Value chain analysis of medicinal plants in Liwale District, Tanzania
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Date
2024
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Medicinal plants as non-timber forest products have been playing a
crucial role in the health care sector. The acceptance of herbal
products by the developed world has to a large extent fuelled the
current demand for medicinal plants and it is expected to grow even
further with time in terms of herbal supplements and remedies.
However, the medicinal plants business in Tanzania has faced and
continues to face a significant number of regulatory and institutional
challenges. Also, most of the research activities on medicinal plants
value chain development have paid more attention to food crops and
food security with few focused on the development of a friendly
business environment for medicinal plants. This study examined the
value chain analysis of medicinal plants in the Liwale district,
Tanzania. A cross-sectional study design was adopted. The sample
size was 100 medicinal plant value chain actors, where a 5%
sampling intensity was used in each village under study. Quantitative
data was obtained; descriptive and binary logistic regression
analyses were used with the aid of SPSS software. Qualitative data
was obtained from key informant interviews and focused group
discussions. Later the data was analyzed using content analysis. The
study found that there was a lack of awareness (82.4%) and low
compliance with the business environment (83.2%). The study also
found that a large number of herbal clinics and traditional healers
lacked training for improving their business skills (85%). Most of the
herbal clinics and traditional healers had access to financial services,
especially mobile money, but few tend to use such services (79%).
Furthermore, the study found out through the Binary logistic
regression results that only three actors/collectors, middlemen
(transporters and processors), herbal clinics, and traditional healers
were found to exist along the value chain of medicinal plants.
Additionally, it was concluded that the actors' profits differ, with
herbal clinics and traditional dealers benefiting (1,500,000 Tshs)
more than other actors along the value chain. Finally, it can be said
that the medicinal plant industry has been impacted by several factors, with the capital issue being the most frequent among the
respondents, indicating that it was the main issue affecting the
majority of actors in the value chain for medicinal plants. The study
recommends that the government should implement policies that
prioritize product quality by investing in capacity-building skills and
innovations to make the business more lucrative. Financial
institutions should also work closely with herbal clinics and medicinal
plant dealers to assist them financially. Training in the medicinal
plants business is thus recommended to assist them in lowering
operational costs. Different responsible organizations and authorities
should provide more education to enhance awareness of the rules
and regulations to herbal clinics and other traditional healers for
enhancing revenue collection and also ensuring the safety of users
of the medicinal plants.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Value Chain Analysis, Medicinal Plants, Liwale District, Tanzania