Browsing by Author "Makindara, Jeremia"

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Economic viability of newly introduced chicken strains at village level in Tanzania: FARMSIM model simulation approach
(ELSEVIER, 2019) Makindara, Jeremia; Andrew, Rogers; Mbaga, Said H; Alphonce, Roselyne
A local chicken farming is an integral part of Tanzania's rural economy. However, despite its contributions to household economy and food security, local chicken productivity remains low because of low genetic potential, diseases and poor feeding. One of the options to increase local chicken productivity is the adoption of the chicken strains with high genetic potential. With that respect, Africa Genetic Gain project introduced Sasso and Kuroiler chicken strains for on-farm test purposes. Developmental design involved provision of 25 six weeks old chicks to 20 farmers in 12 sites making a total of 240 farmers in three regions. The study was carried out in Dodoma, Morogoro and Njombe regions to assess the effects of agro-ecological differences in the performance of these strains. The chicks were vaccinated against Mareks and Newcastle diseases at the hatchery; then against Infectious Bronchitis (IB) at 0, 7 10, 16 and 21 days. The Newcastle Disease vaccine was repeated after 10 and 21 days using LaSota vaccine. After 6 weeks, the chicks were again vaccinated against fowl pox ready for supply to farmers. A farm Simulation Model (FARMSIM) and Stochastic Efficiency with Respect to Function (SERF) were applied to access economic viability of these strains relative to local chickens. FARMSIM is a Monte Carlo Simulation Model that simultaneously evaluates a baseline and an alternative farming technology. To simulate using FARMSIM, Simulation and Econometrics to Analyse Risk (Simetar©), an excel add-in is needed as a simulating engine. Data were obtained through survey, farmers' records and simulation exercises. The results indicate that keeping Sasso strain was the most economically viable with the highest Net Present Value, Net Cash Farm Income and the highest probability of attaining economic return. Kuroiler was the second, followed by keeping local chickens without supplement and local chicken with supplement was the least economically viable enterprise. However, inclusion of risk behaviour revealed that extremely risk-averse farmers preferred mostly keeping local chickens without supplement whereas extremely risk loving farmers preferred the most Sasso strain. It is recommended that the introduced chicken strains should be promoted to increase household income and improve people's livelihoods. However, scaling up of the introduced chicken strains must be integrated with education on technical know-how for good farming practices, feed formulations, medication and shelter for improved productivity and reduced variability.
Effect of training on knowledge, attitude, and practice on the use of hermetic storage technologies among smallholder farmers in Tanzania
(African Journal of Empirical Research, 2024) Mbesa, Baraka; Makindara, Jeremia; Kadigi, Michael; Majubwa, Ramadhani; Madege, Richard
Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of farmers in post-harvest management (PHM) are essential for reducing food waste. However, their enhancement also depends on the training programs. Previous studies on the linkage between training programs and farmers’ KAP have been conducted with less emphasis on hermetic storage technology (HST) for PHM. This study aimed to assess the effect of training on KAP and, hence, the adoption of HSTs among smallholder farmers. The underlying theory of change of the study assumes that awareness and access to post-harvest technologies have effects on adoption rates, hence improving food security and income. A quasi-experimental matched-pair cluster randomization design was used to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between an independent and dependent variable. Maize farmer groups totalling 637 farmers were randomly selected and followed the experimental design of the “Evidence-based Scaling of Improved On-Farm Storage among Smallholders in Tanzania” intervention from Kilosa and Kondoa districts of Tanzania, whereas the treatment group farmers received training and free five hermetic storage bags each, while the control group farmers did not. However, this study documented the demographic profiles of farmers in association with KAP on HST using a pre-designed structured questionnaire and used ordinary least squares regression to explore this relationship. We find evidence consistent with a positive and significant relationship between training, KAP, and adoption. The results suggest that the KAP score and adoption were high for farmers who received training as an intervention for PHM using hermetic bags. Overall, the results are consistent with the theory that there is an effect between training and KAP and, thus, the adoption of HST. The study recommends placing emphasis on farmer’s training programs regarding PHM, thus increasing their knowledge, attitude, and practices, and hence their adoption, to enhance food loss control.
Ex-Ante analysis of adoption of introduced chicken strains among smallholder farmers in selected areas of Tanzania
(Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2019-04) Andrew, Rogers; Makindara, Jeremia; Mbaga, Said H; Alphonce, Roselyne;
Keeping local chickens is an integral part of Tanzania’s rural economy although it suffers low genetic potential. To address the problem, the Africa Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG) project introduced and tested improved strains of chicken viz. Sasso and Kuroiler in Tanzania, The paper aimed to predict the rate of adoption of Sasso and Kuroiler chicken strains by using the Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT). Developmental research design involving provision of 25 six weeks old chicks to farmers was adopted. Data were obtained from a questionnaire survey and Focus Group Discussion in three regions of Tanzania. The results indicate that the peak for adoption is likely to be 34, 29 and 38% after 8, 7 and 9 years in Bahi, Ifakara and Wanging’ombe sites respectively. The sensitivity report indicates that the adoption rate may increase to reach 59, 49 and 57% and may decline to about 17, 16 and 21% in Bahi, Ifakara and Wanging’ombe respectively. Extension efforts to facilitate availability of the strains, feeds, treatment and reducing upfront and operating costs are main factors affecting change in the adoption rate to optimize the inherent genetic potential. It is recommended to facilitate extension efforts for adoption rate improvement by upgrading local chicken value chain to enable farmers to access the strains, feeds, medication and market.
Farmers’ willingness to pay for hermetic storage bags: The effects of training and free trial
(Journal of Stored Products Research, 2025) Mbesa, Baraka; Makindara, Jeremia; Kadigi, Michael; Majubwa, Ramadhani; Madege, Richard; Brander, Michael; Huss, Matthias
Maize is a staple food for smallholder farmers in Africa, but poor postharvest management leads to high grain losses, contributing to food insecurity. Improved on-farm storage such as hermetic storage bags can reduce these losses, yet their adoption remains low. Full one-off subsidies can be an effective development policy to enhance technology adoption. However, policymakers are often opposed to such subsidies, arguing that it lowers will ingness to pay (WTP) once the subsidy ends and thereby constrains the future market. Using the Becker-DeGroot- Marschak (BDM) mechanism to investigate WTP and building on a prior randomized control trial among smallholders in Tanzania, this study analyzes how prior free distribution influences long-term WTP for hermetic storage bags (six years later). Additionally, we analyze how offering a deferred payment option influences farmers’ WTP for hermetic storage bags. We find that the prior provision of free hermetic storage bags had decreased WTP. As an alternative intervention, we show that providing the opportunity to pay later increases WTP as compared to immediate payment. The study highlights that free technology provision may reduce future market engagement but a pay later option can be considered as a valuable policy tool for quick technology dissemination.