Economic contribution of spice farming to household income on the slopes of the Uluguru Mountains, Morogoro Region, Tanzania
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Date
2024
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Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Spice farming is a crucial agricultural activity for smallholder farmers in the Uluguru
Mountains, Morogoro Region, Tanzania. However, the extent to which it contributes to household
income compared to other livelihood activities remains unclear. This study assesses the economic
significance of spice farming, identifies the main types of spices cultivated, and examines key
challenges affecting spice production and market access. As such, a cross-sectional research
design was employed, utilizing simple random sampling (a probability technique) to select 120
farmers from a sampling frame of 617 organic spice farmers, and purposive sampling (a nonprobability technique) to select key informants and study villages. Data collection involved
household surveys, key informant interviews, and direct field observations conducted between June
and July 2020 in four wards: Kinole, Mkuyuni, Mtombozi, and Tawa. The findings reveal that black
pepper, vanilla, and cinnamon are the predominant spices cultivated. Income derived from these
spices was significantly higher than that from other crops (p<0.007, t=2.727), underscoring their
economic importance. However, fungal diseases affecting black pepper and weak market linkages
present major challenges to farmers. The study concludes that the agro-climatic conditions on
the slopes of the Uluguru Mountains are highly suitable for spice farming but require improved
support systems. It is recommended that farmers increase investment in spice production, while
local government authorities and extension officers should enhance training on best agricultural
practices and establish stronger market linkages to boost productivity and economic returns.
Description
Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences (2024) Vol. 23 No. 2, 351-365
Keywords
: Spices farming, Household’s income, economic contribution, smallholder farmers, Morogoro, Tanzania