The role of women in household food security in Morogoro rural and Kilosa districts
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Date
1998
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the role of women in
in security food household Kilosa and rural Morogoro districts. The study was conducted in six villages namely:
Fulwe,
Msufini,
Melela,
Kimamba,
Kidoma
It
Dumila.
and
(24 2 women and 242 men) .
involved 484 respondents;
Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Field
questionnaires.
statistics,
Descriptive
the
supplemented
data
secondary
and
observations
and
chi-square
multiple regression were used in the analysis.
The
results
inadequate
1996/97,
«v
showed
in
mainly
63%
due
Household
that:
of
the
households
inadequate
to
food
in
security was
1995/96 and
(77.6%) ,
production
early sale of produce (17.2%) and storage losses (6.2%).
Males and females in the study area shared the same tasks
on more or less equal basis,
production
and
both in food and cash crop
generating
income
activities.
Women
dominated in all activities of food crop production with
the exception of site clearing (3.3%) transporting (42.2%)
and marketing of crops
(47.2%) .
Performance of household
activities was dominated by females.
analysis
indicated
that
the
Multiple regression
contribution
of
women
in
household food securitywas quite outstanding. Their labour
in processing (B = 2.964905), planting (B = 2.785432),weeding
1.764507)
(B
and
harvesting
positively with the
associated
total
0.181580)
(B
production
and
so
were quantity of fertilizer application
(B = 0.472789) and education (B = 0.147557).
Lack of access to capital/income (49.6%), drought . (18.8%),
(12.0%), decision making power
access to time
agricultural
knowledge
(1.2%)
(8.2%),
and
limited women contribution
to household food security. Lack of access to land (5.4%)
was specifically important in Kimamba village (42.9%).
Reduction of meal frequency and of amount of food consumed
(19.8%) , casual labour (18.2%), petty business (17.8%) and
buying of food (9.9%) were the dominant coping strategies
during food shortages.
From the study the following recommendations are offered:
There is need to improve women decision making power and
accessibility to resources.
For
improvement
of
food
security
production of
Households need to be encouraged to
various
foodstuffs
in
need
the
study
to be
area,
increased.
stock enough crops
after harvesting and early sale of food crops should be
discouraged.There
is
a
need
to
improve
storage
Communal
methods.
granary could serve during the food shortages provided the
pest problem is avoided.
Women should be encouraged to engage in income generating
activities. Extension services to these women farmers need
to be improved, reliable and timely.
Barter system between harvests and acquiring agricultural
inputs need encouragement.
This study, identifies several possible research areas. It
is
therefore
more
focused
food storage,
recommended
studies
sale
of
in
that
further
connection
food crops
research
with
local
and income
include
brewing,
generating
activities with special emphasis on women who are the key
actors.
Description
Keywords
Household, Food security, Morogoro rural, Kilosa districts, women