Welcome to SUAIRE

Sokoine University of Agriculture  Institutional Repository (SUA IR). This repository was built and is maintained by the university library  (Sokoine National Agricultural Library-SNAL) , in order to collect, preserve and disseminate scholarly output generated by University research community (staff and students) members.

This repository hosts a variety of openly accessible materials including: scholarly articles and books, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings and technical reports. For assistance about depositing your research output in the repository click here. SUA IR Policy  click here or any queries contact us at snal@sua.ac.tz.

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Recent Submissions

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Factors influencing smallholder farmers’ access to formal financial services in Morogoro Region, Tanzania
(AJOL, 2023) Seluhinga, N.S.
This study was conducted to evaluate smallholder farmers’ inclusion to formal financial services in Mvomero, Morogoro Rural and Kilosa districts, in Morogoro region, Tanzania. Specifically, the paper was set to analyse the socio-economic factors that influence the access to formal financial services in the study area. A sample of 240 respondents was covered by the study, whereby multistage random sampling was employed to select respondents in the study area. The data were coded and analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software. A binary logistic regression model was used to test the effects or influence of socio-economic factors on inclusive formal financial services. Results showed that socio economic factors such as age, income, education, occupation and distance to formal financial institutions affect the access and use of formal financial services (p<0.05). The study has also revealed that savings services are popular therefore, used by the majority of adult population, followed by transaction services, credit, then insurance services Conversely, the study concludes that cost of services, ignorance, low income were among the reasons mentioned by the respondents as hindering inclusion to formal financial services in the research area. To this effect the study recommends effective linkages between financial institutions in order to increase the proportion of people with financial access, capacity building to financial institutions, improving infrastructure, improving condition and quality of financial services and to offer finance education to the people.
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Sources and knowledge of smallholder farmers in agricultural information in Mvomero District, Tanzania: where does misinformation originate?
(AJOL, 2024) Sandy, N. J.; Salehe F.; Magesa M.
This study examined the access to sources and knowledge of smallholder farmers in agricultural information in Mvomero District, Tanzania, and identified the origin of misinformation among these farmers. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including a survey of 192 smallholder farmers and interviews with agricultural extension officers and key informants. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design involving both qualitative and quantitative research methods through key informant interviews and questionnaires respectively. Descriptive statistics results indicated that more than half of the respondents (70%) were poorly accessing the reliable agricultural information. Furthermore, more than three quarters of the respondents (96%) had high level of knowledge on agricultural misinformation but still, they could not well access reliable agricultural information. Likewise, more than half of respondents (74.5%) accessed agricultural information through farmers – farmers while half of respondents (50%) accessed agricultural information through other sources such as radio, television, mobile phones, smartphones, and extension officers, and this may be a problem in accessing the reliable agricultural information. Additionally, the study revealed that misinformation among smallholder farmers originates from various sources, including fellow farmers, traditional beliefs, and inadequate agricultural extension services. The study recommends interventions to improve smallholder farmers' access to agricultural information, including expanding communication channels and improving agricultural extension services, to mitigate the spread of misinformation.
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Power relations and knowledge linkages among actors in the groundnuts seed value chain in Central Tanzania
(AJOL, 2024) Mulokozi, G. G.; Massawe G. D.; Mwololo J.
Interdependence among actors enhances value chain functioning as it not only closely links them, but also enables them to engage with each other across the chain to form a network. The network created through these actors’ involvement and interdependence creates a necessary condition for adoption and diffusion of incentives for the value chain development and stability.In the groundnut seed value chain, less is known like in other crops’ value chain less is known on issues related to power relations and dynamics that can be assessed in levels and dimesnions of knowledge, material and income. This study aimed to assess the power relations and knowledge linkages among the actors in the groundnut seed value chain in central Tanzania. The specific objectives of the study were to identify the actors involved, their roles, and the influence and importance of power relations in the knowledge aspect. The study used a qualitative approach and a cross-sectional design. The primary data were collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews, while the secondary data were obtained from records related to the groundnut crop and its value chain from the sampled districts covered by the Tropical Legumes III project. The UCINET software statistical package for network analysis was used to analyze the data collected. The study reveales that there is a number of actors at the village and district levels, some of whom were found in both levels.Further, power relations among these actors are revelead through centrality measures, emphasizing the significance of ties and linkages in shaping knowledge exchange dynamics. The findings speak volume on the role of influential actors at both levels, with implications for information flow, decision-making, and the overall success of the groundnuts seed value chain. The study also found that the number of ties that the actors had in the groundnut seed value chain affected their knowledge linkages, as well as their influence and power over others. The study identified that NGOs, CBOs, local government, researchers, and traders had higher influence and importance in knowledge linkages than other actors at both levels. The study recommended prioritizing the inclusion of less powerful and influential actors and involving important stakeholders in interventions targeting power relations through innovation platforms.
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Unlocking smallholder coffee grower knowledge of coffee certification schemes in Tanzania: insights from the implementation of coffee and farmer equity practices
(AJOL, 2023) Makangila, S. S.; Ahmad A. K.
The study was conducted to assess smallholder coffee growers’ knowledge of coffee certification schemes particularly Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E) Practices in Mbinga District, Tanzania. The sample size of the study was 188 respondents who were randomly selected and surveyed. The study deployed a mixed research design and data were collected through Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed by employing descriptive statistics involving computation of means, frequencies and percentages whereas a thematic analysis procedure was adopted to analyze qualitative data where themes were generated for reporting the results. The study findings revealed that the majority of smallholder coffee growers were knowledgeable about the C.A.F.E. Practices. However, a small proportion of respondents had inadequate knowledge of the scheme. Based on these findings, the study recommends that coffee certification promoters should intensify their efforts in providing training and guidance specifically to those minority farmers who are not yet knowledgeable about the certification scheme.
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Profitability of oil palm farming in Kigoma Rural District, Tanzania
(AJOL, 2023) Andrea, A.; Mishili, F.
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is one of the world’s most efficient oil-bearing crop. The crop has great contribution to the economy of the world’s leading producers, that is, Indonesia and Malaysia. In Tanzania however, the leading region in oil palm farming is facing high rate of poverty with 48.9% of its population living below the poverty line, that is, below 1.9 USD per day. Further, the country’s annual palm oil production of 16 593 tons is short of the demand of 364 800 tons per annum. Based on that, the study aimed to determine profit attained from oil palm production systems in Kigoma rural district. A cross sectional design was adopted and a semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 260 respondents randomly selected from five villages in Kigoma rural district. Descriptive statistics was used for analysis of demographic data and profitability was determined by Gross margin. Demographic profile shows that men own 90% of the farms, 70% of oil palm farmers are in the active age of 20 - 60 years, 90% are married, 93% depend solely in agriculture and 92% of farmers have acquired primary education. Further findings show that farmers have adopted local, improved and mixed production systems by 73%, 2% and 25% respectively. And that at an average of 96 oil palm trees per farmer at an area of about 1.7 hectares, these farmers earn less than TZS 1 million per hectare. Furthermore, they fetch a gross margin of 7%, 35% and 19% from the three systems respectively. It was noted that, inadequate cultivation of Tenera variety oil palms and poor management practices are greater hindrance to higher productivity and profitability of oil palm farming in the study area. The government, investors and farmers must put more efforts to overcome those challenges.