Roles Of Women’s Non- Farm Income Generating Activities To Household Food Security: Case Of Bagamoyo District

ABSTRACT 

This study was undertaken to access on roles of women’s non-farm income generating activities with respect to food security in the households in rural villages. The study was conducted in Bagamoyo District, Coast Region. The overall objective was to examine the contribution of women’s non-farm income generating activities to household food security. Specifically, the study intended to identify types of non- farm income generating activities undertaken by women, to determine the characteristics of non-farm IGAs, to assess food security status of households using dietary energy consumed as an indicator and lastly to determine the extent to which IGAs income is used for household food security. Primary data collection involved questionnaires, checklist, focus group discussion and discussions with key informants, documentary search and field observation while secondary data were obtained from the libraries, documentation centers in Bagamoyo as well as at SUA, Morogoro. Random sampling procedure was employed in which four villages were involved. A sample size of 120 women was interviewed using structured questionnaires with open and close- ended questions. The findings show that income generating activities carried out by women are small scale activities such as food vending (mama lishe), selling buns, vegetables, fried/dried fish, charcoal, local brew, tailoring and hair braiding. In order to determine food security situation of households, the dietary energy consumed per capita per day and per adult equivalent per day was determined. T-test statistical analysis was used to compare income contributed by women on food in the household per month and income from men. Basing on statistical T-test results it was identified that there is a significant difference between mean income contributed by women for food and that contributed by men (P