Alphonce, Paul2026-03-052026-03-052014https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7361DissertationThis study was carried out in Kilosa District in the 2011/12 crop season. The main objective was to determine the impact of irrigation on household income of smallholder farmers engaged in paddy cultivation. The specific objectives were to evaluate profit margins between irrigators and non-irrigators in the study area, to identify factors influencing profitability of smallholder farmers in the area, and to assess shares from different sources of income to the total household income of smallholder farmers in the study area. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The findings indicate that the average gross margin per hectare of irrigated paddy was approximately 50% higher than that of rain fed paddy, this has a significant impact on the household income. It was also found that farmers’ plot size, seed types used, plot location (distance) with respect to water source and number of family labour engaged in off-farm activities determined the irrigators’ level of profit. This study found that irrigated paddy production itself shares about 44% of the entire income of farmers in Kilosa District. From the findings of this study it can be concluded that there is a significant difference in profitability on paddy farming between irrigators and non-irrigators. Irrigated paddy mean income was higher than other sources of household income and become the largest income share to the entire household income. Non irrigator’s off-farm income share to household income was higher than that of non-irrigators. From these findings, it is recommended that the government of Tanzania should invest more in irrigation projects and improve the already established irrigation schemes in Kilosa District to promote paddy farming and this will increase food production, farmers’ income and reduce food insecurity rather than depending on rain-fed farming.enIrrigation farmingSmallholder farmersKilosa districtTanzaniaThesis