Gliricidia agroforestry technology adoption potential in selected dryland areas of Dodoma Region, Tanzania

Declining soil fertility is one of the major problems facing producers of field crops in most dryland areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. In response to the declining soil fertility, extensive participatory research has been undertaken by the World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and smallholder farmers in Dodoma region, Tanzania. The research has, amongst others, led to the development of Gliricidia agroforestry technology. The positive impact of Gliricidia intercropping on crop yields has been established. However, information on farmers’ willingness and ability to adopt the Gliricidia agroforestry technology on their farms is limited. This study predicts the adoption of Gliricidia agroforestry and conventional mineral fertilizer use technology. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with groups of farmers, purposively selected based on five sets of criteria: (i) at least 2 years of experience in either trying or using Gliricidia agroforestry technology, (ii) at least 1 year of experience in either trying or using the mineral fertilizer technology (iii) at least 10 years of living in the study villages, (iv) the age of 18 years and above, and (v) sex. The Adoption and Di usion Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) was used to predict the peak adoption levels and the respective time in years. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the e ect of change in adoption variables on predicted peak adoption levels and time to peak adoption. The results revealed variations in peak adoption levels with Gliricidia agroforestry technology exhibiting the highest peak of 67.6% in 12 years, and that the most influential variable to the peak adoption is the upfront cost of investing in Gliricidia agroforestry and fertilizer technologies. However, in Gliricidia agroforestry technology most production costs are incurred in the first year of project establishment but impact the long term biophysical and economic benefits. Moreover, farmers practicing agroforestry technology accrue environmental benefits, such as soil erosion control. Based on the results, it is plausible to argue that Gliricidia agroforestry technology has a high adoption potential and its adoption is influenced by investment costs. We recommend two actions to attract smallholder farmers investing in agroforestry technologies. First, enhancing farmers’ access to inputs at a ordable prices. Second, raising farmers’ awareness of the long-term environmental benefits of Gliricidia agroforestry technology

Policy imperatives for control of market exchange failure in the cashew nut industry

NAF-International Working Paper Series, 2014This study examined the root causes of incessant market failure problem facing Tanzanian cashew nut industry. The overarching hypothesis was that the industry challenges are both structural and institutional. Competition status and economic coordination in the industry were thus duly scrutinized. Key informant and questionnaire interviews were carried out with key industry stakeholders and cashew farmers respectively. Data analysis entailed operationalizing the Institutional Analysis and Development framework, the DFID Competition Assessment Framework and estimating the Stochastic Frontier Production Model. Results showcased a systematic positive effect of the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) on indicative and final producer prices over the years. Concentration ratio results professed the industry as being fairly concentrated and hence oligopolistic. Farmers’ input use efficiency was calculated at 51% on average suggesting that majority could be high cost producers. The WRS was vindicated as an effective system for the industry though its high transaction costs due to hiked administrative costs, weak institutional arrangements along the value chain, cooperative monopoly and inadequate enforcement of underlying regulations counteract its strength. Fair competition in the industry is stifled by clandestine buyer collusion and predatory pricing at the expense of local processing. Production cost would overstate indicative price if used as a basis for its setting given inefficient farmers. For better results the industry needs to depoliticize, change warehouses’ ergonomics, eliminate unnecessary WRS administrative costs, break cooperative monopoly to accommodate private buyers’ participation, strengthen regulatory enforcement mechanisms, restore export parity pricing procedures and establish an advisory to sieve conflicting scholar recommendations.Funded by iAGR

The spice industry in Tanzania: general profile, supply chain structure, and food standards compliance issues

DIIS Working Paper no 2007/8The fall in the agricultural sector’s contribution to Tanzanian export earnings since the early 1990s has increased attention toward new crops with the potential of supplementing the country’s traditional export crops. Particular attention has been focused upon identifying crops enjoying price stability, high demand elasticity and low substitutability. Spices fall into this category. Consequently there have been efforts by public agencies and private exporters, both on the mainland and on Zanzibar, to promote the crop. However, access to high value export markets raises issues of supply chain dynamics and conformity with international standards. This paper focuses upon the recent history of the spice industry in Tanzania with reference to these issues. The main conclusions are that Certified Organic standards are the only international standards complied with, and that a very loosely coordinated chain exists alongside a more coordinated one. Macro- and micro-institutional weaknesses need attention if the full potential of the sub-sector is to be realized

Implication of quality uncertainty on market exchange: The case of seed industry in Kilolo district, Tanzania. [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]

