Determinants of participation of rural youth in crop production in Morogoro district, Tanzania

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Date

2022

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Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

This study analyzed the determinants of participation of rural youth in crop production activities in Morogoro district, Tanzania. In particular, the study: (i) examined the socio- economic characteristics influencing rural youth’s participation in crop production activities in the Morogoro district; (ii) determined the perception of rural youth towards participation in crop production activities in Morogoro district; and (iii) established factors facilitating retaining of rural youth in crop production activities in Morogoro district. The study was conducted in Mvuha, Serembala, Tawa, Kisenu, Mkambarani and Mikese wards in the Morogoro district. A convergent parallel mixed methods research design was adopted for this study. The design enables the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data at the same time and then integrates the information into the interpretation of the overall results. Quantitative data were collected by using questionnaires. Qualitative data were collected through In-depth Interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informants Interviews (KIIs). Descriptive statistical analysis, binary and ordinal logistic regression models were used to analyze quantitative data, while the content analysis approach was used to analyze qualitative data. The findings revealed that 74.2% of the rural youth held a positive perception towards participation in crop production, more than half (55.1%) of the respondents agreed with the statement that “there is adequate monetary gain from crop production activities” , In the parameter estimates table the coefficients, their standard errors, the Wald test, degree of freedom and associated p-values (Sig.). both access to inputs and cool climate conditions were statistically significant expected with a 1.65 and a 0.73 increase in the ordered log odds of being in a higher level of youth’s perception of the participation incrop production activities respectively. The intent of the rural youth to participate in crop production falls under several socio-economic characteristics. The full model containing all predictors was statistically significant, x 2 (df=5,N=399)=153.096,p<0.001, explained between 31.9% (Cox and Snell R square) and 42.5% (Nagelkerke R squared) of the variance in main occupation status, three independent variables were statistically significant namely age, education and sex of the respondents. However, the findings revealed that 52% of the rural youth rely on brokers as a source of price information, 87.7% of the hired labourers revealed that youths were more preferred because they are said to be energetic and easy to get, 66.7% of the rural youth confirmed that the farm inputs were available, 84.5% of the respondents affirmed that farm inputs were affordable. Furthermore, more than half (50.1%) of the rural youth were satisfied with the benefits gained and 87.2% of the respondents confirmed about their wish to continue with crop production activities. Therefore, it is recommended that the government in collaboration with other agricultural stakeholders should insist on hosting agricultural training to equip the youth with innovative knowledge to enable the youth to adopt new technologies and technical packages which could guarantee higher productivity.

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Keywords

Rural youth activities, Crop production, Tanzania, Morogoro district

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