Browsing by Author "Akyoo, Adam Meshack"

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Agricultural production, natural hazards and risks: an analysis of coping mechanisms and the potential of crop insurance
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2004) Akyoo, Adam Meshack
The study examined natural hazard risks, coping mechanisms and potential for crop insurance on bean farmers in Arumeru district, Arusha region. Objectives were to determine natural hazard risk sources and available coping mechanisms, assess riskiness of various natural hazards, potential of crop insurance and determine factors influencing its preference. Data collection was through formal surveys to 116 farmers and 8 insurance companies, supplemented by informal interviews with various experts from the Directorate of Insurance, National Insurance Company, agricultural officers at the Ministry of Agriculture, Dar es salaam and extension officers at Kwa Ugoro, Malula/Kolila and Kikatiti villages. Qualitative analytical techniques included descriptive methods such as cross tabulations, means, percentages, frequencies, standard deviations and risk analysis using a structured questionnaire. Quantitative methods included Gross Margin (GM) analysis, Pearson Chi square (X2), one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Regression analysis. Natural hazards were found to be location specific and their riskiness was significantly different (different levels) across villages. Coping mechanisms were found to be imperfectly effective in managing natural hazard risks signifying a need for a risk transfer device, like crop insurance. Crop insurance was favoured by 76.7 percent of the respondents and ranked second in preference as a risk management method. Pests and diseases were the riskiest followed by drought. Positive margins were recorded to 72.4 percent of the respondents. Ability to meet insurance costs was thus high. Farmers’ preference for crop insurance was confirmed and, unexpectedly, wealth status was the only significant factor that influenced it positively. Insurers were however sceptical about its feasibility. Pilot crop insurance scheme as a precursor to a full-fledged scheme in future and' further market research studies to establish more potential for crop insurance are recommended. Agricultural schools and colleges are urged to include crop insurance in their curricular to stimulate its awareness.
Economics of compliance with international food standards in tanzania: the case of organic spice
(2010-09) Akyoo, Adam Meshack
The fall in the agricultural sector’s contribution to Tanzanian export earnings since the early 1990s has increased attention toward new crops with the potential of supplementing the country’s traditional export crops. Particular attention has been focused upon identifying crops enjoying price stability, high demand elasticity and low substitutability. Spices fall into this category. However, access to high value export markets raises issues of supply chain dynamics and conformity with international standards. This study focuses upon the recent history of the spice industry in Tanzania with reference to these issues. It also explores existing standards conformity assessment capacity and quantifies the costs and benefits of complying with the certified organic standard for members of black pepper and chilli contract farming schemes in two districts in Tanzania. The latter is based on survey data from 2006-07 based on samples of scheme members and control groups. High value markets like the EU are concerned with food safety. In addition. organically-traded exports must be certified as such. For food safety the main tests demanded are for hazards like aflatoxins, pesticide residues, prohibited chemical dyes, heavy metals, as well as for Salmonella. Conformity assessment for these parameters entails investments in high performance liquid chromatograph, gas chromatograph, and atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipment, as well as other state-of -the-art laboratory facilities. Local conformity assessment in relation to these standards has been found to be deficient in many ways. The benefits of certified organic farming include guaranteed produce market, premium prices, higher net revenues and increased yield. Expected benefis were not realized by certified organic farmers. This is the result of absent price premiums, low level of adoption of recommended organic practices, and wider contract failure. The main conclusions are that Certified Organic standards are the only international standards complied with, and that a very loosely coordinated chain exists alongside a more coordinated one. Macro- and micro-institutional weaknesses need iii attention for tapping the full potential of the industry. Meeting challenges of international national food safety policy are recommended for improving local conformity assessment better organized exporters and design of more effective contracts are recommended for realizing organic farming benefits.
Profitability of gliricidia-maize system in selected dryland areas of Dodoma region, Tanzania
(MDPI, 2021-12) Swamila, Martha; Philip, Damas; Akyoo, Adam Meshack; Manda, Julius; Mwinuka, Lutengano; Smethurst, Philip J.; Sieber, Stefan; Kimaro, Anthony Anderson
Declining soil fertility and climatic extremes are among major problems for agricultural production in most dryland agro-ecologies of sub-Saharan Africa. In response, the agroforestry tech- nology intercropping of Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.)) and Maize (Zea mays L.) was developed to complement conventional soil fertility management technologies. However, diversified information on the profitability of Gliricidia-Maize intercropping system in dryland areas is scanty. Using data from the Gliricidia and maize models of the Next Generation version of the Agriculture Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM), this study estimates the profitability of the Gliricidia-Maize system relative to an unfertilized sole maize system. Results show significant heterogeneity in profitability indicators both in absolute and relative economic terms. Aggregated over a 20-year cycle, Gliricidia- Maize intercropping exhibited a higher Net Present Value (NPV = Tsh 19,238,798.43) and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR = 4.27) than the unfertilized sole maize system. The NPV and BCR of the latter were Tsh 10,934,669.90 and 3.59, respectively. Moreover, the returns to labour per person day in the Gliricidia-Maize system was 1.5 times those of the unfertilized sole maize system. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the profitability of the Gliricidia-Maize system is more negatively affected by the decrease in output prices than the increase in input prices. A 30% decrease in the former leads to a decrease in NPV and BCR by 38% and 30%, respectively. Despite the higher initial costs of the agroforestry establishment, the 30% increase in input prices affects more disproportionally unfertilized sole maize than the Gliricidia-Maize system in absolute economic terms, i.e., 11.1% versus 8.8% decrease in NPV. In relative economic terms, an equal magnitude of change in input prices exerts the same effect on the unfertilized sole maize and the Gliricidia-maize systems. This result implies that the monetary benefits accrued after the first year of agroforestry establishment offset the initial investment costs. The Gliricidia-Maize intercropping technology therefore is profitable with time, and it can contribute to increased household income and food security. Helping farmers to overcome initial investment costs and manage agroforestry technologies well to generate additional benefits is critical for the successful scaling of the Gliricidia-Maize intercropping technology in dryland areas of Dodoma, Tanzania.