Factors influencing commercialization of round potato production in Rungwe district, Mbeya region

Abstract

This study was conducted in four villages in Rungwe District, Mbeya region in Tanzania to investigate factors that influence commercialization of RP production. Data was collected from a cross-sectional survey of 400 household heads. The survey was complemented by FGDs at village levels, in-depth interviews with key informants, and observation. Data was quantitatively and qualitatively analysed. Based on multiple linear regression results, socio-economic factors such as age, sex, education level, income level, land ownership, market, other activities, labour cost and acreage cultivated were found to influence commercialization of RP production. The study results from descriptive statistics involving Likert scale and chi-square test showed that smallholder farmers’ perception of RP production considered it as drudgery work. Also, intensive input use, use of capital limited commercialization of RP production. Furthermore, based on descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, the results showed that biological factors such as diseases/insect pests, growing of RP without fertilizers, use of local varieties, and low soil fertility negatively influenced commercialization of RP production. Similarly, environmental factors such as the effect of low temperature, frequent frost occurrences, and heavy rainfall negatively influenced commercialization of RP production. This study concluded that socio-economic factors, smallholder farmers’ perception towards commercialization of RP production, biological and environmental factors negatively influenced commercialization of RP production. This study makes a number of recommendations to the Rungwe District Council of improving commercialization of RP production: (i) invest in road infrastructure; (ii) educate farmers to use improved seeds of RP; (iii) use farm inputs (fertilizers, fungicides); (iv) encourage formation of farmers’ groups; (v) connect farmers to financial facilities; and increase Agricultural Extension Agents.