ABSTRACT The increase in the use of fossil fuels has led to an increase in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions which are believed to be the main reason for global warming. The world is now encouraged to use bioenergy as a solution in reducing GHG emission from fossil fuels. Jatropha has received much interest as a feedstock for biofuel production because of its minimal adverse effects on the environment and food supply. This crop is now cultivated and processed at both Engaruka and Mpanda study ...
ABSTRACT The research was undertaken to determine livestock-related factors that influence smallholder farmers’ choice of maize cultivars in Hai and Moshi rural Districts. The study employed an On-farm mother-baby trial, informal and formal interviews. A total of 150 farm households - both participants and non-participant in mother baby trials were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. 17 mother-baby trial participants were purposively selected based on their willingness to particip...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to identify the sources of finance available to small scale maize and paddy millers in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro regions. Specifically the study aimed at identifying different sources of finance to small scale millers and describing the mode of financial arrangements, analyze the main factors that influence small scale millers access to credit and compare their performance. Structured questionnaire was used to collect information from the sampled mille...
ABSTRACT This study assesses the marketing efficiency of primary livestock markets in Morogoro Region. A market survey of 120 livestock farmers and traders (wholesalers and butchers) from Nanenane, Mkongeni, Melela, Parakuyo and Chakwale markets in Morogoro Region was conducted to evaluate the structure, conduct and performance of the markets. Two types of structured questionnaires one for the farmers and the other for the traders were used to collect data. Informal interview of the key inf...
ABSTRACT This study analysed the economics of smallholder organic farmers in the Muleba district. Specifically, the study was conducted to identify the costs associated with organic and conventional coffee production, to assess the profitability of the two farming system and to determine the effect of premium price in compensation of yield in organic coffee. The study also addressed the coffee organic standard demanded by importers. Multistage, purposive and simple random sampling procedures...
ABSTRACT Nigeria is faced with many environmental problems. Available data indicate that Nigeria is losing her renewable natural resources (including arable land, forest, pasture/rangeland and water resources) beyond sustainable limits. Economic and environmental systems interact in many important ways and hence the need to understand these interactions and develop effective public policy. While economic systems derive many invaluable inputs (some commodified, others free) from environmental...
ABSTRACT The study focused on the Effects of Climate on revenue from Oil Palm Production in Southern Nigeria. The broad objective was to examine the effects of climate change variables on Oil Palm Production. The specific objectives are to: (i) identify farmers’ perception on climate change variables in the study area; (ii) identify the choice of adaptation strategies and determine the factors affecting the choice of adaptation strategies by farmers in the area; (iii) estimate the cost and...
ABSTRACT Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture have the potential to facilitate greater access to market information and it can connect the rural poor farmers with well-established markets. The aim of this study was to assess the factors influencing the use of Information and Communication Technologies in accessing market information among smallholder farmers in Kilombero District. A cross-sectional research design was used and data were collected using structured ...
ABSTRACT This study presents the impact of traditional irrigation on the household livelihood in Same district, Kilimanjaro region. The overall objective of this study was to assess the contribution of traditional irrigation systems to the well-being of smallholder farmers. The specific objective was to examine the contribution of traditional irrigation in improving household food security and income; determine the profitability of crop production enterprises with and without traditional ir...
ABSTRACT Kenya like most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa will continue to depend largely on agriculture in the foreseeable future. Agricultural activities have however been shown to create problems such as soil erosion, soil nutrient depletion and fuel wood and timber shortages. These problems can be mitigated through planting of trees but this is hindered by lack of availability and accessibility of tree seedlings to farmers. To identify the sources of this marketing inefficiency, this stud...
ABSTRACT Commercializing subsistence agriculture is essential for improving the smallholder farmers‟ productivity in Sub-Saharan African countries including Tanzania. However, without the adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies such as improved seeds, the realization of such an improvement is inevitable. Arguably, for smallholder farmers to adopt new technologies, they need to feel their impact on their livelihoods. This study assesses the adoption, commercialization and impact of...
ABSTRACT This study aimed at investigating the impact of price and non-price factors on cashew and sesame acreage in Nachingwea and Mtwara rural Districts. Growth rates analyses were also conducted through linearlized exponential growth model to trace the trends for area, yield (productivity) and production of the two crops for the period 1995-2010. The general trend showed positive growth rates in area, yield and production, but with few exceptions. Meanwhile, the logarithmic functional for...
ABSTRACT The poultry sub-sector in Kenya accounts for about fifty five percent of the livestock sector and thirty percent of the agricultural Gross Domestic Product. However, gains from the Indigenous Chicken (IC) enterprises have been challenged by market inefficiencies characterised by high transaction costs and poor accessibility of market information. In response to this, the Kenyan government private sector partnership has in the recent times, been promoting the formation and developm...
ABSTRACT The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of certified organic production systems on the livelihood of smallholder producers in Kenya. The study followed explanatory research design using two purposively pro-poor chosen case studies (honey production in Mwingi district and vegetables production in Ngong district). Collection of primary data was through face-to-face interviews using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Collection of contextual data was through focu...
ABSTRACT Botswana’s agricultural backbone the beef subsector, is threatened by recurrent foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks. The current study was generally carried out to contribute towards better livelihoods of smallholder beef producers through enhanced resilience of their production systems to FMD in North East district, Botswana. Specifically, the study intended to; determine smallholder producers’ perceived risk factors of the 2011 FMD outbreak, determine economic losses, and fu...