Gender and forest products value chain development from village land forest reserves of Songea and Namtumbo Districts, Tanzania
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Date
2021
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Gender differences influences people’s experience of and access to forest resources in
Village Land Forest Reserves (VLFR). However, empirical evidences about gender and
forest product value chain is limited to inform forest value chain development. The study
analyzed gender roles and relations along value chain for forest products from Village
Land Forest Reserves in Songea and Namtumbo districts. Specifically the study mapped
the gender value chain for forest products from the Village Land Forest Reserve
(VLFRs), examine the gender roles and relations of forest products from the VLFRs and
assess the benefits by gender at each node of the forest products value chain from the
VLFRs. Data were collected from 152 households using the questionnaire survey, key
informants interviews, focus group discussions and direct observations. The collected
data were analysed descriptively and the content analyses. The study revealed that forest
products harvested were mushroom (27%), vegetables (11%) the honey (9%), firewood
(38%) and the medicinal plants (15%). On the gender roles and relations along the forest
products value chain, male dominated in all roles such as the protection of the VLFRs
(85%), beehives management (100%), processing (100%), trading in urban markets
(100%) and end use (60%). Also on the benefits men gains more benefits from the forest
products from the VLFRs. Male had a mean revenue score of Tshs 1 830 000 medicinal
plants, a mean revenue score of Tshs 2388 for mushroom and a mean revenue score of
Tshs 89 000 for the honey forest product. The key challenges were distance to the forest
sites, lack of support from the husbands, improper means of transport to the market,
access to capital and low literacy level .This study concluded that the government as well
as the non-governmental organizations such as FORVAC should address the issue of
gender inequalities in addressing the gender biased issues in obtaining benefits from the
VLFRs.
Description
Masters Dissertation
Keywords
Forest products, Value chain development, Tanzania, Village Land Forest Reserves (VLFR), Songea - Namtumbo District