Determinants of participation of rural youth in crop production in Morogoro district, Tanzania
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Date
2022
Authors
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Publisher
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.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Rural youth activities, Crop production, Tanzania, Morogoro district