Browsing by Author "Mwaseba, D.L."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Beyond adoption/rejection of agricultural innovations: Empirical evidence from smallholder rice farmers in Tanzania
(SAGE, 2006) Mwaseba, D.L.; Kaarhus, R.; Johnsen, F. H.; Mvena, Z. S. K.; Mattee, A. Z.
This study seeks to explore the adoption of rice research-based innovations in rural Tanzania. Apart from the age and level of education of the head of household, which had an influence on the adoption of herbicide in both study areas, the influence of other variables on the adoption of fertilizer and transplanting varied between the study areas. Moreover, the study shows that adoption of the selected innovations is context-dependent. In Tanzania, rice farming is characterized by the predominance of traditional rice varieties. Farmers grow these varieties for household consumption or income, or both, under crop management practices that are well attuned to the available resources. The observed discontinuation and adaptation of innovations make sense, given the production circumstances in which the farmers operate. The findings of the study raise issues with research implications for improved rice production in the study areas.
Intra-household gender relations and women participation in non-industrial private forestry in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania
(Commonwealth Forestry Association, 2021) Nsenga, J.V.; Mwaseba, D.L.
This paper draws on a study conducted in the selected districts of Iringa and Njombe regions in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania where over the past decade Non-industrial Private Forestry (NIPF) has emerged involving village-based domestic investors. Data for the study were largely collected using focus group discussions (FGDs) of men and women tree growers. Data were analysed using content analysis focusing on the emerging themes, subthemes, and patterns. The paper shows that gender division of labour characterizes silvicultural practices in private forestry. Men play a key and dominant role in decision making on the allocation of labour and marketing of timber. We argue that, given this arrangement, as long as men continue to dominate the market sphere, mere ownership of woodlots by women is not a feasible pathway to having control over income obtained from the sales of timber from their woodlots. To address this, the paper comes up with some recommendations.
Promotion of agricultural innovation systems approach: policy implications for maize extension and advisory services in Tanzania
(2015) Wambura, R.M.; Doamekpor, P.K.; Mwaseba, D.L.; Msuya, C.P.; Masinde, D.M.; Mwanga, L.J.; Iranga, G.M.
This paper is based on a study (Wambura et al., 2016) which assessed extension and advisory service delivery for maize production in Morogoro and Dodoma Regions of Tanzania using Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) Approach. Maize productivity in Tanzania is low in spite of its importance to the country’s food security and economic well-being of farmers. New approaches to extension and advisory service delivery are needed that stimulate increased agricultural production and foster the emergency of agricultural innovation systems. The purpose of this paper is therefore to assess the state of maize innovation system in Tanzania and provide policy implications for the future extension and advisory services (EAS). The study used a mixed method research design to collect data using structured questionnaires, one-on-one interviews with key informants, focus group discussions (FGDs) and stakeholders’ workshops. Content analyses of cases provided a context to understand policy implications for maize extension and advisory services in the study areas. It was found that the key aspects contributing to low maize productivity included weak institutional structures, often with little or no contact between other stakeholders. In most cases, lack of farmer organizations hampered farmers taking the initiative. Such problems were compounded by poorly developed markets, poor infrastructure and a lack of knowledge (especially of the maize production value chain), or by inadequate extension services often associated with inappropriate research. Consequently, use of unsuitable varieties and poor management practices with limited access to inputs or output markets resulted in low, often declining yields and low incomes for farmers. The paper concludes that policy makers should identify weak or missing components and linkages within the agricultural innovation systems and take measures accordingly to promote maize innovations; while extension and advisory services should be capacitated to address these gaps and develop technology packages to be disseminated to the farmers. Keywords: Agricultural innovation system (AIS), Maize value chain actors, Extension and advisory services (AES), Tanzania.