Smallholder Farmers In Tanzania Research Articles

Spillover effects of medium- and large-scale farms on smallholder farmers in Tanzania: Evidence from the National Sample Census of Agriculture 2019/20

Tanzania has implemented a number of policies and initiatives to promote the growth of the agricultural sector. Among these are efforts geared toward fostering large-scale farm investments, which is partly premised on the notion that smallholder farmers will also benefit through improved access to factor markets and output markets, better prices, and knowledge transfers. Nevertheless, evidence on such spillover effects is far from clear. To fill this gap, we draw on the 2019/20 National Sample Census of Agriculture to estimate the spillover effects from large and medium-scale farms to smallholder farmers in Tanzania. Using logistic and linear regression models, we find evidence consistent with positive effects from medium-scale farms to smallholder farmers around adoption of improved technologies—particularly the use of improved seeds, organic fertilizer, irrigation, and mechanization—and crop yield. These relationships are more evident for maize farms. We also find evidence consistent with spillover effects from large-scale farms, specifically around the adoption of improved crop technologies and livestock vaccinations. These results add an argument in favor of policies that foster the coexistence of large-, medium-, and small-scale farms.

Assessing prevalence of misperceptions in agricultural activities of smallholder farmers in Tanzania

Misperceptions in agriculture are challenging the adoption of agricultural technologies in African developing countries. Incorrect beliefs such as agricultural inputs have effects on soil, crop yields and human health, have led some smallholder farmers conduct traditional agriculture, resulting in low yields, of poor quality. This research studied prevalence of misperceptions among smallholders in Tanzania when dealing with agricultural inputs (fertilizers, pesticides and seeds). To accomplish this, agricultural extension officers in research areas were interviewed to learn inaccurate beliefs held by farmers which were then validated by agricultural experts through semi-structured interview to identify misperceptions; identified misperceptions helped to design a questionnaire with TRUE and FALSE statements, rated on a 5-point Likert scale, which was administered to 431 smallholders in four districts in Tanzania. Descriptive statistics helped to learn prevalence of misperceptions, regression analysis determined association of predictors on misperceptions. Results revealed respondents were confident with inaccurate beliefs while dealing with agricultural inputs which confirmed prevalence of misperceptions among smallholder farmers in pursuit of agricultural activities. To help smallholders adopt agricultural technologies, agricultural extension systems need to minimize associated misperceptions and adopt strategies that can help farmers access correct agricultural information. The essence is to improve yields, efficiency and profitability in agricultural sector.

Mitigating postharvest losses: A policy-driven approach to empowering smallholder farmers in Tanzania

Postharvest loss is one of the critical challenges facing many farmers in Tanzania, putting their livelihoods and food security in danger while costing the country between 30 and 40 % of its harvested crops annually. In an attempt to address this issue, the Tanzanian government has launched various policy reforms, including KILIMO KWANZA (agriculture first), Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), and the Tanzania Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plan (TAFSIP). However, despite these initiatives, the postharvest loss challenges continue to prevail, underscoring the need for a comprehensive assessment of the efficacy of these initiatives. Although several previous studies have attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of these policy reforms, none have comprehensively looked at all three at once and from the perspective of postharvest management. The majority of previous studies have also analyzed the performance of these policy reforms from the perspective of a limited number of stakeholder groups, mainly farmers. In light of these observations, our study aimed to simultaneously evaluate the effectiveness of these three policy reforms, specifically in the context of postharvest management and from the viewpoint of multiple stakeholders. Using a qualitative approach, four important themes emerged from the interviews with ten social scientists from several prominent organizations. These include the limited adoption of improved postharvest technologies, the narrow scope and focus of existing policies, insufficient tax incentives, and inadequate specialized financial products for the postharvest sector. The study's findings provide an in-depth understanding of the deficiencies in existing policy reforms and suggest various adjustments that can be made to increase their effectiveness in tackling the problem of postharvest losses in Tanzanian agriculture. Furthermore, the information provided by this study is essential to policymakers, government agencies, researchers, postharvest specialists, farmers, agricultural organizations and any other parties involved in food supply chains.

