Impact of northern Tanzania potato system improvement project on income and food security of smallholder farmers in Arusha district, Tanzania
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Date
2025-05-16
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The sub Saharan Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
Abstract
Potatoes are a staple crop with substantial potential to enhance the income and food security of smallholder
farmers in Tanzania. This study assesses the impact of the Northern Tanzania Potato System Improvement (NTPSI) project on
smallholder farmers in Arusha District, focusing on both economic and food security outcomes. Using a cross-sectional
survey of 192 farmers, comprising both participants and non-participants of the NTPSI project, the study applied Propensity
Score Matching (PSM) to address selection bias and ensure robust comparison. Key outcome indicators included Gross
Margin (GM) for income, Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS)
for food security. The results reveal that participation in NTPSI significantly improved economic returns and food security.
Specifically, the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) showed that participants had a mean gross margin increase
of TZS 512,000 per acre compared to non-participants (p < 0.01). Moreover, the HDDS score increased by an average of 2.4
points (p < 0.01), indicating better household dietary diversity, while the HFIAS score decreased by 3.7 points (p < 0.05),
suggesting reduced food insecurity. These statistically significant findings confirm the effectiveness of the NTPSI project in
enhancing smallholder livelihoods. The study underscores the transformative potential of integrated agricultural
interventions, such as improved seed distribution, farmer training, and access to extension services, on rural incomes and
nutrition. The evidence supports scaling similar programs across potato-producing regions in Tanzania to contribute to
achieving SDGs 1 (No Poverty) and 2 (Zero Hunger).
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Smallholder Farmers, Food Security, Propensity Score Matching, Gross Margin, Potato System Improvement