Heifer in-trust schemes’ contribution to smallholders’ well-being in diverse agro-ecological and cultural environments in Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Msangya, Msangya Lameck | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-05T15:59:35Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-05T15:59:35Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2015 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | Diverse agro-ecological factors in terms of seasonality, rainfall patterns, quality pasture availability and cultural environments in terms of beliefs, animal treatment and protection and gender relations’ structures pose different challenges on Heifer In-trust Schemes (HIS) in Tanzania. The above have impacts on milk production, income from milk sales, women empowerment and employment generation. These factors have not sufficiently been explored in many studies. This study was conducted in Njombe (highland) and Shinyanga (semi-arid) regions to try to fill in that research gap. The study specifically: (i) explored the role of Heifer-In-trust Schemes to smallholders’ self-employment; (ii) determined the implications of the seasonality and rainfall patterns, quality pasture, traditional animal grazing systems and treatment; and protection to Heifer In-trust Schemes objectives; (iii) assessed the participation and benefits of men and women household heads in Heifer In-trust Schemes in the study areas of Njombe and Shinyanga Regions; and (iv) evaluated the performance of households’ well-being indicators in the study area. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design in which 402 households were surveyed. Moreover, 9 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 15 Key Informant (KI) interviews including livestock extension workers, leaders of farmer groups, Community Animal Health Workers, Local Government Authorities staff and project holders, and input suppliers. Mixed research methods approach was used for data collection including sequential exploratory design for both qualitative and quantitative information. Purposive sampling was used to select regions, districts and wards. Simple random sampling was used to select villages and HIS respondent. The unit of analysis was a HIS participant. Qualitative data from FGDs and Kls were transcribed into texts and analysed using content analysis techniques whereby the flow of logic and constant comparison between the logic was employed. As regards quantitative data from the households, the Statisticaliii Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 was used to determine descriptive and inferential statistics, including t-test, chi-square and Wilcoxon Signed Test. The results showed that HIS had generated employment opportunities among the less formally educated youth, women and men. The results further showed that negative implications of seasonality, rainfall pattern, and quality pasture availability in highland and semi-arid areas were more prevalent during the dry season. Moreover, the results showed that traditional grazing systems, animal treatment and protection had more negative effects on HIS in semi-arid areas. Comparatively, the results show that women had benefited more than men, and HIS had empowered women in terms of resource access, control and ownership. Moreover, the results showed that income before and after the scheme in both Njombe and Shinyanga regions were significant (p<0.05). In addition, annual net cash increased almost eight-fold after the HIS, and all male and female participating in HIS were getting above TZS 4 000 000 ($ 2 224) per annum. The results further showed that children’s education, assets acquisition and food accounted for 36.2%, 24.3% and 10.5% of income expenditure accrued from HIS respectively. The results also showed that meal frequencies and households’ food diversity had improved as meals taken and meals composition before and after HIS were different (p<0.05). The results further showed that during the wet season average milk production increased by six litres per cow per day. However, more milk was sold during the dry season as demand was higher while production was low. The study concludes that HIS has significantly contributed to smallholders’ well-being in Tanzania. However, any dairy farming for poverty reduction innovation should consider agro-ecology and cultural issues. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | REPOA | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7370 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine UNiversity of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Tanzania | |
| dc.subject | Trust schemes’ contribution | |
| dc.subject | Smallholders contribution | |
| dc.subject | Seasonality rainfall patterns | |
| dc.subject | Agro-ecological diverse | |
| dc.title | Heifer in-trust schemes’ contribution to smallholders’ well-being in diverse agro-ecological and cultural environments in Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Thesis |