Theses and Dissertations Collection
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://10.10.97.169:4000/handle/123456789/1001
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Browsing Theses and Dissertations Collection by Subject "Agricultural"
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Item The contribution of farmers’ organizations to smallholder farmers’ well-being: a case study of Kasulu district, Tanzania(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2013) Msuta, Pelimina BonifaceFarmers' Oganizations (FOs) play quite a significant role as an institutional vehicle for promoting agricultural development through helping farmers solve their common problems relating to agricultural marketing, inputs, credit and technical knowledge. All these services aim at improving farming activities and enable farmers gain economic benefits to sustain their well-being. Based on the above, this study assessed the contribution of FOs to smallholder farmers’ well-being in Kasulu district. Specifically, the study assessed farmers’ perception towards FOs. identified goods and services accrued by farmers from FOs. and assessed the contribution of goods and services from FOs to farmers' well-being. The above objectives were achieved through a cross-sectional research design in which data for the study were collected from 160 farm households selected randomly and administering of interviews using a structured questionnaire. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis were used. The study found that FOs contribute positively to members' the well-being, as the members of these organizations have a relatively higher income than is the case with non members: the difference was shown to be statistically significant based on t-test analysis. Generally, the results indicate that extension services and the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides have positive contribution to household income and assets ownership. However, the study observed some constraints such as delays in payments, lack of reliable markets and price fluctuation as limiting factors facing FOs members. Therefore, the study recommends that some strategies have to be adopted by FOs to help improve markets access in order to ensure that farmers get better prices and that their payments are made timely. Also, the government needs to create conducive market environment to enable farmers benefit more from their efforts.