Deciphering the Drivers of Food Security in Tanzania: Non-experimental Research Design

Food security is a pressing global concern, particularly in developing countries such as Tanzania, where rural areas, predominantly inhabited by smallholder farmers, bear the brunt of its adverse effects. This study looks into the determinants of food security among smallholder farmers in Tanzania, utilising data from the agriculture sample census survey of 2019/20 conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Employing a Non-experimental research design, the study used a probit regression model to estimate key factors influencing food security. The results underscore the significance of factors such as irrigation (-0.906, p<0.01), extension services (-0.040, p<0.05), crop storage (-1.473, p<0.01), land ownership (-0.070, p<0.01), and female land ownership (-0.909, p<0.01) as crucial determinants of food security in Tanzania. The study advocates prioritising community-based irrigation for reliable water sources, expanding targeted extension programs, investing in modern crop storage, ensuring secure land tenure, implementing comprehensive seed subsidies, and adopting a holistic approach to soil fertility management. Policymakers are urged to support these measures to enhance food security among smallholder farmers in Tanzania, promoting resilience, productivity, and sustainability.

Dairy input agri-entrepreneurs’ practices and their effect on inputs market participation by smallholder farmers in Tanzania

Dairy productivity per cow remains lower than the production ability amid increasing population. Among major reasons for this is the lower uptake of improved dairy inputs by smallholder dairy farmers. We characterized dairy input providers' business practices using Latent class analysis (LCA) and determined the effect of these business practices on the uptake of inputs by smallholder dairy farmers in Tanga and Kilimanjaro regions using OLS. From LCA, Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC) revealed a 3-class model as the most parsimonious and best fit (2153.071). The latent class (LC) membership of the input/service entrepreneurs for classes I, II, and III was 37.6% (35), 9.7% (9), and 52.7% (49), respectively. Using item response probabilities, we classified class I, II and III as ‘High business activities and business promotional practices’, ‘Low business activities, medium business promotional activities’, and ‘Medium business activities, Low business promotional activities’. Extension services provision was significant across all the classes with probability values greater than 0.5. The OLS model revealed that LC I and II were significant at 1% while LC III was significant at 5%. Education level and Moshi Rural District were negatively significant. Technical training of input entrepreneurs and capacity building on bundling relevant information alongside inputs is necessary for knowledge sharing with farmers. Networking, collaborations, and alliances among input/service entrepreneurs and between entrepreneurs and dairy farmers should be fostered for adequacy in technical information sharing and connecting farmers to other input suppliers. There is need for entrepreneurs to invest in rural areas and improve information and input access by the farmers. The study explored private dairy entrepreneurs as alternative extension services providers as a business strategy to enhance uptake of improved inputs by smallholder farmers. This study is relevant in making workable decisions towards implementing programmes geared towards increasing the improved input uptake in developing countries.

Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania: A Stochastic Frontier Approach

Aims: This study focused on determining the level of technical efficiency (TE) and its corresponding common factors across all crops grown by Tanzanian smallholder farmers. The motive of this study came from production theory and production efficiency and the research was strongly attracted by the ongoing subsistence nature of the agriculture sector in the country that doesn’t fully meet the desired productivity
 Methology: The study employed the cross-sectional National Sample Census of Agriculture 2019/2020 dataset while focusing on smallholder farmers operating in the long-rainy season by employing a single-step stochastic frontier model with an assumption of a Cobb-Douglas production function.
 Results: The results of production on frontier show that land size (Ha), seeds (Kg), and fertilizers (Kg) are the main requirement for smallholder farmers to produce their maximum output. Based on the efficiency equation, improved seeds, inorganic fertilizers, and access to extension services decrease farmers' technical inefficiency while household age and membership in a cooperative organization increase farmers' technical inefficiency. Further, the average level of technical efficiency among smallholder farmers in Tanzania is 56.7% which allows farmers to increase their output level up to 43.2% with the same level of inputs.
 Conclusion: As per the results, improved seeds and inorganic fertilizers are essential, however farmers organizations act as stumbling blocks. Thus, in this regard, Tanzanian farmers still have a room to improve and unlock their full potential, and so it is imperative for the government to take immediate measures to improve their technical efficiency such as introduction of more irrigation schemes, improved seed subsidies among others and farmers organizations should also be enhanced and streamlined to support farmers efficiency.

Factors constraining the use of mobile phone technologies for accessing agricultural marketing information by grape smallholder farmers in Tanzania

The increased use of mobile phone technology is advocated to assist smallholder farmers in accessing relevant and accurate agricultural marketing information. Unfortunately, the use of mobile phones among smallholder farmers is still evolving, challenging, and debatable among scholars. This study examined factors constraining the use of mobile phones in accessing agricultural marketing information. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted with a sample size of 400 grape smallholder farmers. A structured questionnaire, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews were used to gather data. Descriptive, ordinal logistic regression, and thematic approaches were used in data analysis. The study found that mobile phones were used for cross-checking prices and finding buyers. The study revealed that mobile phone use for accessing agricultural marketing information was constrained by illiteracy, inadequate skills and training, and high costs. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the factors were negatively impacting the effective use of mobile phones in accessing agricultural marketing information. It is recommended that concentrated efforts are required to increase training to stimulate the effective use of mobile phones for accessing agricultural marketing information.

