Contribution of agroforestry homegardens to household food security and income generation among communities in Mbeya rural district, Tanzania

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Mbeya Rural District during December 2011 to April 2012 with the main objective of assessing the contribution of Agroforestry homegardens to household food security and income generation among communities. The study involved four randomly selected wards, one village per selected ward and thirty households from each village, all selected randomly. Data collection was done through field surveys using relevant social survey methods. The findings indicate that 99% of the communities in Mbeya Rural District practice Agroforestry Homegardens as one of their main sources of household food security and income generation. Six sources of household food security and income generation were identified in the study area with Agroforestry homegardens and agriculture being the main sources of life sustenance. Of the Agroforestry Homegardens contribution, seventeen percent (17%) is towards household food security and twenty five percent (25%) towards income generation. According to the communities studied, food security and income generation over the year form 78% of the motivating factors to adopt the Agroforestry homegardens. Crop competition, low capital and unreliable markets, were together the main factors (by 77%) which negatively affected the contribution of Agroforestry homegardens to household food security and income generation in the area. Sixty seven percent (67%) of the communities indicated that credit facilities, knowledge on components arrangements and market availability for homegardens products, were the main interventions required in improving the contribution of Agroforestry homegardens adoption. Based on these findings, Agroforestry homegardens is a major source of food and income generation in Mbeya Rural District. Therefore, there is a need for enhancing and reviving further the Agroforestry homegardens technologies for the benefits of the wider communities beyond the District. This should go hand in hand with the provision of sufficient credit facilities, extension services together with marketing arrangements.