Browsing by Subject "Tanzania"
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(2014)Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) are one of the major sources of food and income for rural populations in Tanzania. A survey was conducted to assess the economic importance of non-wood forest products in the study area. The study was carried out in two villages; Shebomeza and Mkwakwani in Muheza and Korogwe districts, from 12th to 25th July, 2013. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from the respondents. A total of sixty-four respondents were chosen based on their involvement in NWFP practices. The most important NWFPs are fodder, honey, beeswax, cloves, cinnamon, nuts, fruits, medicinal plants and aromatic herbs. There was statistical significance in household income difference of respondents from the two villages and in respondents with different farm sizes. No statistically significant differences were found due to income differences of respondents with different age classes and respondents with respect to different number of livestock. This study also analyzed the most important NWFPs in the study area, the frequency of collection, purpose for collection and income generating potential. Factors affecting peoples’ perception of the economic importance of NWFPs have been discussed as well as their impact on consumption and income generation. Opportunities and constraints within the supply chain have been identified and suggestions have been put forward on how local community can easily utilize the supply chain for their benefit.
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(2012)Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are an important crop for the food security of developing countries, and farmed area of potatoes in those countries is expanding constantly. It would be important to solve the problems of potato production and distribution in Tanzania. The research problem of this thesis was to examine the value chain of potatoes in Tanzania and factors that prevent the industry’s development. Furthermore, the aim was to evaluate agricultural policies affecting potato value chain and illustrate the present state of potato production and marketing chain in contrast to other crops. The research was conducted by executing 14 semi-structured expert interviews in Tanzania in June 2011. In addition to this, two researchers answered in written form. The interviewees were researchers, agricultural extension officers, managers of nongovernmental organisations, dealers of agricultural market place, a agricultural project coordinator, and officials from the ministry of agriculture as well as from the ministry of trade and marketing. Theoretical framework in this thesis is based on structure-conduct-performance (SCP)-paradigm. Moreover, the basic conditions and public policy of the industry are to be found out. The results indicate that the government does not affect much to the operation nor the development of the potato value chain: potato is not the government priority in Tanzania. On the other hand, there are no straight policy measures or institutional barriers that are hindering the conditions of smallholders or other actors in the chain, either. Bad seed quality is most likely the biggest challenge on the production part. Difficulties to get loans and the lack of investments and farmers’ groups are hindering the production. The biggest infrastructural issue is poor road network in the countryside. As a suggestion based on the results is that two instances should be created: a national potato board and marketing centres in the villages. The prerequisite for those instances to be possible to establish and function well is the activity of the government. Especially to operate the market centers properly, it is important that the village leaders and farmers would be committed to its activities.
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(2019)Small-scale commercial tree plantations are considerably increasing in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, and offer an alternative to large-scale plantations to reduce the increasing gap in supply and demand of roundwood. Currently, some donor-funded incentive schemes are taking place in the area to provide extension to farmers. This extension aims to develop rural areas by engaging farmers to plant and sustainably manage commercial tree plantations. Application of silvicultural activities up to the standards is essential for the profitability and productivity of commercial tree plantations. This study aims to characterize and analyze the factors influencing silvicultural management of smallholder tree plantations; in order to find the possible issues, which are currently hindering a better success of tree-planting initiatives. The research took place in twelve different villages, in the districts of Ludewa, Njombe, Makete and Mufindi. Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires at household level and field surveys to cross-check the information given by the farmers. A total of 114 farmers were interviewed and 44 smallholder plantations were surveyed. Complete and adequate silvicultural management was generally low. However, nearly all farmers believed that their woodlots performed well. The results indicate that current silvicultural management satisfied most of the farmers since markets existed also for lower quality wood, and farmers were able to only allocate some of their labour for silvicultural management (tree planting was a secondary livelihood option for them). However, the current level of management did not provide higher quality wood required for industrial purposes. The management applied differed between woodlots of the same household and between seasons. External support from an incentive scheme (e.g. free/subsidized seedlings and extension), participation in tree-growers’ associations and favorable attitudes, influenced positively the level of certain management activities applied (i.e. site preparation, weeding and firebreaks). The age of the farmer, the number of household members, the number of children at school, the total household land area, and the number of years planting trees; also had an effect on the level of silvicultural management. The results suggest that training and technical advice given to farmers on silvicultural management should be more consistent, detailed (i.e. timing, frequency and intensity of activities) and dependent on the climatic conditions and the site characteristics of the tree plantations. To conclude, the creation and development of networks (such as farmers’ groups and company-community partnerships) aiming to provide support to farmers beyond tree-planting schemes is likely to offer the most long-term positive outcomes in smallholder commercial tree planting. Ultimately, for extension to be most successful it must be relevant to farmers’ needs. Farmers receiving extension and extension providers should share similar goals – i.e. extension should target to a specific group of farmers. Accordingly, it is advisable to consider if the extension for rural development can have the same target group and provide the same incentives as the extension for commercial tree planting.
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(2022)Food and Forest Development Finland (FFD) and Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) have a project called “Quality standards for enhanced market access for smallholder farmers in Tanzania” and it aims to improve Tanzanian smallholder farmers access to GLOBALG.A.P. certification. This master’s thesis study is made as a part of the project and the main aim of this study is to answer the following research questions. “What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of GLOBALG.A.P. certification to smallholder farmers in Tanzania?” and secondly, “What is the cost of certification and do farmers get premium price for certified products?”. This study is carried out as a qualitative case study. Data is sourced from a farmer survey in Tanzania and from an interview with Finnish certification specialists. As theoretical basis, Resource-based theory and the concept of competitive advantage is utilized. Previous studies and literature are also reviewed. Horticulture has an important role in Tanzania’s national economy and demand for fruits and vegetables is increasing. Tanzanian fruit and vegetable production is characterized by small-scale farming, poorly organized farm management and issues with market access and product quality. International export markets, especially in Europe, are demanding quality certification by third party. GLOBALG.A.P. (GAP= Good Agricultural Practice) is the largest agri-food certification scheme and the most demanding certification used in fruit and vegetable production. All big multinational retailers are demanding certification to ensure food safety and sustainability of the production. Getting GLOBALG.A.P. certification is a challenging task for smallholders in developing countries such as Tanzania. Farmer surveys were conducted in three different agricultural areas in Tanzania and over 360 farmers are represented in the results. A SWOT analysis was based on the survey results. Results revealed that smallholders have high expectations for the benefits of certification. Expectations of gaining access to local and global markets and for gaining improved negotiating position are confirmed by previous studies. Group certification is also revealed as a strength, as well as improved farm management skills. According to experts and previous studies, increase in prices is not guaranteed with certification. Instead, a wider customer base and economic benefits compared with non-certified farmers are likely to be achieved. GLOBALG.A.P. certification can be seen as a source of competitive advantage to smallholders. The greatest weaknesses of certification are, according to smallholders, the costs of certification, extra work and expensive investments on their farms. Poor infrastructure raises concerns. As external opportunities smallholders expect to gain higher profits, gains in exports and contracts with buyers. They are aiming towards commercial farming. The threats that worry farmers the most, are issues with re-certification, volatile returns in the markets and losing contracts with buyers due to quality issues.
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