Usage of Agroecological Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices among Sorghum and Maize Smallholder Farmers in Semi-Arid Areas in Tanzania

Climate change variability and its impact on agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa pose a significant challenge to food security. In Tanzania's semi-arid regions, there is growing concern regarding the use of agroecological Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices by smallholder farmers that adhere to agroecological principles. This study aimed to investigate the use of agroecological CSA practices among smallholder farmers in Tanzania's semi-arid regions, specifically in Dodoma and Tabora regions. In addition, this study sought to identify the key factors influencing the use of these practices to enhance food security, income, and climate resilience. Data were collected from 299 households in Dodoma and Tabora using various methods including questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse factors influencing the usage of agroecological climate-smart agriculture practices. The findings revealed that most households in the study area use agroecological CSA practices. These practices include cereal-legume intercropping, mixed cropping, crop residue retention, crop rotation, and improved seed variety. Water harvesting, terraces, and cover crops were not used by many households. Several factors positively influenced the use of agroecological CSA. They include assistance from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), training in CSA practices, drought perception, access to credit, distance to market, membership in an organisation, education level of the household head, and total household income. To promote the use of agroecological CSA practices, both governments and NGOs should prioritise training programs. Moreover, providing frequent extension services and facilitating easier access to credit for farmers can further support the widespread use of these practices. In doing so, local communities can adapt better to the challenges of climate change, ensuring improved food security and climate resilience in the region

Factors influencing the use of mobile phone for accessing agricultural marketing information by grape smallholder farmers in Tanzania

Factors influencing the use of mobile phone for accessing agricultural marketing information by grape smallholder farmers in Tanzania

Factors Influencing Farmers’ Choices of Responses to Climatic Stressors in Tanzania

The viability of food production by smallholder farmers in Tanzania's semi-arid regions is threatened by climate variability and change. This study's main goal was to comprehend the available options for farmers in Tanzania's Great Ruaha River Sub-Basin and the factors that influenced their decisions. We used both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Primary data were gathered through focus groups and household questionnaire surveys, while secondary data came from records collected by government organizations. A logistic regression analysis was undertaken so as to determine factors that influence smallholder farmers’ perceptions and choice of response measures during dry years. Smallholder farmers mostly relied on their prior knowledge and locally accessible resources when developing their response strategies. Findings indicate that climate awareness, gender, age, education level, village location, wealth rank, and farmer experience are factors that have a substantial impact on farmers' decisions regarding choice of adaptation strategies to climate change. Therefore, decision-makers at all levels of government, from local authorities to the national level, should play a crucial role in improving adaptation strategies appropriate for a given climatic shock on the research area. The study suggests that GRRB farmers increase their knowledge and understanding of climate change. In order to successfully adapt to climate change, farmers should also work to create associations that will operate as a forum for knowledge exchange about indigenous farming techniques.

Data management system for sustainable agriculture among smallholder farmers in Tanzania: research-in-progress

ABSTRACT Smallholder farmers produce about 70% of the world’s food and employ more than one billion people. They therefore have an important role to play in eradicating food insecurity and poverty among the world’s growing population. Although there are different digital services for smallholder farmers, the existing services lack sustainability in the agriculture context and hardly meet their needs. Data management and sharing among different agriculture stakeholders has the potential to make agriculture sustainable, but there is a need to enable access to digital services in an entire farming cycle under one roof. This paper aims to propose the design of a comprehensive data management digital framework to solve common challenges of smallholder farmers in Tanzania and other countries’ agricultural systems. We follow the design science research (DSR) method to develop an artifact that interacts with the problem context. To illustrate the framework’s applicability, we use different case studies in Tanzania.

