Contribution of women’s led income generating activities towards poverty reduction at household level. a case of Tanga city
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Date
2008
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The general objective of the study was to assess the contribution of women’s led Income
Generating Activities (IGAs) on poverty reduction in Tanga city. The study was conducted
in Mabawa, Street number 11, Mafuriko and Pande. Specific objectives of the study were
to identify: types of IGAs and source of initial capital; factors influencing women’s led
IGAs and determine the contribution of generated income to the household wellbeing. The
study sample comprised sixty women involved in IGAs and sixty women not involved in
IGAs. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS
software package. Study findings showed that major sources of income among
respondents were non-farm activities, farming, salaries and remittances. Key activities
undertaken were food vending and livestock keeping. Majority (50.0%) of the respondents
involved in IGAs started business with an initial capital of less than 100 000 Tshs. Main
sources of initial capital were own capital, family and micro credit schemes. Income
generated from IGAs ranged from 20 000 to 460 000 Tshs per month. Average monthly
household income for respondents involved in IGAs were higher than for those not
involved in IGAs. A t-test showed a highly significant difference (PO.OOl) between the
two groups. Based on expenditure and asset ownership, the study found that the standard
of living of respondents involved in IGAs was better than that of those not involved in
IGAs. Insufficient capital, unreliable markets, lack of entrepreneurship skills and family
responsibilities were identified as major constraints to women’s IGAs. The study
concluded that women involvement in IGAs provide substantial contribution to the
wellbeing of most households in the study area. IGAs undertaken earn them low income
that suffices for subsistence level. The study recommends the need to create enabling
environment that ought to improve lending policy and entrepreneurship skills.
Description
Masters Dissertation
Keywords
Women’s led income, Poverty reduction, Household level