Browsing by Author "Mbesa, Baraka"

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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.
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.