Socio-economic analysis of pitsawing in traditional agroforestry systems: a case study of Moshi rural district

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Date

1999

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Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

A socio-economic analysis of pitsawing in the traditional agroforestry systems was conducted in Moshi Rural District of Kilimanjaro Region in Tanzania. The specific objectives were: to estimate the productivity of local pitsawyers; to estimate the cost and benefits involved in pitsawing; to assess reservation prices of trees in the farm lands; to assess contribution of pitsawing to local economies and to identify the constraints facing pitsawyers in the area. Data were collected from six randomly selected villages by administering both structured and semi-structured questionnaires and by physical measurements. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was the computer programme used to analyze the data. Results showed that majority of the pitsawyers originated within Kilimanjaro Region. Most of these pitsawyers had less than ten years of experience and they have-an additional income from agriculture, livestock and petty businesses. The average income for a pitsawyer amounted to 173 500 Tsh/month with 77 500 Tsh orginating from pitsawing (about 44.7%). The study revealed the total inputs of 70 609 Tsh/mJ and output of 109 750 Tsh/m3 with a profit of 39 141 Tsh/m3. an economic productivity (sales price/total costs) of 1.6 and sawnwood productivity of 0.1 m3/manday. However pitsawing was found to be profitable to both the pitsawyer and pitsawyers employers. On the basis of the synthesis of these findings it is recommended that: there is an urgent need to review pitsawing practices to make them compatible with sustainable management, the sawnwood from pitsawyers should be evaluated consistently to determine their long-term sustainability in supply to meet the ever increasing demands, encouragement of utilization of general utility sawntimber and lesser- utilized tree species such as Rauvolfia caffra and Persea americana, the Chagga agroforestry systems should be introduced to other suitable areas of the country and to other people. Also the following were recommended for further research: more research on the general properties and uses of various indigenous hardwood tree species to provide more information to the users, more research on traditional agroforetry systems which will include the ecological and silvicultural aspects such as planting techniques, regeneration and tree breeding of various indigenous tree species.

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Master's Theses

Keywords

Socio-economic analysis, Pitsawing-traditional agroforestry systems, Moshi rural district

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