ABSTRACT Agriculture is an important source of food and economic survival of rural populations in Tanzania however farming activities are highly affected by rainfall variability which cause loss in crops and livestock yield. This study explored adaptation strategies to rainfall variability, socioeconomic factors influencing maize production in mixed farming systems. Specifically, assessed the trends in rainfall and maize production, determined the relationship between trends, identified farm...
ABSTRACT Maize is the most important staple food and cash crop in Tanzania. Cattle manure has become an important as a source of soil nutrients in situations where use of inorganic fertilizer is not affordable. In view of the apparent decline in soil fertility, deliberate efforts are required to promote utilization of cattle manure for crop production. The Main Objective of the study was to assess the use, attitudes, constraints, and impacts of cattle manure in maize farming in Njombe Distri...
ABSTRACT Farming has a huge potential in offering employment to the youth considering its wider labour absorptive capacity. Despite the recognition of employment creation, youth participation in working as a farmer is low due to their attitudes towards farming. The current study describes socio-economic factors that influence formation of youth attitudes in Kuresoi Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya. A sample of 120 youths was selected randomly from registered youth groups. Data was collected ...
ABSTRACT Economic represents a dangerous direct and indirect threat to forests, though many people in the world understand that forests are threatened, factors in society sometimes override conservation. Subsistence communities need to find fuel, income, food and on the other hand, industries want to continually grow and to do so they often find these things in the forest. Butterfly farming demonstrates that natural resources can be used profitably in a way that protects the environment as i...
ABSTRACT Inland-based fish farming in Kenya continues to draw enormous financial support by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development under the Economic Stimulus Programme. The Fish Farming Enterprise Productivity Programme (FFEPP) entails the production of fish in a managed environment in marine and freshwater systems for food and commercial purposes. In-land based pond fish farming has been hampered by low level of fish farming, abandonment of ponds, and inadequate tr...
ABSTRACT This study analysed the economics of smallholder organic farmers in the Muleba district. Specifically, the study was conducted to identify the costs associated with organic and conventional coffee production, to assess the profitability of the two farming system and to determine the effect of premium price in compensation of yield in organic coffee. The study also addressed the coffee organic standard demanded by importers. Multistage, purposive and simple random sampling procedures...
ABSTRACT A study on the influence of women groups on income and gender relations in dairy farming was carried in Arumeru district. The study aimed at determining sources of household income, differences in income from dairy production between women in groups and those not in groups and to investigate gender relations in management of dairy production. The study was conducted in six villages namely Bangata, Sasi, Inshupu, Enaboishu, Sokoni II and Nkoaranga whereby both women in dairy farming ...
EXTENDED ABSTRACT Banana is an important staple food in East Africa and an essential cash crop in the national and local economies. In Kagera and Kilimanjaro regions of Tanzania, banana is cultivated by more than 70% of smallholder farmers as a staple food in home gardens ranging from 0.5 to 2 hectares. Decline in banana yield has been reported in banana farming systems as a result of abiotic constraints (nutrient deficiencies and drought stress) and biotic constraints (pests and diseases)....
ABSTRACT Agriculture contributes the highest in the country’s economy. Despite agriculture being taught in secondary schools, many secondary school graduates seem not to participate in farming activities in Nyandarua West Sub-County. Although it is not clear whether farmers who have studied agriculture in secondary school are making use of the knowledge gained and whether they find it helpful in their careers, there has never been any comprehensive study to investigate the relationship betw...
ABSTRACT Tobacco farming is well established as the traditional cash crop in Tabora region. However, in recent years, groundnut is one among the cash crops which have been introduced in the area as an alternative source of income for smallholder farmers. Using 2007/2008 cropping season survey and the data from 121 randomly selected smallholder farmers from three villages, this study provides a comparative economic analysis for tobacco and groundnut farming systems. The analysis of quantitati...
ABSTRACT Over the years, numerous intervention approaches have been launched to promote improved technologies in order to attain sustainable development. However, extension approaches, which have been the dominant rural development strategy, have been slow in transforming agriculture resulting from low adoption rate of SWC technologies that were aggressively promoted through extension programmes. Thus, this study examines the adoption and sustainability of soil conservation practices looking...
ABSTRACT This study analyses the performance of small-scale-tobacco producers under contract farming system and farmer characteristics that influences tobacco production in Songea district. The Specific objectives were: (i) To examine the cost and return of tobacco small-scale farmers under contract farming scheme in the study area; (ii) To assess the influence of contract farming characteristics on tobacco production; (iii) To examine the resource use efficiency in contract farming; (iv) T...
ABSTRACT This study provides empirical evidence on economic impact of contract farming on the income of smallholder farmers of non traditional crops. Specifically it analyses the requirements for farmers’ participation, factors that determine income and effect of paprika contract farming on household income and identifies constraints and prospects of contract farming. A cross section research design was adopted and a purposeful sampling procedure was used to select villages and wards and ...
ABSTRACT Food availability and supply is essential requirement for people. Household food security is the availability of food to household level which will suffice the needs all times for an active, healthy life. The food will be either produced in farms by family or purchased from other places. The aim of this study was to assess effects of mining on food security to farming communities surrounding Nyamongo Gold Mine in Tarime District, Tanzania. Specific objectives were to: (i) determine ...
ABSTRACT The rise of contract farming and vertically integrated firms of production and marketing is undoubtly one of the most important changes in Tanzania economy. The study examined new role of contract farming (CF) in Tanzania towards designing partnership model in the light of transformation and industrialization of agriculture. The specific objectives were (i) To describe contractual arrangement found in the study area (ii) To examine the role of contractual arrangement in reducing tra...