Profit Margin for Small Maize Business: A Comparative Study of Green Roasted and Dry Maize in Mbeya, Tanzania

Roasted fresh green maize harvested from farms is one of a growing small business in many towns in Tanzania.  Yet, little information is available on the profit margin differences between roasted fresh green maize and dry maize. This study therefore was conducted to investigate the profit margin differences between roasted fresh green and dry maize in Mbeya City and Mbeya District. The study employed both snowballing and random sampling plan whereby a sample of 70 respondents was collected.  Present study used SPSS in data analysis while descriptive and multiple regression techniques were employed.  As a result, the mean of profit margin, operation cost and capital invested were compared. Results showed that the profit margins of both businesses, the operation cost, as well start-up capital were statistically significant at (P<0.01), (P<0.05) and (P<0.01) levels, respectively. Suggesting that profit margin of roasted green maize was higher than of dry maize as well as the operation cost. Contrary to these, the start up capital for roasted green maize was lower than that of dry maize business. Based on survey findings it was concluded that business of roasted green maize had higher profit margin than dry maize. It is therefore recommended that the government should not restrict the green roasted maize business and that the decisions should be left to the producers and business dealers. Further, it is also recommended that the government should register all roasted green maize dealers and find a way of taxing them equally to dry maize businesses in regard to the profit generated. Key Words: Roasted fresh green maize, dry maize, profit margin, operation cost, startup capital, Mbeya University of Science and Technolog

Quantitative Analysis of Factors Influencing Financial Management among Village Community Banks’ Beneficiaries in Mbeya City, Tanzania

The present study investigated factors that influence participants’ financial administration in Village Community Banks (VICOBA) in Mbeya City. The study  employed an experimental research design in which a cross-sectional sample of 100 respondents was collected using both closed and open-ended  interview schedules. The study employed STATA in data analysis where descriptive and quantitative outputs were obtained. Findings showed that age,  marital status, and personal decisions of VICOBA beneficiaries were positively correlated and significant with financial management at p<0.05 and p<0.01  levels, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that household size, experience, and financial literacy were inversely correlated and statistically  significant with financial management at p<0.01 level. It was therefore concluded that age, marital status, and personal decisions of beneficiaries have a  positive influence on financial management contrary to household size, experience, and financial literacy. It is therefore recommended that beneficiaries  should optimize personal decisions for sustainable financial management contrary to household size and experience.&nbsp

Annualized Stock Market Returns Volatility: An Evidence of Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange

inancial market players raise a concern about returns volatility anomalies. Yet, the day effects of stock market return instability in the Dar es Salaam  financial market are not known. The present study, investigated the day effects on returns using time series data for the years 1998 through 2020. The  return of market stocks was analysed using Win Rat and E-views. The results showed that the day of and the month of the year outcome existed in the  return equation only with a constant decay rate (α + β= 0.75) meaning that the unpredictability forecast reverts to its unrestricted mean at the  proportion of 0.75 per transaction period. Moreover, it was found that the lowest monthly returns spread were observed for TCC and the highest for the  whole market while the maximum and nethermost daily returns occurred on Wednesdays and Tuesdays, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that the  positive January effect was observed in the market and monthly mean returns were positive with the lowest returns in December. The study concludes  that that day’s effects impacted the market stock return caused by the volatility effect on returns. It is therefore recommended that rational investors  should invest in the market for their future gains. &nbsp