Articles, Conference and Workshop Papers Collection

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    Gender disparities and power dynamics in sunflower value chains: evidence from Singida District, Tanzania
    (The sub Saharan Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (SJSSH), 2025) Mosha Devotha B.
    Sunflower cultivation in Tanzania, particularly in Singida District, represents a critical source of income and nutrition for smallholder farmers, with women constituting the majority of producers. Despite their significant contributions, women face systemic gender disparities in accessing production resources, extension services, and market opportunities, rooted in patriarchal norms and cultural practices. This study problematizes these inequalities by examining the roles, relationships, and power dynamics between male and female farmers in the sunflower value chain, highlighting how social and cultural barriers perpetuate unequal resource distribution and limit women’s economic empowerment. Drawing on mixed-methods data from the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) study conducted in Iramba and Mkalama districts between 2017 and 2022, this paper employs descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to reveal significant gender gaps. For instance, chi-square tests indicate that men are significantly more likely to access improved seeds (χ² = 12.45, p < 0.01) and processing machinery (χ² = 15.67, p < 0.001) than women, while women’s land ownership is 45% lower on average (t = 3.89, p < 0.05). Qualitative findings further underscore that men dominate decision-making in marketing and income control, marginalizing women’s agency. These disparities undermine the potential of the sunflower sub-sector to foster equitable and sustainable development. Addressing these challenges requires targeted interventions, such as gendertransformative policies and community-based education programs, to promote equitable access to resources, enhance women’s participation in high-value chain nodes, and ensure inclusive benefits from sunflower commercialization.
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    Community aspirations and hopes on groundwater governance: qualitative insights for climate change adaptation and resilience in semi–arid Dodoma, Tanzania
    (Frontiers, 2026-05-21) Mosha Devotha Baltazary; Kashaigili Joel Johaiven; Samani Patrice Lina; Kashaigili Joel Japhet; Kangile Rajab Joseph
    Introduction: Aspirations and hopes play a vital role in shaping ideas about water resource management. Due to increasing climate variability and a growing population, reliance on groundwater has risen in the Dodoma Region, threatening its sustainable use. Over the years, the community has relied on indigenous knowledge (IK) and traditional methods to ensure that groundwater remains accessible and well managed for both current and future generations. Despite their importance, community aspirations, hopes, and IK regarding effective groundwater governance remain underexplored. This study examined the community’s aspirations, hopes, and IK that contribute to the sustainable management of groundwater and land resources in the context of climate change in Tanzania.Methods: The research employed a qualitative approach, including focus group discussions and interviews with key informants conducted from December 2024 to February 2025. Participants and respondents were water users and managers from community, government, and non-government organizations. Content analysis was used to group qualitative information into small, meaningful themes.Results: The community’s aspirations and hopes focus on urging the government to increase the number of both deep and shallow wells, expand water price subsidies, and strengthen pollution control initiatives to protect, conserve, and manage groundwater, ensuring equitable and inclusive access. There is a high level of “hydro-geological and biological literacy” that guides traditional decisions about groundwater exploration and site selection. The construction of the Farkwa Dam boosts hopes for economic and social progress, including the expansion of irrigated agriculture. Local water users maintain traditions for water and land care, rooted in their cultural heritage and overseen by traditional leaders, but these traditions are declining among youth. Building partnerships with communities and leaders and encouraging inclusive cooperation that respects indigenous practices are essential.
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    Agroecological practices and extension services in the mixed farming system of Tanzania: a review of related policies
    (Agriculture and Biotechnology, 2025) Magesa Augustino Emmanuel; Shausi Gosbert Lukenku; Mosha Devotha Baltazary; Rutatora Deogratias Frederick
    Agroecological practices are increasingly recognized globally for their capacity to enhance the sustainability, resilience, and productivity of agricultural systems, particularly in mixed farming systems prevalent in developing countries like Tanzania. Grounded in principles of biodiversity, ecological balance, and socio-economic equity, agroecology provides a transformative pathway for sustainable agricultural development. This review employs qualitative content analysis and comparative policy analysis to critically assess policy frameworks at the global, regional (e.g., African Union’s Agenda 2063), East African Community (EAC), and national levels (e.g., National Agriculture Policy 2013, ASDP II) that influence the adoption of agroecological practices, with a specific focus on mixed farming systems in Karatu District, Manyara Region. The findings reveal that while global and regional frameworks are broadly supportive of agroecology, national policies demonstrate significant gaps in implementation, including the absence of localized agroecological indicators, weak institutional coordination, and limited integration of sustainability principles. A major constraint identified is the inadequate role of agricultural extension services in promoting agroecological knowledge and practices; over 60% of farmers in Karatu reported minimal access to ecological extension support due to capacity shortfalls and policy misalignment. To address these challenges, the study recommends integrating agroecological indicators into national policy frameworks, strengthening extension service capacity through targeted training, mobilizing financial resources, promoting participatory approaches, and implementing land tenure and gender-inclusive reforms to enable a more effective and equitable agroecological transition in Tanzania.