Theses and Dissertations Collection

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    The value chain of traded products of medicinal plants in Tanzania: the emerging role of formulators
    (African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 2021-10-04) Mpelangwa, Eziacka Mathew; Makindara, Jeremia Ramos; Sørensen, Olav Jull; Bengesi, Kenneth Michael-Kitundu
    Products of medicinal plants play significant roles in management of diseases. Their accessibility through trade plays a key role in health, economic and livelihood improvement. However, the traceability of the production process from their source in Tanzania is lacking. This study aims to depicture the production process of formulated products of medicinal plants. Design/methodology/approach. The study applied the value chain theory using qualitative data from literature review and survey to practitioners of traditional medicine. Survey data were collected through 15 indepth interviews and ten focus group discussions in five regions of Tanzania. Findings. Input to output structure is performed through a five actors’ value chain. The raw material is provided by harvesters who collected medicinal plants from wild. The processing is conducted by wholesalers and formulators. The wholesalers add value by drying, milling and bulk packaging of individual medicinal plants. Formulators mix different medicinal plants to create readymade products for specified diseases. Distribution is done by retailers and healers. There were six regulating and two supporting organizations. Private supporters were millers and transporters. Governance structure was deduced to be relational. Relational governance was a result of lack official standards along the value chain. Originality/value. The described value chain can be used to guide investments in production of products of medicinal plants by improving formulation technology
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    Adoption and impact of dairy and irrigated rice technologies on poverty alleviation in Dodoma, Tanzania
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture., 2003) Kisusu, Robert Wankanya
    This study was conducted in Mvumi and Bahi, Dodoma Rural District, Tanzania. The general objective of the study was to assess adoption and impact of improved dairy and irrigated rice production on poverty alleviation. The specific objectives were to assess adoption and determine factors influencing adoption of improved dairy and irrigated rice technologies, to assess the impact and recommend policies, which will promote dairy and irrigated rice production for poverty reduction. The study comprised a random sample of 164 project farmers and 46 non- project farmers for Mvumi. For Bahi village it comprised of 164 project farmers and 164 non-project farmers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression and paired sample T-test. Factors that significantly (P<0.01) influenced adoption of improved dairy technologies were age of household head, number of pupils in the household, type of cattle breed owned before the project and daily milk consumption. On the other hand, factors that significantly (P<0.01) influenced adoption of improved irrigated rice technologies were household working days during the rainy season, rice yield before introduction of improved irrigated rice technologies, number of pupils in the household and amount of irrigation water. The results of impact assessment indicated that average annual per capita income and purchasing power p arity i ncreased by 432% and 567% respectively after improved dairy Project. With regard to improved rice production, average annual per capita income and purchasing power parity increased by 20% and 25% respectively after the Project. Implementation of Mvumi dairy project increased calories intake and milk consumption by 15% and 206% respectively while implementation of Bahi rice project increased calories intake by 4%.iii Furthermore, improved dairy project and irrigated rice project increased significantly (P <0.01) material assets and financial ability to meet various social services after introduction of improved dairy cattle and irrigated rice production. The major conclusion is that both projects have significantly contributed to poverty alleviation in the study area. Therefore, it is recommended that similar development projects be promoted in other rural areas but attempts be made to make sure they target the poor.
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    Strategic management in cooperative development : case study of Mbozi, Morogoro and Songea - Namtumbo cooperative unions in Tanzania
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2012) Kikula, Jaraj Sulayman
    This study was conducted in Mbozi, Morogoro and Songea Namutumbo cooperative unions. The study areas were selected on the basis of the ailing performance of their respective cooperative unions. The problem which this study strove to address was that after the International Monetary Fund having introduced structural adjustment programs came trade liberalization which allowed many key players in agriculture, where cooperative unions used to operate. Cooperative unions failed to compete under such competitive business environment, the issue at stake was to assess the extent to which strategic management influences the performance of the studied cases. The overall objective of this study was to assess the contribution of strategic management in the management of cooperative unions in Tanzania. The justification of the study is premised on the need for transforming agriculture by putting farmer members and cooperative unions at the centre of economic development for the betterment of the rural poor. A sample of 795 respondents was selected out of the population of 2375, random sampling technique was used to select sampling units thus obtaining 808, 692 and 875 farmer members from each union, thereafter proportional reallocation was computed from each union hence obtaining 270 farmer members from MBOCU, 232 from MOFACL) and 293 farmer members from SONAMCU. Purposive sampling technique was applied in interviews. Both primary and secondary data collection methods were used, the former involved questionnaires. The latter involved reviewing performance reports and reading news papers. Descriptive statistics was applied in the analysis of quantitative data where frequencies, percentages and chi-square were used to analyse results. Content analysis was applied on qualitative data based on verbal discussion and observation. The results of the study indicated that the use of strategic management in the study lacked. Strategic leadership failed to take participatory approach to influence the studied cases. Productivity across the studied cases dwindled due to competition. The study recommends that for competitive viability cooperative unions iii should have corporate plans. Strategic leadership among others should manage the strategic management process. For productivity improvement policy makers and top managers of cooperative unions should ensure that agricultural inputs were available and affordable.
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    Credit rationing against small and medium scale enterprises in Tanzania
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2014) Maziku, Martha Adolph
    The potential of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in promoting economic growth is widely accepted and documented by scholars and policy makers alike. Limited access to credit for these small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) has been identified as a major bottleneck in realizing this potential. Building on the concept of information asymmetry and transaction costs theories, this study tested the influence of firm and entrepreneur characteristics on bank's credit rationing and the impact of credit rationing on SMEs growth in the Tanzanian setting. A cross sectional survey design was used to collect data from 271 entrepreneurs and 28 credit officers. Descriptive statistics. Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) and binary logistic regression analysis were employed to Analyse the study data. The findings reveal that credit rationing of SMEs is explained by firm characteristics, the findings indicate that young borrowers and entrepreneurs who have had insufficient knowledge about bank requirements, who lack knowledge of preparing business plans, who lack credit history and who arc constrained by the cost of preparing business project plan, were more likely to be rationed. On the other hand, entrepreneurs who have had better past relationship with the banks were less likely to be credit rationed. furthermore, the findings indicate that specific business characteristics, such as firm age, size, industry, geographical distance, poor quality accounting practices and collateral have some influence on credit rationing. The study also reveals that low turnover of bank account, high monitoring costs of SMEs loan and asymmetric valuation of the projects increase bank's credit rationing. The findings reveal further credit rationing affect sales and employment growth. The study recommends that banks should develop training programmes for borrowers about all aspects of the lending transaction and acquire information processing capabilities and lending techniques that overcome asymmetric information. It is also recommended that government should formulate rules on financial reporting and disclosure. Government should also provide training programs in business plans, income tax assessment and financial management for SMEs owners. It is further recommended that SMEs should show consistent cash flow, in line with the performance of their bank accounts. SMEs also need to keep proper financial statements and develop a culture of transparency and accountability.