Contribution of Heifer In-Trust schemes to smallholder households’ well-being in Highland area of Njombe Region, Tanzania
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Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Livestock Research for Rural Development
Abstract
Food insecurity and poor income is a big challenge in Njombe Region. The Heifer in-Trust Schemes (HIS) in this
region aimed at reducing food and income insecurity. The study’s main objective was to determine the contribution
of the HIS farming households’ well-being in the highland areas of Njombe, Tanzania. Specifically, the study aimed
at determining the contribution of the HIS to food security measured by number of meals and composition of these
meals and at exploring the contribution of sales of milk, calves and pastures to household income. The study adopted
a cross-sectional design and using HIS registers books, data were collected from 200 randomly selected HIS
beneficiary households using a structured questionnaire. In addition 4 Focus Group Discussion (FDGs) were
conducted to supplement information collected through the questionnaires.
Results from the study show that dairy farming was the major source of food and income. Despite the variations in
seasonality in this highland agro-ecological zone, HIS has enormously contributed to the improvement of smallholder
famers’ well-being. Generally, smallholder households’ food was secured; an average of three meals daily with
diversified nutrients was taken and income has increased.
Description
16p
Keywords
Agro-ecology, Dairy farming, Food and income security, Heifer in-Rust Scheme