Economic Contribution Of Private Woodlots To The Economy Of Mufindi District – Tanzania

ABSTRACT

The main objective of this study was to asses and quantify the contribution of private

woodlots to the economy of Mufindi district in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania in year

2008. The specific objectives were, to examine and quantify the levels of woodlot

ownership coupled with capital asset acquisition, to asses and quantify the rates of tree

planting in relation to the utilization rate by value added activities, to asses and quantify

the contribution of private woodlots to the communities in terms of employment and

revenue generation, to determine the contribution of woodlots to timber supply in Mufindi

district, and to examine the actual and potential revenue contribution of private woodlots

to the district. Data was collected using semi structured questionnaires in which a random

sample of 270 households out of 900 in six villages and 30 traders were interviewed.

A checklist was used to interview the key informants who included the village leaders,

district natural resources officer, district trade officer. Other methods used in gathering

information were personal observation and focused group discussion. The data was

analyzed using the SPSS programme version 12.11 and EXCEL programme. Descriptive

statistics such as frequencies, percentages and means were used to make inferences about

the studied Woodlot owners. The study showed that 14.1 % of the woodlot owners were

females, and 85.9% were males. Woodlots were planted on land acquired through

inheritance, village allocation, and buying, and most of this land was former agriculture

land. Average land size owned per household was 6.80 hectares and the average woodlot

size was 2.60 hectares, thus, 36 % of the land was occupied with woodlots. Most of the

woodlot owners started planting woodlots in years 1991 to 2008. Timber supplied from

woodlots was 92% for the transmission poles while contribution of wood destined for

sawn wood was less than 1% compared to Government plantation. However, the study

revealed that the planting rate was higher compared to the utilization rate, implying that

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there was more young stock compared to old stock. Furthermore the study showed that

woodlots had created on average 5414 employment opportunities at farm level, while 120

permanent and 600 part time employment opportunities were created by processing units.

Furthermore, the survey showed that 90% of the traders sold their produce through

middlemen and this was done at production sites. Timber was mainly destined for local

markets and Kenya. The survey revealed that the average income derived from sale of

woodlots was Tsh. 232 143 and Tsh.455 452 for years 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Revenue to the district accrued from sale of sawn wood and transmission poles collected,

as cess was less than 1% of the potential revenue. Given the potential that woodlots have

in improving the economy in resource poor areas, this study recommends increased

establishment of woodlots and improved management in Tanzania while observing the

land use plans, in order to exploit market opportunities tenable, because products have a

big market inside and outside the country.