The Role of Agriculture in the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Tanzania

Agriculture’s importance to poverty reduction goes far beyond its direct impact on farmers’ incomes, however, the economic steady and fast grow has not shown significant reduction of poverty. The challenges caused by limited access to “opportunities” led to rural households operating in the small land for subsistence with very slim profit that limits saving ability. This paper aimed at assessing agriculture’s wider role during economic growth and its impact on poverty reduction. The study found that increase in population (household size in rural area) and poor public services in rural exacerbating poverty and accelerate shifting from agriculture to non-agriculture activities especially educated youth, thus, structural transformation. However, there is considerable room for improvements in allocating available resources efficiently to ensure farmers benefit from the growth. Enormous efforts have been myths to the smooth changes which call for serious attention to the planners to review strategies, policies and programme. Keywords: Agricultural, Economic growth, Inclusive Growth, Poverty, Tanzania *This paper discussion reflects the views of the authors, not necessarily those of the CAAS or FAO (or its member governments)

Does the Improvement of Productivity of Maize and Rice Reduce Poverty? Comparison Case Study for Tanzania and Togo

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of most of that provides two thirds of employment and generates over one third of Gross National Income. Maize and rice are dominant cereal crops produced and consumed most by poor people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as most studies relate poverty and income with no relation to the productivity or environment of the poor people. This study is aiming at determining how the improvement of productivity of major cereal crops (maize and rice) has managed to contribute to the reduction of poverty for Tanzania and Togo. Based on the data from 1961 to 2013, the analysis show that the productivity of both countries for cereal crops has been marginally increasing but the increase in population has caused high demand for food and exuberate poverty for their people. Farmers will continue to face low productivity and marketing risks, which in turn increase the variability in production and income growth of the sector. Special attention is needed to improve the productivity of maize and paddy which are not internationally traded, but consumed by the poor and traded locally. However, due to scarcity of resources cost-sharing could be a necessity and ultimate solution for the poverty reduction for weak economies countries. Keywords: Productivity, Poverty, Maize, Rice, Tanzania, Togo

Establishing a national dairy performance recording centre to enhance dairy recording for more milk in Tanzania

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundatio

The Status and Risk Factors of Brucellosis in Smallholder Dairy Cattle in Selected Regions of Tanzania

This research article was published by MPDI, 2023Bovine brucellosis is a bacterial zoonoses caused by Brucella abortus. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine brucellosis seroprevalence and risk factors among smallholder dairy cattle across six regions in Tanzania. We sampled 2048 dairy cattle on 1374 farms between July 2019 and October 2020. Sera were tested for the presence of anti-Brucella antibodies using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seroprevalence was calculated at different administrative scales, and spatial tests were used to detect disease hotspots. A generalized mixed-effects regression model was built to explore the relationships among Brucella serostatus, animals, and farm management factors. Seroprevalence was 2.39% (49/2048 cattle, 95% CI 1.7–3.1) across the study area and the Njombe Region represented the highest percentage with 15.5% (95% CI 11.0–22.0). Moreover, hotspots were detected in the Njombe and Kilimanjaro Regions. Mixed-effects models showed that having goats (OR 3.02, 95% C 1.22–7.46) and abortion history (OR 4.91, 95% CI 1.43–16.9) were significant risk factors for brucellosis. Education of dairy farmers regarding the clinical signs, transmission routes, and control measures for brucellosis is advised. A One Health approach is required to study the role of small ruminants in cattle brucellosis and the status of brucellosis in dairy farmers in the Njombe and Kilimanjaro Regions

The Status and Risk Factors of Brucellosis in Smallholder Dairy Cattle in Selected Regions of Tanzania

Bovine brucellosis is a bacterial zoonoses caused by Brucella abortus. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine brucellosis seroprevalence and risk factors among smallholder dairy cattle across six regions in Tanzania. We sampled 2048 dairy cattle on 1374 farms between July 2019 and October 2020. Sera were tested for the presence of anti-Brucella antibodies using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seroprevalence was calculated at different administrative scales, and spatial tests were used to detect disease hotspots. A generalized mixed-effects regression model was built to explore the relationships among Brucella serostatus, animals, and farm management factors. Seroprevalence was 2.39% (49/2048 cattle, 95% CI 1.7-3.1) across the study area and the Njombe Region represented the highest percentage with 15.5% (95% CI 11.0-22.0). Moreover, hotspots were detected in the Njombe and Kilimanjaro Regions. Mixed-effects models showed that having goats (OR 3.02, 95% C 1.22-7.46) and abortion history (OR 4.91, 95% CI 1.43-16.9) were significant risk factors for brucellosis. Education of dairy farmers regarding the clinical signs, transmission routes, and control measures for brucellosis is advised. A One Health approach is required to study the role of small ruminants in cattle brucellosis and the status of brucellosis in dairy farmers in the Njombe and Kilimanjaro Regions