Contribution of round potato production on smallholder farmers’ wellbeing in Meru District, Tanzania
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Date
2023-12-29
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Publisher
The sub Saharan Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (SJSSH)
Abstract
Round potato is an important food and cash crop for increasing smallholder farmers' well-being. The paper
analyses factors associated with potato farmers’ well-being and assesses the contribution of round potato production on
smallholder farmers' well-being in Meru District, Tanzania. The study involved 341 potato farmers (122 project participants
of the potato project and 219 non-project participants). The study adopted a cross-sectional research design, multi-stage, and
simple random sampling techniques; purposive sampling was used to select active groups of potato farmers, and non-project
participants were selected using simple random techniques. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative information
collected from FGD and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Correlation analysis was used to determine factors associated with
potato farmers’ income. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to estimate the impact of round potato production on
smallholders’ farmers’ income by comparing the Average Treatment Effects (income outcomes/indicators) on the Treated
(ATT). The results showed a positive and significant correlation between income and production (yield) (p<0.001), the
project participants had better well-being than their non-participants' counterparts. The round potatoes project interventions
influenced smallholder farmers’ well-being. It is recommended to actors engaged in the promotion of round potatoes
production and productivity for improved well-being including LGAs, NGOs, development partners, research institutions and
policymakers to ensure; the availability of improved seeds and other proper agro-inputs (fertilizers and pesticides), aces to
extension services and loans
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Round potatoes, Smallholder farmers, Wellbeing, Potato project, Impact assessment