Browsing by Author "Mapunda, Fausta Marcellus"

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Economic evaluation of existing and potential market opportunities for quality beef in Tanzania: a case of Dar Es Salaam and Arusha cities
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2007) Mapunda, Fausta Marcellus
Despite potential contribution livestock marketing has in Tanzania to national economy, quality beef marketing has received less priority in national investments, research and export development. This study attempts to bridge the gap by assessing beef marketing efficiency focusing on Dar es Salaam and Arusha. The general objective of the study was to evaluate the relative efficiency of existing beef marketing system and explore potential market opportunities for quality beef in Tanzania. Specifically the study aimed to identify existing and potential market opportunities for quality beef, to describe quality beef attributes desired by consumers, to examine efficiency of beef marketing system operating in the two cities and to propose strategic marketing decision for the firms to improve their competitive position in the market. The study involved cross section data collected using structured questionnaires and a checklist through which a total of 198 respondents including consumers, hoteliers, butcheries and super marketers were administered. Descriptive as well as multiple response analysis techniques were used to handle the data. Marketing costs and gross margins were calculated. Results show that butchers were the main source of beef purchase by consumers. Beef marketing was generally profitable, the level of profits varied across types of beef marketed. Highest marketing margin were found in supermarkets. The study also found that, there is great potential market for quality beef in supermarket and hotels particularly tourist hotels and this potential is spreading to butchers and households as the income increases. As assessed by percentage of respondents, attributes desired by consumers in Dar es Salaam were freshness (31.4 %), tenderness (27.5 %) and carcass composition as reflected in amount of fat (27.5 %) while in Arusha customers were attracted by tenderness (61.5 %), freshness (28.1 %) and safety of the product (4.2 %). The average marketing efficiency ratios were 0.81 and 0.84 for butchers in Arusha and Dar es Salaam respectively and 0.63 at Shoprite supermarket level. Based on the study results it is recommended that measures should be taken to improve the quality of cattle and thereby the quality of beef sold.
Estimating heterogeneous effects of land titling on rural household’s agricultural productivity: evidence from the southern highland regions of Tanzania
(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2024-02-15) Mapunda, Fausta Marcellus
This paper analyses the effect of land titles on agricultural productivity in the southern highland regions of Mbeya and Ruvuma and assesses the potential mediating effect of access to credit. The contribution of this paper to the existing literature is threefold. First, it contributes to the general literature on the impact of land titling on agricultural performance. Second, it investigates whether access to credit is an important mediating variable. Third, it assessed whether households respond differently depending on farmer and land characteristics. To contribute to the evidence on the impact of land titling four hypotheses were tested: Since the study is based on observational data, propensity score matching technique was employ to determine the land titling effects. The findings suggest that land titles have a statistically significant positive effect on productivity. This can at least partially be explained by an increase in credit access for titled households. The study results further suggest heterogeneous effects of titles, which vary with age of the head of household and size of land cultivated.
Impact of off-farm employment on rural household food and nutrition security: evidence from the southern highland regions of Tanzania
(African Journal of Economic Review, 2024) Mapunda, Fausta Marcellus
Despite the rural off-farm economy becoming increasingly important, the question whether off- farm income-generating activities increase household food and nutritional security in Tanzania remains unanswered. The current study explores the issue of off-farm employment by addressing two objectives: (i) to examine the drivers of households’ decision to participate in off-farm employment in a high-potential agricultural zone in Tanzania and (ii) to evaluate the impact of off- farm activities on rural households’ food security and nutritional security. We use household survey data from the southern highland districts of Mbeya and Songwe regions collected in 2014 and 2016. We employ difference-in-difference and propensity score matching techniques to evaluate the impact of participation in off-farm employment on household food security using three indicators with different recall periods. Results show that more adults per household and a larger farm size stimulated involvement in off-farm activities, while farming experience and livestock ownership had a limiting effect. Participation has a significant impact on food security, but the strength of the effect depends on the specific indicator selected. We recommend that the development of policies and programs that pay more attention to off-farm work can boost rural household income and thus promote food security and nutritional security.