how those tenure regimes have influenced forest conditions. The present study assessed stand structure, i.e., diameter and species distribution, basal area, density, and volume in the Ngitili management system under private and communal tenure regimes. A systematic random sampling approach was used to establish circular plots measuring 15 m radius across three Ngitili selected in the study area in which data were collected. R software was used to analyze the collected data sets. Results show that the number of stems (N) basal area (G) and volume (V) per hectare was 3 197.67 stems/ha, 6.92 m2/ha and 36.04 m3, respectively under the private tenure regime. Additionally, N, G and V varied from 572.99 - 1213.73 stems/ha, 5.22 - 6.67 m2/ha and 16.67 - 18.06 m3, respectively in the communal tenure regime. However, diameter distribution of 10 – 20 cm and below 10 cm contributed more to the observed V and N, respectively both in the private and communal tenure regime. Interestingly, diameter distributions showed a negative exponential function of De Liocourt i.e. Inverse J shaped indicating normal trend in an unevenly aged natural forest. On the other hand, the study revealed the Shannon-Wiener diversity Index ranging from 0.99 – 1.88 in communal Ngitili and 1.90 in private Ngitili indicating low species diversity. Generally, N and V in Ngitili under the private tenure regime were better than under the communal tenure regime. However, no significant difference in basal area and tree species diversity was observed between private and communal tenure regimes in Ngitili management systems. The findings presented here can be used in planning the future restoration of degraded ecosystems and for forest management.

The Impacts of Cultural Practices on Children’s Access to Formal Education in Tanzania: A Case of Sukuma Community in Meatu District, Tanzania

The study investigated the effects of Sukuma cultural practices on children's access to formal education in Meatu District. Specifically, the study investigated the effect of Sukuma traditional ceremonies (Mbina) on children access to formal education. The study adopted an interpretivism paradigm as its philosophical stance as well as the ethnographic research design that formed the framework within which the study was conducted. The study involved a sample of 28 participants constituting District Education Officer, parents, heads teachers, and primary school pupils. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and documentary review. The main findings revealed that the involvement of children in Sukuma traditional ceremonies (Mbina) have impact on children's access to formal education. On the basis of the findings, the study recommends that the involvement of children in Sukuma traditional ceremonies and other cultural practices with negative impacts to children's education should be abolished or should not interfere with children's access to education. Moreover, efforts should be done by the government through public campaigns to encourage parents to stop cultural practices which interfere with children's access to formal education by doing the following: First, laws protecting children should be enforced to ensure that all children of school age are enrolled and complete education cycle. Secondly, school timetable should include sports and games that can give children a chance to participate and show their talents while they are at school. Finally, the study recommends that campaigns against early marriages and early pregnancy should be emphasized in order to fight against school dropout, absenteeism, and poor performance.

Community Access to Livelihood Sustenance Resources in Protected Areas: A Case Study of the Makao WMA, Tanzania

Local community bordering protected areas bear conservation costs like crop damage, injury and loss of land despite the conservation benefits and tourism attractions situated within their localities. This paper examines the extent to which community adjacent to protected areas access subsistence resources in Makao WMA. The study was conducted in Makao Wildlife Management Area in Jinamo, Mwabagimu and Makao villages, in Meatu District, Tanzania. The data were collected from 281 heads of households using a survey design within a mixed approach. A random number generator was used to generate a random number of households to be surveyed in each study village. The study found a limited access to subsistence resources as local communities are restricted to access land for agriculture, livestock grazing, settlements, firewood, wood for charcoal production, building poles and grasses; hence limiting their livelihood supports. The study results show that limited access to subsistence resources in protected areas may, in the long-run, results to resource-use conflicts in wildlife management areas. This study recommends local community capacity building programs that enable local advocacy for sustainable wildlife conservation and ensure resources access.

