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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Publisher
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.
Description
Master's Theses
Keywords
Socio-economic analysis, Pitsawing-traditional agroforestry systems, Moshi rural district