Browsing by Author "Eliasse, Ermelinda A."

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    Impact of northern Tanzania potato system improvement project on income and food security of smallholder farmers in Arusha district, Tanzania
    (The sub Saharan Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2025-05-16) Eliasse, Ermelinda A.; Urassa, Justin K.; Allan, Tumaini
    Potatoes are a staple crop with substantial potential to enhance the income and food security of smallholder farmers in Tanzania. This study assesses the impact of the Northern Tanzania Potato System Improvement (NTPSI) project on smallholder farmers in Arusha District, focusing on both economic and food security outcomes. Using a cross-sectional survey of 192 farmers, comprising both participants and non-participants of the NTPSI project, the study applied Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to address selection bias and ensure robust comparison. Key outcome indicators included Gross Margin (GM) for income, Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) for food security. The results reveal that participation in NTPSI significantly improved economic returns and food security. Specifically, the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) showed that participants had a mean gross margin increase of TZS 512,000 per acre compared to non-participants (p < 0.01). Moreover, the HDDS score increased by an average of 2.4 points (p < 0.01), indicating better household dietary diversity, while the HFIAS score decreased by 3.7 points (p < 0.05), suggesting reduced food insecurity. These statistically significant findings confirm the effectiveness of the NTPSI project in enhancing smallholder livelihoods. The study underscores the transformative potential of integrated agricultural interventions, such as improved seed distribution, farmer training, and access to extension services, on rural incomes and nutrition. The evidence supports scaling similar programs across potato-producing regions in Tanzania to contribute to achieving SDGs 1 (No Poverty) and 2 (Zero Hunger).