Benefit Sharing in Community Based Conservation Programs: The Case of Makao Wildlife Management Area, Tanzania

Wildlife Management Area establishment around protected areas in Tanzania have been faced with various challenges including failures to adequately involve local populations in planning, governance and management of wildlife related resources. This study examined the benefit sharing mechanisms in Community Based Conservation programs, the case of Makao Wildlife Management Area in Meatu District, Tanzania. The study was conducted in Jinamo, Mwabagimu and Makao Villages. Data were collected from 281 heads of households using a survey design within the mixed approach. The study used simple random sampling based on the names of all heads of the households in each study village who were obtained from the village households as registered by village chairs. The major findings indicate that in the past five years, there is a considerable increase of income generated from wildlife investment in the study area which is used for payment of VGS salaries, food and other expense for VGS, community development and sharing among member villages. The study further shows that, inadequate involvement in the WMA activities results in local people having low perception on the WMA accrued benefits. The study recommends that it is essential to involve the local community in the WMA design and management in order to improve its acceptability and ownership. Benefit sharing in the WMAs should be designed as a strategy to offset conservation costs and build support for biodiversity conservation among conservation actors mainly local communities.

Factors that influence market participation among traditional beef cattle farmers in the Meatu District of Simiyu Region, Tanzania.

Market participation among beef cattle farmers is key to ensuring better income, food security, and sustainable beef supply. Farmers in the traditional beef cattle sector, nevertheless, are well known for their low market participation. This study, thus, sought to examine factors that influenced market participation among beef cattle farmers in the Meatu district of Simiyu region, Tanzania. The study randomly selected a sample size of 393 farmers. The cross-sectional data collected through interviews and questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models. The descriptive analyses showed that the average age of the interviewees was 53.73 years with a family size of 13.11. On average, the respondents had about 24.14 years of farming experience. Most of the respondents (67.9%) had primary education. Among the respondents, about 61.3%, 4.6%, and 32.6% had access to market information, farm credits, and veterinary services, respectively. The average cattle herd size was 53.46 heads. About 90.1% of farmers had participated in the markets by selling an average of 5 heads each, per year. This study has revealed low volume of sales, low education levels, and poor access to credits and veterinary services as the major factors that limit market participation. Furthermore, econometric results show that the key factors that significantly influenced farmers to increase the volume of beef cattle sales in the market at P < 0.05 included price, herd size, off-farm income, distance to market, age of the farmer, and cattle fattening. Moreover, membership in cooperatives, access to market information, and farming experience also had significant influence at P < 0.05. This study recommends establishment of strategic cooperatives to function not only as a communication channel for farm credits, price, market information, and training on commercial farming, but also to assist farmers in selection of profitable markets.

Linguistic and Social Outcomes of Interactions of Hadzabe and Sukuma in North-Western Tanzania

Abstract Social and linguistic contacts of the Hadzabe speaking people with the Sukuma people in Maswa District (now Meatu District) in northern Tanzania have been under-reported in the existing literature, whereas the Hadzabe of eastern Tanzania have been researched in depth. Specialists have documented that in western Tanzania, the material culture of the Hadzabe differs significantly from what is found among their counterparts in the eastern region; so too the regional differences between their adaptations of kinship terms have been well documented. However, patterns of linguistic adaptation in the naming of plants and crops have yet to be analysed. Findings from Sungu Village in Meatu District reveal the significant influence of the Sukuma in the Hadzabe lexicon of plants and crops. It is understandable why the names of cultivated crops among the Hadzabe would demonstrate the Sukuma influence, since the Sukuma farmers introduced farming amongst the Hadzabe foragers. But it is unclear why the Hadzabe should have borrowed Sukuma names for wild plants as well, since the Hadzabe have depended upon their local biodiversity throughout their existence in the region, as has been documented for several decades now. We argue that despite their recency, communities which dominate through their sheer population density, such as the Sukuma, tend to influence the deeper lexicon of smaller communities like Hadzabe.

