Assessment of the contribution of agroforestry to poverty alleviation in Lushoto district
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Date
2004
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study was initiated to assess the contribution of agroforestry to poverty
alleviation in Lushoto District, Tanga, Tanzania. A total of 134 respondents were
involved from two wards Soni and Ubiri. Four villages two from each ward were
surveyed. Data were collected using structured questionnaire, focused group
discussion and through physical observation. Statistical Package for Social
Science computer software package was the main tool employed in data analysis
In this regard distribution of responses, central tendency and dispersion, and
multiple linear regression analyses were explored. Results indicate that two
agroforestry systerps namely agrosilvicultural systems and agrosilvopastoral
systems were practiced mainly in the uplands. Statistically (P<0.05), farmers
practicing agroforestry had significantly higher contribution to the household's
level of farm production and net income and thus poverty alleviation than those
who were not practicing agroforestry. Given the average farm size of 3.1 ha, 2.3
cows and 9.2 chicken, the annual production for farmers practicing agroforestry
was 425.9 kg for maize, beans 225.7 kg. coffee 101.1kg, and 163.9 bunches of
banana, 999.12 litres and 373.5 eggs compared to 342.6 kg of maize, 202.1 kg of
beans, 75 kg of coffee, 108 bunches of banana, 1 120.6 litres of milk and 338.6
eggs for farmers not practicing agroforestry. The average household annual net
income was Tshs 664 992 (USS 665.0) and 547 608 (USS 547.6) for farmers
practicing and not practicing agroforestry respectively. The income per capita was
Tshs 100 756 (USS 100.8) for farmers practicing and Tshs 82 971 (USS 83.0) for
farmers not practicing agroforestry. However, the level of household farm
production and net income was generally lower compared to most of findings from other agroforestry systems due to partial adoption of the agroforestry technologies
to some farmers and poor management. Therefore, overcoming these constraints
could improve and probably sustain productivity of the agroforestry systems and
their contribution to poverty alleviation.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Agroforestry, Poverty alleviation, Poverty alleviation, Lushoto District, Agroforestry systerps