Round Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L) Production And Household Food Security In The Southern Highlands Of Tanzania

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Round potato (Solanum tuberosum L) has been an important food and cash crop in the southern highlands of Tanzania since its introduction in the 1920s. However, the extent to which it contributes to household food security was empirically unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted in Mbeya and Makete Districts to contribute to this knowledge gap. The purpose of the study was to determine the contribution of round potato production to household food security. The specific objectives of the study were to: (i) determine the impact of round potato production on household food security, (ii) determine the contribution of round potato production to household income, (iii) establish the status of food security incidences based on monetary and caloric poverty lines and (iv) apply theories of food insecurity to explain food status in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Multistage sampling was used to select 233 households in Mbeya and Makete Districts. The research was a cross-sectional one and was conducted through structured interviews using a questionnaire, focus group discussions using an FDG guide and key informant interviews using a checklist of items for discussion. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse quantitative data. Multiple linear regression was used to assess impacts of independent variables on the dependent variable that was food security in terms of dietary energy consumed per adult equivalent per day and monetary values of all food items consumed. Dietary Energy Consumed from round potato showed positive significant (p