Adherence, Awareness, Access, and Use of Standard Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline for Malaria Case Management among Healthcare Workers in Meatu, Tanzania.

Background Effective case management is a vital component of malaria control and elimination strategies. However, the level of adherence to the malaria diagnostic test and treatment guideline is not known, particularly at Meatu district. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the adherence, awareness, access, and use of standard diagnosis and treatment guidelines among healthcare workers in Meatu district. Method This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, which enrolled a total of 196 healthcare workers in Meatu district. Healthcare workers were sampled purposively to reach the required sample size. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Results Generally, 189 (96.4%) were aware of malaria treatment guidelines, while 148 (75.5%) had access and 98 (50.0%) used malaria treatment guidelines. One hundred and seven (54.6%) of all the healthcare workers adhered strictly to the diagnosis and national treatment guidelines. Ten (5.1%) partially adhered to the guideline when choosing antimalarials without confirmed malaria cases. Nonadherence to the prescription of recommended antimalarial drugs and laboratory confirmation was 79 (40.3%). Conclusion Half of healthcare worker's adhere to malaria diagnostic test and treatment guidelines. Most the healthcare workers are aware of the malaria diagnostic test and treatment guidelines. Continued education and assessment of the personal attitudes towards malaria diagnostic test and treatment guidelines are recommended.

Pre-primary teachers’ preparedness in integrating information and communication technology in teaching and learning in Tanzania

Pre-primary teachers’ preparedness in integrating information and communication technology in teaching and learning in Tanzania

Perceived and measured climate variability and change in semi-arid environments in Tanzania: experiences from Iramba and Meatu Districts

This paper combines farmers' perceptions of climate variability and change and meteorological data trends to generate empirical evidence to broaden an understanding of the phenomena. The results show an agreement on changing rainfall patterns. Bad years described by drought frequencies, temperature, and dry spell have increased since the 1970s. Crop growing period has decreased by one month in Meatu and by more than a month in Iramba. As hypothesised, the Mann-Whitney U test shows similar men and women's perceptions at 5% level of significance (P value = 0.701). Similarly, the Kruskal-Wallis H test indicates that the poor, not so poor and the rich have the same perceptions (P value = 0.281). These results have implications on crop and livestock production systems and on livelihoods more generally. We conclude that climate variability and change manifestations overlap, making it a complex phenomena perceived equally by men, women, the poor and non-poor. This is understood holistically by combining farmers' perceptions and meteorological data trends to inform adaptation strategies related decision making.

Perceived and measured climate variability and change in semi-arid environments in Tanzania: experiences from Iramba and Meatu Districts

This paper combines farmers' perceptions of climate variability and change and meteorological data trends to generate empirical evidence to broaden an understanding of the phenomena. The results show an agreement on changing rainfall patterns. Bad years described by drought frequencies, temperature, and dry spell have increased since the 1970s. Crop growing period has decreased by one month in Meatu and by more than a month in Iramba. As hypothesised, the Mann-Whitney U test shows similar men and women's perceptions at 5% level of significance (P value = 0.701). Similarly, the Kruskal-Wallis H test indicates that the poor, not so poor and the rich have the same perceptions (P value = 0.281). These results have implications on crop and livestock production systems and on livelihoods more generally. We conclude that climate variability and change manifestations overlap, making it a complex phenomena perceived equally by men, women, the poor and non-poor. This is understood holistically by combining farmers' perceptions and meteorological data trends to inform adaptation strategies related decision making.