Emerald Open Research 2020,An increasing demand of agricultural intensification and value addition necessitates the use of improved inputs such as improved seed. Smallholder farmers contribute about 70 % of agricultural production in Tanzania. Agriculture sector in Tanzania contributes about 24.1 % of the GDP, 30 % of exports and 65% of industrial raw materials. Thus, agriculture development, economic growth and industrialization are inseparable. Due to the nature of the product, smallholder farmers cannot judge the overall excellence of seed at the time of buying. This paper assessed quality uncertainty in maize and vegetable seed and its implication for market exchange between farmers and seed sellers in Kilolo district, Iringa Tanzania. The study used a random sample of 130 smallholder farmers and representatives from ten seed companies. Asymmetric information prevails between the two trading sides i.e. sellers and buyers. Moreover, product augmentation is profoundly overlooked whereby most of seed companies have not augmented their products. Despite that genetic and environmental interaction sways crop performance, the paper offers a thorough deduction of the results and its implication on market exchange. This paper adds information in the body of knowledge on how an improved seed can intensify upsurge production of food and industrial raw materials, which is a step towards desired industrialization agenda in Tanzania

Institutional capacity for standards conformity assessment: a case study on spices in Tanzania

DIIS Working Paper no 2008/10Local capacity for standards conformity assessment is an important component in accessing export markets. In theory, it will lead to lowered compliance costs on the part of local exporters. Moreover, it may provide local exporters with the ability to contest unfavourable foreign test results and thus avoid unnecessary losses. This is important in cases where product contamin-ation occurs outside their borders. This is however possible only where relevant local institutions are accredited and adequately capitalized in terms of laboratory facilities, testing equipment, and certification services. Tanzania spices have four important market destinations – the domestic market, regional markets in Africa, the Asian market, and the EU market. The national standards that were formulated during late 1970s and 1980s address cleanliness and quality standards, and specify microbiological limits for various micro-organisms in spices. These standards are not observed in the local market due to lack of consumer demand for them and the absence of a deliberate industry drive to en-force them. This position weakens the possibility of using conformity to local standards as a step-ping stone to international conformity. Regional markets in Africa and Asian export markets are absorbing spice imports regardless of their quality so issues of conformity assessment in these markets are not important. EU market standards are concerned with food safety. In addition, organically-traded exports must be certified as such. For food safety the main tests demanded are for hazards like aflatoxins, pesticide residues, prohibited chemical dyes, heavy metals, as well as for Salmonella. Conformity assessment for these parameters entails investments in high performance liquid chromatograph, gas chromatograph, and atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipment, as well as other state-of –the-art laboratory facilities. Local conformity assessment in relation to these standards is deficient in many ways. Different approaches are recommended to address this situation. Meeting challenges of international accreditation, harnessing scattered efforts for conformity assessment capacity through improved coordination of existing laboratories, and formulation of a national food safety policy are among the recommendations suggested

Technology transfer and farm-based renewable energy sources: the potential of biogas technology for rural development in Tanzania

http://economia.unipv.it/naf/This case describes the potential of the biogas technology as alternative bio- fuel energy in the development of rural Tanzania. The case emanate from the study carried out to biogas users in 28 districts of ten 10 regions of Tanzania Mainland. The focus is on the potential of the biogas technology in the development of rural communities in Tanzania. Biogas technology has strong linkages in developing rural communities as it positively touches social, economic and environment components of communities’ lives. The aim is thus to explore the potential of the biogas technology and its linkages towards rural development in Tanzania. The case demonstrates the interlink-ages between biogas technology and income generating activities like agriculture, employment, environment, time and money saving, hygienic improvement and gender empowerment that in turn brings about rural development

The efficiency of robusta coffee marketing channels in Karagwe District, Tanzania

Time Journals of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences Vol. 4(1):153-163, 2016T he study assesses ed the marketing efficiency of Robusta coffee under different supply channels in Karagwe district of Tanzania. C ross sectional research design as well as purposive, simple random and snow ball sampling techniques were used . Primary data were collected from 120 smallholder coffee farmers, 12 village traders and 8 key informants using semi structured questionnaire and key informants interview schedules S econdary data were collected fro m relevant coffee authorities’ records and reports. Various empirical approaches in evaluating coffee marketing efficiency were applied including: assessment of marketing information system, barriers of entry into coffee market, marketing channels’ costs a nd margins, conventional (simplified) marketing efficiency method and market concentration ratio measures. F armers selling coffee to un registered village buyers had the lowest marketing margins of 90.37% compared to those selling coff ee to registered priv ate buyers with 93.20% and 92.90% for Rural Co operative Societies. T he results from calculated market concentration ratios were 87.5% and 90.3% and the Herfindahl Hirschman Index of 0.29 which denotes that the coffee market is highly concentrated on few bu yers who control the price . Market information system was found to be asymmetric and the existence of bureaucratic coffee buying licensing system was also prevalent in the area It was concluded th at coffee marketing system in Karagwe district was ineffic ient thus reviewing the existing bureaucratic licensing system, dissemination of coffee marketing information through radios and mobile phones, restructuring of cooperative societies, introduction of formal credit facilities, and the establishment of more rural coffee buying posts to reduce transportation costs are recommended