ICTs, smallholder agriculture and farmers’ livelihood improvement in developing countries: Evidence from Tanzania

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are among the profound tools to help the poor and marginalized rural smallholder farmers make a difference in their lives. This paper seeks to understand how the recent development of ICTs helps increase agricultural productivity and improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in Tanzania. We employed a fuzzy sets Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) technique to select the most relevant 24 literature from 2163 literature and analyze the drivers ( conditions) that influence ICT use among the smallholder farmers, which in turn leads to increased agricultural productivity and improved farmers’ livelihoods ( outcomes). In addition, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with some local smallholder farmers in Tanzania's same regions, as shown in the reviewed literature, to understand how ICTs worked in the field. Findings revealed that ICTs had been increasingly used for and directly linked with agricultural transformation, increased agricultural productivity and improved rural livelihoods in Tanzania in the past two decades. Smallholder farmers rely on ICT tools, particularly mobile phones and radios, to access agricultural-related information, which helps them increase agricultural productivity. The limited number of public extension service agents forces most smallholder farmers to opt for ICTs as an alternative source of agricultural information. In this case, the agricultural extension department from the ministry of agriculture should work closely with telecom, broadcasting companies and other stakeholders to strengthen and initiate more appropriate ICT infrastructure and services targeting the smallholder farmers.

Seeing through digitalization! The influence of entrepreneurial networks on market participation among smallholder farmers in Tanzania. The mediating role of digital technology

Smallholder farmers have for a long time preferred to sell at the farm gate, where the prices have been very low compared to market places. This has been fueled by several challenges related to market participation. The purpose of this study is therefore aiming at developing an empirical understanding that uncovers whether digital technology can mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial networks and market participation. Entrepreneurship and digital technology are novel concepts in agriculture, especially for smallholder farmers. Therefore, this study presents new insights on how the challenges of market participation can be solved through entrepreneurial networks and digital technology. The study used validated items adopted from previous studies, from which the structured questionnaires were distributed to 298 smallholder farmers. In addition, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse relationships in which digital technology was found to be a mediator of the relationship between entrepreneurial networks and market participation among smallholder farmers. Further, the study suggests that smallholder farmers can overcome challenges and increase market participation if they change their attitudes through training conducted by rural extension officers and embrace digital technologies by designing new or joining existing entrepreneurial networks.

Market participation among smallholder farmers in Tanzania: determining the dimensionality and influence of psychological contracts

PurposeSmallholder farmers in Tanzania were investigated in this paper to determine the dimensions and influence of psychological contracts on smallholder farmers' decisions to participate in the market.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through structured questionnaires, of which a cross-sectional design was conducted in central Tanzania, the Dodoma region in which 467 smallholder farmers were surveyed. First, a preliminary Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted by involving psychological contracts and market participation items derived from previous studies. This was followed by the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to verify the items obtained in the EFA. The regression analysis was then performed to test the causal effects of psychological contracts on market participation among smallholder farmers.FindingsThe path analysis revealed that transactional, relational, and ideological contracts have a positive and statistically significant impact on the participation of smallholder farmers in the market. Therefore, smallholder farmers have own set of expectations for participating in the marketplace. As a result, smallholder farmers' relationships with market participation decisions can be strengthened.Research limitations/implicationsThis study covered only smallholder farmers. However, future studies can include large-scale farmers, because psychological contracts and market participation difficulties also apply to them. This may increase the generalizability of the findings.Originality/valuePast studies have not extensively covered the psychological contracts in smallholder farming, especially in market participation. Based on prior empirical and theoretical research from other disciplines, the findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the psychological contract framework and the significance of multiple psychological obligations between smallholder farmers and market management.

Expanding Perspectives on the Poverty Trap for Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania: The Role of Rural Input Supply Chains

Smallholder farmers across rural landscapes remain trapped in a vicious cycle of endemic poverty where interconnected challenges limit their ability to improve their livelihoods. Our study of smallholder farmers’ relationships with suppliers and several stakeholders across the Tanzanian rural agro-input supply chain offers an extended perspective on the persistence of endemic poverty and broadens the discussion on the future of sustainable food production and smallholder livelihoods. Through interviews and focus groups, we use a grounded theory methodology to develop a systemic approach to understanding the complexities of this landscape as related to smallholder agro-input sourcing activities. Our causal loop diagram framework provides a unique perspective on the poverty trap experienced by smallholder farmers in this context. Our findings may be useful in targeting practical and sustainable directions towards overcoming the poverty trap, ultimately enabling smallholders to increase wealth and improve their livelihoods through sustainable practices.

Drivers of and barriers to adoption of improved sunflower varieties amongst smallholder farmers in Singida, Tanzania: A double-hurdle approach

AbstractYield-enhancing agricultural technologies, like improved crop varieties, are widely promoted in developing countries to improve the food security, income, and welfare of farm households. Nonetheless, farm households show low adoption rates of these technologies. To gain more insight into the drivers of and the barriers to the adoption of improved crop varieties, we study the adoption of improved sunflower varieties by smallholder farmers in Tanzania. Unlike most earlier studies, we distinguish between the initial adoption and the extent of adoption. Additionally, we investigate the roles of market constraints and liquidity constraints, which are largely ignored in previous adoption studies. We find that risk aversion and liquidity constraints are barriers to adoption, whilst radios and extension service are important information channels for new technologies. Our results can help to improve policies, development programmes, and business decisions and finally to enhance agricultural productivity and farm household welfare.

