Browsing by Author "Mlozi, Malongo R. S"
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Item Measuring Farm-level Technical Efficiency of Urban Agriculture in Tanzanian Towns: the Policy Implications(2015-01) Mwajombe, Kizito K.; Mlozi, Malongo R. STechnical Efficiency Indices of Urban Agriculture (UA) were determined using the stochastic frontier production function which incorporates a model of technical inefficiency effects. In 2010, farm-level data of 270 urban agriculture farmers in Tanzanian urban wards of towns of Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Dodoma was obtained using semi-structured questionnaires. The parameters were estimated simultaneously with those of the model of inefficiency effects. Using the maximum likelihood estimation technique, asymptotic parameter estimates were evaluated to describe efficiency determinants. Study results revealed that a mean technical efficiency index (TEI) of 0.72 was achieved implying that output from urban agriculture production could be increased by 28% using available technologies. Despite of urban farmers having entrepreneurial acumen, they faced several challenges in resource allocation. Land size, total variable costs, and extension service charges negatively impacted on TEI. The study recommends that the government using urban agriculture and livestock extension agents should explore profitable levels for promoting UA enterprises to ascertain profitable TEI levels and UA units.Item Understanding Farmers Information Communication Strategies for Managing Climate Risks in Rural Semi-Arid Areas, Tanzania(International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Research, 2012) Churi, Ayubu J; Mlozi, Malongo R. S; Tumbo, Siza D; Casmir, RespickiusCrop production risk caused by climate variability cannot be managed in the absence of climate information. Despite the use of various communication strategies by rural communities in Tanzania, access and use of agricultural information is inadequate to cope with challenges in crop production. This study aims at assessing farmers information needs, examine communication strategies used and hence recommend information and knowledge sharing strategies for improved decision making. In addition, the study examined how modern ICT used together with tradition methods can reduce risks and improve crop productivity of smallholder farmers. A cross-sectional research design and simple random sampling techniques were used for the study. Interviews using structured questionnaires and focus group discussion were conducted to collect primary data from farmers and extension workers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics where Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used. The findings showed that smallholder farmers require climate, market and agricultural inputs information to make strategic and tactical farm-level decisions for managing climate variability and extreme events. Climate information was found to be important factor for making decisions. Radio was found to be an important communication channel by the respondents in the study area, for communicating climate information. In addition, the respondents used extension officers and fellow farmers to access climate, market and agricultural input information. Mobile phones were noted to be preferred by surveyed farmers for communicating agricultural information. The study concluded that, efforts to improve adaptation capacity of smallholder farmers in rural areas should target the extended use of information technology for improved access to climate information and advisories. Furthermore, development initiatives for managing risks of climate variability should focus on improving climate forecasts issued by Tanzania Meteorological Agent (TMA).