Rural finance challenges in Tanzania – the case of Kibaigwa Financial Services and Credit Cooperative Society (KIFISACCOS) in Kongwa District

KIFISACCOS case studyThis case gives some insight into the challenges that a rural community faces with regard to access to financial institutions. Interviews and discussions were held with the members of the community-based Kibaigwa Financial Services and Credit Cooperative society (KIFISACCOS). These results were combined with an institutional review of the co-operative. It was concluded that improved financial management and more tailored lending services would improve rural community livelihood

Agricultural production risks, coping mechanisms and potential for crop insurance in Tanzania

Time Journals of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences Vol. 1(1) pp.11-22 July 2013Pessimism surrounding feasibility and viability of crop insurance schemes especially to developing country economies has since been a global phenomenon. However, pragmatic evidence is turning the clock around as more such schemes are now being launched. There have been very few studies on the subject in Tanzania which have not translated into a tangible full-fledged scheme to date. New evidence is unfolding now as shown in this study that its potential is substantive if the existing gaps in terms of information imperfection and asymmetry in respect to its marketability and viability, especially on insurers‟ side, are filled. Crop insurance potential was confirmed in the study involving 116 bean farmers in Arumeru district during the 2003/04 season. Both objective and subjective conditions for its need were fulfilled according to the study results. In the first case, about 76% of the farmers preferred crop insurance to other mitigation strategies against natural hazard risks. Pests and disease surfaced as the most debilitating risks to the farmers followed by drought. However, Pests and plant diseases are farm management problems which are not insurable. In the second case, profitability levels differ between individual farmers and locations across the three study villages from both rain- fed and irrigated areas. Both profit and loss making farmers were available from any of the villages. As a proxy for farmers‟ ability to meet insurance costs, profitability results suggested that not all bean farmers were capable of meeting the involved costs. Binary logistical regression analysis results, rather unexpectedly, indicated that the only significant factor influencing preference for crop insurance in the study area was asset index (a proxy for farmer‟ wealth). All 8 interviewed insurers (both public and private) were not ready to mount crop insurance schemes in the country claiming financial infeasibility of the scheme, lack of adequate market information and lack of requisite expertise. The study recommended the need to mount a crop insurance pilot program which would be initially funded by the Government, of specific peril and voluntary. This should go in tandem with introduction of insurance training in agricultural schools and colleges to increase its awareness to the target populace. Related studies hereafter have also confirmed crop insurance potential in tea and coffee and this paper has taken stock of the results

Analysis of marketing performance of the dairy value chain in Tanga city, Tanzania

Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences (2018) Vol. 17 No. 2, 60-67This study was conducted in Tanga city with the general purpose of analyzing market performance of dairy value chain and specifically to quantify and assess production costs of raw milk and to characterize the market structure, conduct and performance of the milk market. A formal survey was carried out to a random sample of 80 smallholder farmers and 30 milk traders using a questionnaire. Two processors were interviewed using a checklist. Accounting method was used to quantify milk dairy farmers’ production costs whereas dairy market performance was descriptively analyzed within the framework of the Structure-Conduct-Performance (S-C-P) market model. Gross profit margins for the major players (producers, traders and processors) at specific nodes along the dairy value chain were calculated. The average unit cost of production was found to be TSh 550 per litre of raw milk with contributions from labour (45.7%), feeds (19.4%) and dairy operations (e.g. veterinary services) (34.9%). The average production cost per litre (TSh 550) and farm gate price per litre (TSh 580) of raw milk were found to be statistically different at p≤ 0.05 level of significance indicating cost effectiveness of going producer price. Smallholder dairy farmers received gross profit margins of 5.2% and 21.4% in the formal and informal channels respectively while processors and vendors received gross profit margins of 18.8% and 36.1% per litre of milk respectively. Milk traders received higher Gross Profit Margin (GPM) because they sold their milk in informal chains which offer relatively higher prices. Low price for raw milk and limited bargaining power of Tanga Dairy Cooperative Union (TDCU) were revealed as barriers to dairy development in the City. It is recommended that a liberalized marketing system in price setting strategy and producers’ training on production techniques that will improve dairy productivity in the study area