Farmers’ perceptions of sorghum production constraints and Striga control practices in semi-arid areas of Tanzania

ABSTRACTThe objectives of this study were to investigate constraints affecting sorghum production and farmers' approaches of Striga management in the semi-arid regions of Tanzania. Focus group discussions based on a semi-structured questionnaire and observations following transect walks were used for data collection. Only 35%, 15%, and 10% of the farmers from Igunga, Kishapu, and Meatu districts, respectively, reported growing newly released varieties. The major constraints affecting sorghum production in the study areas included Striga infestation, drought, storage pests, damage by birds, a lack of access to improved varieties, and a lack of access to production inputs, such as fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. Hand weeding, crop rotation, fallowing, intercropping, and organic manure application were the most common practices of farmers for reducing Striga infestations, but most farmers (79.7%) had little knowledge of the best recommended Striga management practices. About 65% of the farmers did not use fertilizers and herbicides for soil fertility improvement and weed management, respectively, creating favourable conditions for Striga infestation. A systematic breeding programme aiming at improving sorghum varieties for Striga resistance, including farmers' preferred traits, should be designed and implemented to increase the adoption of these new varieties by the farmers.

Delivering New Technologies to the Tanzanian Sweetpotato Crop Through Its Informal Seed System

The concept of integrated seed sector development (ISSD) for sweetpotato was tested in Shinyanga and Meatu districts of the Lake Zone of Tanzania. Agricultural Research Institute (ARI)–Ukiriguru documented the informal system. It comprised male and female vine multipliers with land close to water sources growing sweetpotato during the dry season. They sold vines during the rainy season, with male multipliers and those with larger crops selling more. The average multiplier supplied approximately 50 farmers who commonly travelled 20 km, each buying approximately 1–2 bundles of vine and provided an entry point for disseminating technologies. ARI–Ukiriguru organized demonstrations of rapid multiplication, inorganic and organic fertilizers and new cultivars on multipliers’ land. Fertilizer could economically more than double vine yields with huge potential benefits for an area where production is constrained by planting material; some multipliers immediately began using it. Multipliers took rapid multiplication and new cultivars to their home gardens for further experimentation, seeming likely to adopt especially the cultivar NASPOT 1. A strategy of growing large quantities of irrigated sweetpotato in Misungwi and selling the vines long-distance in Shinyanga, a marketing strategy derived from Uganda, was also adopted. These successes confirm the value of formal-informal seed sector interactions in ISSD.

The impact of organic cotton cultivation on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Meatu district, Tanzania

AbstractIn Tanzania, as in many developing countries, cotton is an important source of income for smallholder farmers but also causes various negative effects through high pesticide and intensive land use. To overcome these effects organic agriculture is promoted by different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and companies. This study examines how organic cotton cultivation influences the livelihood of smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania and focuses on three areas: (1) the motivation to change from conventional to organic farming, (2) experiences and challenges of farmers in the conversion process as well as in the period following the conversion, and (3) the attitude and perceptions of farmers toward organic farming in general. Qualitative interviews with organic farmers in Meatu district in the north of Tanzania, as well as expert interviews, were conducted and observations were made. Results show that although the organic price premium is an important incentive for farmers to convert to organic agriculture, access to training and advisory service are even more important, as no other sufficient agriculture extension service is available in the region. Due to a high level of poverty in the region, environmental motivations for conversion are not in the foreground. Furthermore, the study shows that organic farming can contribute greatly to the improvement of livelihoods in the region (improved soil fertility, increased yields and income, higher standard of living) and increases farmers’ ability to cope with challenges, mainly through knowledge transfer, access to capital and capacity building on a local level. Although positive effects on female farmers were identified, cultural preconditions (e.g., polygamy) harm efforts to strengthen women to a higher degree and gender disparities are still challenging. Further social problems (i.e., high birth rates, a poor education system and a lack of health care), global trading schemes as well as environmental factors (i.e., water scarcity and extreme weather events) cannot be fully offset by the conversion to organic cotton cultivation. Farmers in the Meatu region profit to a high degree from organic agriculture, mainly due to access to knowledge and extension services, nevertheless important challenges remain for farmers and their families.

