Socio-Economic Determinants Of Household Participation In Large-Scale Agricultural Investments And Its Influence On Livelihood Outcomes In Kilombero Valley, Tanzania

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Large-scale agricultural investments have the potential of improving household livelihood outcomes among households participating in the out-grower schemes and in the investor farm wage employment. However, there is no consensus whether large-scale agricultural investments generate better livelihood outcomes for participating households. This study was conducted in Kilombero Valley in Tanzania to examine socio-economic determinants of household participation in large-scale agricultural investments and the influence of socio-economic characteristics and large-scale agricultural investments on household livelihood outcomes. Data were collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and involving a sample of 376 households in the survey. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The analysis was done using the following techniques: descriptive statistics, multiple responses analysis, binary logistic regression, One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), independent samples t-test and multiple regression. The results show that there were associations between out-growers scheme opportunities and household headship with Male-Headed Households (MHHs) enjoying more benefits. There were differences between households participating in sugarcane out-grower scheme, the non-participants and investor farm wage employment in terms of livelihood outcomes (p < 0.05) with MHHs having higher livelihood outcomes. There was a difference in livelihood outcomes by household headship (p < 0.05) and MHHs had higher livelihood outcomes.