The contribution of farmers’ organizations to smallholder farmers’ well-being: a case study of Kasulu district, Tanzania
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Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Farmers' 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.
Description
MA. Dissertation in Rural Development
Keywords
Agricultural, Marketing, Smallholder farmers, Farmers organizations