Determinants of the Use of Cell phones in Access to Beef Cattle Market Information for Smallholders in Mpwapwa District, Tanzania

Cell phone is said to be an innovative communication device which allows consumers, traders and farmers to search market appropriate information for timely decision-making to save time and travelling costs. However, determinants of using this technology in beef cattle market information seeking for smallholders in Tanzania - particularly in Mpwapwa District, are not well established. Thus, this study analysed the determinants of the use of cellphones in accessing beef cattle market information in Mpwapwa District. Data were collected from 120 respondents using a structured questionnaire and focus group discussion guide. The questionnaire-based data were analysed using theStatistical Package for Social Sciences in which the main analytical model was binary logistic regression. In the model, the dependent variable was access to beef cattle market information via cell phones with two options; did not access (0) and accessed (1). Research findings revealed that the nature of using cell phones in access to beef cattle market information was mostly determined by distance from home to the nearest cattle market; the variety of information demands; income earned per year; level of local network coverage and access to mobile financial services (M-Pesa). On the basis of these findings it is concluded that the smallholder beef cattle producers can use cell phone technology in market information sharing to enhance their marketing participation. Therefore, the study recommends that cell phones service providers should extend their services more in the rural areas of Mpwapwa District

Non Conventional Livestock for Better Livelihood: Prospects of Domestic Cavy in Mixed Production Systems of Tanzania

Similar to majority of Sub-Saharan African countries, Tanzania depends largely on small and large ruminants, poultry and seafood to meet its animal protein needs. While most of the nonconventional protein sources are hunted, domestication of some of the species is equally promoted because hunting harvests cannot provide sustainable and affordable meats. Meanwhile, there have been growing demands for white meats, especially among the middle and high income population classes, exacerbated by changes in eating and living habits. Recent reports have identified domestic cavy (Cavia porcellus L.) as a right delicacy. This small pseudo ruminant that is also referred to as guinea pig or as Pimbi or Simbilisi in Kiswahili, is adopted in rural and urban households in Tanzania. This paper highlights on prospects of production of cavies focusing on the mixed production systems of Central Tanzania, where identified farmers keep a few cavy families either in own pens in a compound or within living houses of owners. Results indicated that farmers have such major reasons as keeping cavies for food (37%) or cash income (33%). Inadequate knowledge on improved husbandry practices was the most limiting constraint (38%) in the study sites where cavy keeping hinges on local knowledge and locally available feed resources. Therefore, innovative approaches and more attention from research and extension services are called for to improve production, consumption and marketing of cavies and other non-conventional meat sources as stipulated in the national livestock policy