Contribution Of Grapes Farming To The Improvement Of Livelihood Of Grapes Growers In Dodoma

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted to asses the contribution of grape farming to the improvement of livelihood of grape growers in Dodoma. The research was guided by three specific objectives; to identify characteristics of households involved in grape growing, to assess the impacts of grape farming to the livelihood of grape farming and to identify strategies to increase contribution of grape farming to the livelihood improvement. Methodology (data for the research was collected from 52 grape farmers and 25 non grape farmers randomly selected from study villages in Chamwino and Dodoma urban districts. Data was collected using interviews, focus group discussion and observations. Data was descriptively analyzed for means, frequency and percentages. Cost benefits analysis was also done to establish financial benefits of grape farming. The results indicate that majority of grapes growers were married males and females households with primary school education. Moreover the results indicates that despite of the great potential of grapes in the contribution to the improvement of the livelihood the actual contribution in the study area were not high contribution rather it were medium. Finding from the study revealed the following reasons which make ineffectiveness contribution of grape farming to the improvement of livelihood of grapes growers in Dodoma, some of reasons are absence of market area place and absence of grapes growers union. Options for improvement included construction of market area within the villages and education provision to grape growers. A total of 100 respondents were involved in this research. For further research, the study recommends that there should be value chain analysis to identify what options to add value and benefit in grapes production in Dodoma region.