Browsing by Author "De Putter, H."

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Field vegetable production in the lake zone of Tanzania
(Wageningen, 2014) Everaarts, A. P.; De Putter, H.; Maerere, A. P.; Amon, W.
In November 2012 and in August 2014 surveys were carried out in field vegetable producing areas in the Lake Zone of Tanzania. The areas visited in 2012 were: (i) Kibeyo, Mugumu district, (ii) Mogabiri, Tarime district, (iii) Nyabange, Musoma rural district, (iv) Itumbili, Magu district, and (v) Nyaholongo, Nyamatale and Kagera, Misungwi district. In 2014, (i) Chamabanda, Sengerema district, (ii) Iyogelo, Sengerema district, (iii) Bugulula, Geita district, (iv) Kibwela, Geita district, (v) Kiziba, Geita district and the vegetable market in Bukoba town and a seed shop in Bukoba town were visited. The aim of the surveys was to learn the conditions for field vegetable production and marketing in these areas. Recommendations for the development of vegetable production were formulated in order to enlarge the supply of vegetable products and secure a balanced nutrition for the rural and urban population. Field vegetable production in the Lake Zone area is mostly small scale and rain dependent. A wide variety of crops is cultivated and production itself is professional. Production in the dry season is limited by the availability of water, and when water is available, by the amount of labour spend on hand watering the crop. Most of the information on pest and disease control is provided by the agro-dealers where farmers buy their pesticides. Packaging of products is at an elementary level. Marketing of products is mainly local, to nearby villages and towns and to the few larger cities in the Lake Zone and occasionally to Kenya. It is recommended to demonstrate and facilitate the introduction of labour and water saving drip irrigation techniques, to reduce the amount of labour and water that is needed for crop production, thereby making expansion of the area under vegetable production in the dry season possible. Where no water is available in the dry season, the options of constructing bore holes should be investigated. The supply of information on effective pest and disease control, independent from agro-dealers, is urgently needed to improve pest and disease control and to avoid misuse of pesticides. Stimulation of vegetable production in the rural areas will create employment. To secure future production, conservation of the natural vegetation is recommended to protect water catchment areas and avoid regional climate change.
Profitability, labour input, fertilizer application and crop protection in vegetable production in the Arusha region, Tanzania
(Wageningen, 2015) Everaarts, A. P.; De Putter, H.; Maerere, A. P.
An analysis was made of the inputs, costs and profit of vegetable production in three areas in the Arusha region of Tanzania. The major aim of the study was to establish whether vegetable producers would have the means to invest in modern production methods, such as hybrid seeds and drip irrigation, to improve and intensify their production. The average income from crop production, as measured from 65 data sets on individual crop production, was 17,362 Tanzanian Shilling per hectare per growing day in the production field (TZS/ha/Gday). This amounts to around 7,500 TSZ per day throughout the year from 0.53 hectare which is the average area of vegetable production of the farmers in the study. After deduction of approximated daily expenses of a five-member household, the remaining earnings would only make a gradual introduction of hybrid seeds and drip irrigation possible, if the purchase of these goods has to be financed from earnings of vegetable production alone. Farmers complained about the lack of access to affordable credit. Companies supplying hybrid seeds and modern vegetable production equipment would do wise to offer safe and affordable credit. Profit per crop was primarily influenced by labour input and to a lower extent by yield level and product prize. Average labour input per crop ranged from three to thirteen hours per hectare per growing day in the production field (h/ha/Gday). The average for all crops was 6.4 h/ha/Gday, amounting to 3.4 hours per day for every day of the year on 0.53 hectare of vegetable production. Eighty nine per cent of labour spend, was hired labour, constituting 54 per cent of the average total production costs. Costs of fertilizer application, on average were eighteen per cent of total production costs. Amounts of inorganic fertilizer applied varied considerably between areas and between vegetable fields in an area. Farmers complained about high costs of inorganic fertilizers, which may be the reason for low amounts applied. Average costs of crop protection were six per cent of total production costs. Most of the active ingredients of fungicides applied are of the mancozeb type, while most of the active ingredients of the insecticides used belong to the organochlorines and organophosphates. Herbicide use was limited and only found in carrot production. To protect farmers’ and consumers health, and the environment, comprehensive efforts are needed to especially replace toxic insecticides.