The extent to which extension services address concerns of women farmers on household food security in Mvomero District
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Date
2015
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture.
Abstract
This study sought to investigate the extent to which extension services address concerns of women farmers in households’ food security in Mvomero District, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Like in many parts of the world, women in Tanzania play important role as producers of food and caretakers of household. Women’s roles arc not limited to production as they
also work in animal husbandry, although they usually tend small animals for subsistence, and undertake most of the household tasks. Poor access to agricultural extension services
is one of the significant factors which affect the agricultural productivity of women farmers. In most cases, agricultural extension services overlook the role of women in food
production and often focus on commercial production rather than subsistence crops which are the main concern of women farmers as they contribute to household food security.
The study therefore determined to investigate the extent to which extension services address concerns of women farmers in households’ food security. The sample size of the
study consisted of 100 women farmers and 10 extension workers. A structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant information from the women farmers and
extension workers respectively. In addition, field observation was used to supplement the interviews. The data collected was analyzed using a Statistical Package for Social Science
(SPSS) computer software. The findings of this research revealed that agricultural extension services do not address the concern of women farmers on household food
security in Mvomero District. Furthermore, the study revealed that government extension services do not address gender issues which could in turn promote women farmers to have
opportunity of benefiting from agricultural extension services. This study therefore recommends that the government should identify and address food and nutrition concerns
of women farmers and tailor solutions towards these concerns. In addition, extension services should promote effective technology towards household food security. For these
recommendation to be well implemented, agricultural training curricula should be redesigned to be gender sensitive which will
include women’s concerns and responsibilities, which will ensure that extension service extension service reach women
farmer.
Description
The Degree of Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension
Keywords
Extension services, Women farmers, Household food security, Mvomero District