Towards Agricultural Modernization and Industrial Development: Examining The Position of Small Holder Farmers in Tanzania

Tanzania is working towards agricultural modernization aiming and improving agricultural productivity. The aim has been to transform traditional agricultural practices with modern practices and help smallholder farmers improve their productivity. However, there has been mixed evidence on the success of such modernization efforts some showing success and others showing the failure. By using available literature, this paper aim at showing the position of smallholder farmers in agricultural modernization process. Findings shows that, agricultural modernization has left smallholder farmers under a marginalized position filled with land grabbing, problems on availability, accessibility, affordability and the quality of agricultural inputs together with the problem of market for agricultural products. As a deliberate effort to improve agriculture sector the government need to increase investment in agricultural inputs by facilitating the availability of industries which produce agricultural inputs like fertilizer. Also, the government should encourage farmers to join into cooperative unions or groups to help them have bargaining power when it comes to marketing their crops.

Field effectiveness of Metarhizium anisopliae and pheromone traps against Phthorimaea absoluta on tomato in Tanzania

Phthorimaea absoluta is an invasive pest and a major threat to tomato production in sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania. Although chemical pesticides are commercially available and used locally, mis- and overuse can cause detrimental effects on human and environmental health, and can lead to emergence of resistance among populations of P. absoluta within a short period, increasing production costs among smallholder farmers in Tanzania. The effectiveness of alternative options, such as the use of biological control agents and pheromone traps, has not yet been studied in the field in sub-Saharan Africa. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a commercially available biopesticide based on Metarhizium anisopliae and pheromone traps for managing P. absoluta in field conditions in Tanzania during the dry and wet season, and compared effectiveness with chemical pesticides (a combination of chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, spinetram and flubendiamide) and untreated plants as a positive and negative control, respectively. The two field experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications per treatment. Two weeks after transplanting, 20 plants were randomly selected from each plot, with the number of fully expanded leaves per plant and mines per plant counted at 7-day intervals until harvest. At harvest, the number and weight of damaged and marketable fruits were recorded, and yield and marketable yield per plot calculated. The number of leaves per plant (an indicator of P. absoluta infestation) was higher in the wet season than in the dry season. In the wet season, M. anisopliae-treated plants contained more leaves than plants in control or pheromone-treated plots. The number of P. absoluta mines per plant was higher in the dry season than in the wet season. In the dry season, the number of mines per plant was higher in control plots than in plots of other treatments. However, total yield and marketable yield were higher during the dry season than during the wet season. During both seasons, damage was highest and yield lowest in control plots. During the dry season, total yield and marketable yield did not differ significantly between pesticide-treated and M. anisopliae-treated plots. Biological control using M. anisopliae could be integrated in field management of P. absoluta in tomato in the highlands of Tanzania as well as in other regions of this country and throughout Africa.

Adoption Dynamics of the System of Rice Intensification by smallholder farmers in Tanzania: A Case of Mkindo Irrigation Scheme

Adoption Dynamics of the System of Rice Intensification by smallholder farmers in Tanzania: A Case of Mkindo Irrigation Scheme

Proposal for a Crop Protection Information System for Rural Farmers in Tanzania

Crop protection information, such as how to control emergent and outbreak crop diseases and pests, as well as the latest research, regulations, and quality control measures for pesticides and fertilizers, is important to farmers. Rural smallholder farmers in Tanzania have traditionally relied on government agricultural officers who visit them in their villages to provide this crop protection information. However, these officers are few and cannot reach all the farmers on time. This means that farmers fail to make critical farming decisions on time, which can lead to low crop productivity. In this study, we aim to provide farmers with reliable and instant crop protection information by developing a system based on the Short Message Service (SMS) and the Web. This system automatically replies to farmers’ requests for the latest crop protection information in the Swahili language through SMS on a mobile phone or a Web system. The findings reveal that our proposed system can provide farmers with crop protection information at lower cost (500 times cheaper) than the existing Tigo Kilimo system. Furthermore, our proposed system’s deep learning model is effective in understanding and processing Swahili natural language SMS queries for crop protection information with an accuracy of 96.43%. This crop protection information will help farmers make better critical farming decisions on time and improve crop productivity.