The effects of a deferred grazing system on rangeland vegetation in a north-western, semi-arid region of Tanzania

The present study assessed the effects of deferred grazing management on rangeland condition using aboveground biomass, vegetation cover and species composition as indicators of range condition. The experiment was based on traditionally conserved exclosures (ngitili). Data were collected in Shinyanga rural and Meatu districts, Tanzania, from October to November 2011. Five grazing strategies were compared: old private ngitili, young private ngitili, old communal ngitili, young communal ngitili and continuously grazed land. Aboveground biomass was significantly higher in old private ngitili than continuously grazed land, but there was no significant difference in amount of biomass between communal ngitili and continuously grazed land. The mean percentage basal cover was significantly higher in ngitili than continuously grazed land. The duration of protection (old ngitili compared with young ngitili) was not found to have any significant influence on both aboveground herbaceous biomass production and basal cover. The Shannon–Wiener index and Simpson index of diversity revealed no significant differences in species diversity among the different strategies. Both the continuously grazed land and communal ngitili were generally in poor condition and a special rehabilitation programme for improvement of these fragile grazing lands should be investigated.

The role of indigenous knowledge and perceptions of pastoral communities on traditional grazing management in north-western Tanzania.

Traditional forage conservation, locally known as “ngitili ”, which involves retaining an area of standing vegetation from the beginning of rainy season and opening it up for grazing at the peak of dry season, has become an important strategy for rangeland rehabilitation in the north-western semi-arid part of Tanzania. The present study assessed the current rangeland management practices, the role of indigenous knowledge on ngitili conservation and perceptions of agropastoralists on communal resources management. Data were collected from a total of 10 villages of Shinyanga rural and Meatu district. Over 90% of villagers were agropastoralists, where the mean numbers of specific livestock per interviewed household were 51 cattle, 40 goats, 20 sheep and 7 horses. The two most important traditional rangeland management strategies practiced by agropastoralists in this region were ngitili conservation and seasonal movement of livestock herds. Management of common resources was perceived to be problematic and most agro-pastoralists shifted from communal rangelands toward individual private ngitili . Interviewed agro-pastoralists claimed that, unequal sharing of benefits accrued from communal resources and poor management of communal ngitili lead to the preference of private ngitili to communal ones. The contribution of indigenous knowledge of Sukuma people lead to the success of ngitili conservation. However, the sustainability of this vital local knowledge is questionable. This paper recommends participatory management that allows integration of existing local knowledge in rangeland improvement.

Biomass Production and Nutritive Potential of Conserved Forages in Silvopastoral Traditional Fodder Banks (Ngitiri) of Meatu District of Tanzania

Forages from grazing lands comprise conventional feed resources for ruminants in the tropical region. A study was conducted to assess fodder productivity and nutritive potential of deferred forages of six silvopastoral traditional fodder banks in central northwest Tanzania, traditionally known as Ngitiri. The grazing lands were dominated by low quality increaser grass species: Eragrostis spp., Aristida spp., Urochloa spp., Rottboellia exaltata, Cenchrus spp., Cynodon spp. and Chloris spp., and forbs species. The grazing lands had low vegetative basal cover that varied (p<0.05) from 34.7 to 75%, and low forage biomass productivity that varied (p<0.05) from 0.76 to 3.69 tones (t) dry matter (DM)/ha. The forages contained low crude protein (CP) that varied (p<0.05) from 16 to 27 g/kg DM; and had high fibre contents, which varied (p<0.05) from 702-725, 497-573 and 119-225 g/kg DM for neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL), respectively. The forages were poorly degraded in sacco, and showed low DM degradability (DMD) characteristics of 74, 473 and 576 g/kg DM for DM washing losses (a), slowly degradable feed fraction (b) and potential degradability, (a+b), respectively; and low DMD at 48 h incubation, which varied from 317-345 g/kg DM, and contained low metabolizable energy (ME), (4.2-4.36 MJ/kg DM). The herbage forages would not meet protein and energy requirements for maintenance and production, which could be reflected through low animal productivity. Further work is needed to assess animal productivity (growth, milk, draft force) from conserved forages in traditional fodder banks in the dry season.