The effects of chronic diseases including HIV/AIDS on agricultural commercialization in lower Moshi irrigation scheme
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Date
2008
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study determined the effects of chronic diseases including HIV/AIDS on
agricultural commercialization in Lower Moshi Irrigation Scheme. Specifically the
study identified and characterized the extent of chronic diseases burden, determined
the extent of agricultural commercialisation and compared the extent of
commercialisation at varying extents of diseases burden among farming households.
A cross sectional design was employed and data were collected through
questionnaire, focus group discussions and observations. The population consisted of
farming households in all the four villages of the scheme. The sample consisted of 80
rice farming households; 40 with and 40 without a chronically ill person. Data were
processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences computer
software (SPSS). A high burden of chronic diseases existed in the study area. Almost
half of the key productive members of households, particularly wives/husbands were
chronically ill for more than one year. In all aspects of agricultural commercialization
considered (i.e. number of inputs used, productivity and product utilization),
agricultural commercialization was significantly lower (p<0.001) in the affected
households than unaffected households. Use of inputs and productivity were reduced
and larger proportions were utilized for food while smaller proportions were sold.
Disease burden was considered in terms of who was sick, duration of the sickness,
type of diseases, degree of sickness and who was the care taker. The extent of
agricultural commercialization at varying extents of disease burden did not show
significant difference in all aspects except for productivity. Surprisingly, productivity
was significantly higher (p<0.01) when the care taker was either wife or husband
(household heads), than when the care taker was another relative in the household.
However, this observation requires further investigation. The study recommended for
education on control of diseases with particular attention on HIV/AIDS, use labour
saving technologies and provision of soft loans.
Description
Master's Theses
Keywords
Chronic diseases, HIV/AIDS-agricultural commercialization, Moshi irrigation scheme