Abstract:
A study was carried out to assess the profitability of improved banana cultivars in
Rungwe, Mvomero and Mkuranga districts. Specifically, the study aimed at
comparing benefits of improved versus non improved banana cultivars production,
determining the contribution of banana enterprise to total household income, assessing
the factors that influence banana household income, assessing the changes in gender
roles in improved banana farming system and suggesting the system of distributing
new cultivars and clean planting materials to farmers. Data for the study were
collected from a sample of 120 farmers; purposive sampling method was used to
select the study villages. Cost Benefit and Regression analyses were employed in this
study. Study results showed that, NPV was positive and higher on improved cultivar in
comparison to non improved cultivars by Tsh 4 429 504 , CB ratio was greater than
one though higher in improved cultivars by 3.3 , and IRR was greater than the
opportunity cost of capital in both cultivars 16% per acre at 12% discount factor.
Regression results in the three districts showed that age, education, gender, farm size,
household size and number of extension visits per household were positively related to
banana income, while, marital status was inversely related. However, there were no
significant differences in contribution of banana income among the three districts.
Gender role and decision making results indicate that no changes in these roles were
observed among the three districts. To improve distribution of clean planting
materials, it is suggested that, contact farmers should provide these cultivars to other
farmers and establishment of more demonstration plots as sources of planting
materials. Based on profitability of banana technologies, the study recommends the
adoption of improved banana technology and the replication of this innovation to
other areas with similar characteristics, as an approach towards poverty reduction.
