Assessment of vegetable gardening and its contribution to household income in Tabora Municipality, Tanzania
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Date
2024-10-19
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SCIENCEDOMAIN international.
Abstract
This study investigated the contribution of vegetable gardening to household income among
vegetable growers in Tabora Municipality, Tanzania. Despite the potential of vegetable
cultivation to improve livelihoods, many households remained reliant on limited income
sources. This study aimed at ascertaining the contribution of vegetable gardening to the household
income in Tabora Municipality, Tanzania. Specifically, the study identified the major vegetables
grown in the area and examined the relative contribution of income from vegetable sales
compared to other income sources. This study employed a cross-sectional design with a mixedmethods approach during data collection, where qualitative and quantitative data were
collected. A structured questionnaire was administered to 120 respondents purposively
selected from three wards: Ndevelwa, Mlisha, and Kabila. Qualitative data were gathered
through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The findings revealed that in the
2021/2022 and 2022/2023 cropping seasons, slightly more than half of the respondents
(N=55.3% and N- 55.5%), recognized the significant contribution of vegetable gardening to their
household income. This percentage increased significantly to 80.5% in the 2023/2024 season.
Notably, the income generated from vegetable gardening surpassed other household incomegenerating activities. However, the study also highlighted substantial constraints: most
respondents operated on small plots of land (<0.6 acres) and frequently failed to implement
recommended agronomic practices effectively. These factors limited the overall productivity and
profitability of vegetable production. To enhance yields and improve household income.
Furthermore, it is recommended that the Tabora Municipality, through local authorities, should
provide targeted capacity-building training on best agronomic practices to vegetable growers.
Description
Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports, pp.51-73
Keywords
Vegetable Gardening, Household Income, Tabora Municipality, Agronomic Practices, Livelihood Improvement
Citation
https://doi.org/10.9734/ajarr/2024/v18i11776