Price reforms and smallholder agricultural production in Rungwe District
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Date
2000
Authors
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This paper presents research findings based on data collected for a study that was conducted in Rungwe district in 1997 covering the 1993 to 1996 cropping season. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of price reform measures on smallholder production systems in Rungwe district. The study also investigated responses and changes that have taken place in smallholder agricultural production systems in the study area following the institution of price reform policies in Tanzania. A multi-stage sampling design was adopted. Ninety farmers were randomly selected from the six villages chosen (three from each of the two divisions). Simple statistics such as frequency, percentages and means were employed to summarise the information collected. Quantitative analysis involved the use of the double log regression analysis, which was used to assess the influence of the crops on area cultivat ed. The study results revealed that some farmers have switched from growing some crops that were using lesser amounts of farm inputs in their farm plot and abandoned some crops (e.g. tea). From the same study the results indicated that some farmers failed to expand the area under cultivation of some crops with increasing profit margins because of high population density, increased cost of production and delay in payment of crops sold in that particular cropping season. Some of the policy suggestions that have emanated from the study include: encouraging farmers to form their associations/groups through which they can take the advantages of bargaining power in the input, output and credit market and farmers need to be advised to use capital intensive inputs such as fertilisers in order to improve crop productivity in their existing small plots.
Description
Abstract. Full text available at http://www.tzonline.org/pdf/pricereformsandsmallholder.pdf
Keywords
Price reform, Smallholder production systems, Agricultural production, Agricultural production systems, Rungwe, Farmers
Citation
Mwakalobo, B. A. (2000). Price reforms and smallholder agricultural production in Rungwe District. Tanzanian Journal of Population Studies, 7(1&2), 129-140.