Evaluating the Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions towards Agricultural Credit in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania | Chapter 7 | Business, Management and Economics: Research Progress Vol. 5

The agricultural sector is crucial to Tanzania’s economy, serving as a key driver of sustainable and robust economic growth. However, despite its importance, the sector is predominantly small-scale, with smallholder farmers who struggle with low incomes. This economic reality drives a strong demand for agricultural credit, which is essential for enabling farming operations and the adoption of new technologies. Agricultural credit demand represents farmers’ willingness and ability to access financial resources to meet their investment needs. This study sought to evaluate the smallholder farmers’ perceptions towards agricultural credit in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. The study was grounded in rational choice theory, which was given priority due to its relevance in explaining access to financial services, as individual attributes significantly influence credit demand among smallholder farmers. The theory assumes that smallholder farmers choose the most favorable option based on their preferences among the available alternatives. A cross-sectional research design was employed incorporating a mixed research approach. A multi-stage sampling technique involving two stages was used. In the first stage, the study purposively selected 10 out of 29 wards based on their potential in crop production and the presence of credit-providing institutions. Subsequently, 300 smallholder farmers were randomly selected. Both primary data and secondary data were used. Primary data collected from 300 smallholder farmers were descriptively analyzed using the SPSS version. 25. The study findings revealed that larger farm sizes necessitate more labor, which in turn increases the demand for capital, often sourced through credit. However, the study identified several challenges perceived by smallholder farmers that hinder their access to agricultural credit. These challenges include the risk associated with agriculture credit, limited access to credit information, lack of education, bureaucratic lending procedures, and high loan repayment rates. The perception that application procedures are cumbersome and time-consuming was particularly noted as a deterrent, which negatively impacts farmers’ likelihood of seeking credit from MFIs. The study concludes by recommending targeted interventions to enhance smallholder farmers' access to agricultural credit. This includes educational programs focused on the effective utilization of credit, as well as improvements in market information systems. Furthermore, financial institutions are urged to enhance the dissemination of information regarding agricultural credit, thereby improving their service delivery and supporting the financial inclusion of smallholder farmers.

 

Author (s) Details

Lazaro Athanas Mwonge
Department of Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, Jordan University College (JUCo), P.O.Box 1878 Morogoro, Tanzania.

 

Alexis Naho
Department of Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, Jordan University College (JUCo), P.O.Box 1878 Morogoro, Tanzania.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/bmerp/v5/1860

Challenges Facing Smallholder Indigenous Chicken Farmers in Accessing Market Information: A Case Study of Misungwi District, Mwanza, Tanzania | Chapter 4 | New Advances in Business, Management and Economics Vol. 7

Indigenous chicken farming in Tanzania is an important economic activity that has the potential to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, yet their profitability remains low due to a lack of information required at the markets. This study is to review the challenges Tanzanian smallholder chicken farmers face while trying to obtain market information in the Misungwi district. This study was carried out in four purposefully selected villages in the Misungwi district. This study used a sample size of forty respondents. The study employed a survey, interview and desk study research design and both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used. Stakeholders were interviewed, including four traders, four middlemen, and two extension officers. Quantitative data were analysed by using analytical models and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, while qualitative data were analysed using a content analysis procedure. The result of the study revealed that the price information has an impact on improving the bargaining ability of smallholder chicken farmers in the marketing system. The constraints to accessing market information in the study area are associated with the lack of information services, an inadequate number of extension officers, high illiteracy, a lack of awareness of the market information services, and a lack of means and facilities by which information can be easily accessible. It is therefore suggested that there is a need for the Misungwi district council to place more weight on better practices on access to relevant, current, and appropriate market information for smallholder chicken farmers on prices based on the information provided, which will increase their bargaining power for their chicken.

 

Author (s) Details

William Valentino Kikot
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute, Mabuki, P.O. Box -124, Misungwi, Mwanza, Tanzania.

 

Kamgisha Rwiza
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute, Mabuki, P.O. Box -124, Misungwi, Mwanza, Tanzania.

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nabme/v7/5372

Water Management Trajectory: Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa| Chapter 1 | Research Highlights in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 6

 The book branch looked at water management course, conservation practices and restraints encountered by smallholder farmers in water ability conservation in Mpumalanga, South Africa. In South Africa, most smallholder watering schemes lack adequate ranchers’ participation and a shapely human capital to effectively maintain watering infrastructure and save water. Data from the survey was gathered through focus group conferences, informed scrutiny, and structured questionnaires. The frequency answers, mean, and logistics regression were working for data reasoning. The chapter elucidates how the following variables-age, common, level of education, approach to irrigation facilities, fee of water tariff and land extension services were meaningful and associated with endorsement of water conservation practice. The identified restraints in water management and enactment process were inadequate technical directions, financial, government tactics, and inadequate information of water conservation practices. The book chapter epitomises the need to enhance information, reveal the benefits of water conservation and management, and guarantee maintenance of water preservation infrastructure. In the main, concerted work must be made to form a robust database on water administration and conservation, willing to the environment of Mpumalanga.

Author(s) Details:

Agholor, Azikiwe Isaac,
School of Agriculture, Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Private Bag X11283, Nelspruit, 1200, South Africa.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RHAS-V6/article/view/8839