Factors influencing the adoption of agroforestry by smallholder farmer households in Tanzania: Case studies from Morogoro and Dodoma

Abstract There have been growing calls to reframe the politics of poverty reduction and of social protection in particular, in terms of extending the ‘social contract’ to the poorest groups. This is often understood as relocating social protection within a broader project politics of rights and justice as opposed to patronage. However, such calls belie the serious differences that exist between different strands of social contract and between the forms of social protection that might emerge from these different approaches. The experience in Africa suggests that contractual approaches may take regressive as well as progressive forms. It seems unlikely that international development agencies could promote progressive social contracts around social protection without significant reforms to the way in which aid currently works. Résumé Il y a dernièrement des appels croissants de définir les politiques de la réduction de pauvreté et de la protection sociale en particulier pour étendre le ‘contrat social’ aux groupes les plus pauvres. Souvent cela veut dire le déplacement de la protection sociale dans les politiques de droits et justice au lieu de parrainage. Cependant, des demandes comme cela contredit les différences sérieuses qui existent entre les éléments différents du contrat social et entre les formes de protection sociale qui peuvent ressortir de cela. L'expérience de la protection sociale en Afrique suggère que les approches contractuelles peuvent prendre des formes régressives autant que progressistes. Il semble peu probable que les agences internationales de développement peuvent promouvoir des contrats sociaux progressistes pour la protection sociale sans des réformes importantes au fonctionnement actuel de l'aide.

The politics of social protection: what do we get from a ‘social contract’ approach? CPRC Working Paper No. 216.

Financial deepening is universally considered to be one of the vital means to trigger inclusive growth, in economies the world over, Tanzania being no exception. However, the lack of traditional collateral among the poor has made it virtually impossible for them to have access to financial services particularly in the formal financial institutions. It is in this context that the informal financial groups (IFGs) are so crucial in filling the financial inclusiveness gap among the poor in Tanzania. It is thus crucial that the efficacy of IFGs in improving the well‐being of the poor is assessed. It is in this context that the present study employs a quasi‐experiment mixed methodology to answer research questions. Findings have categorically shown that membership to IFGs has a positive and significant impact on various socio‐economic variables. Efforts to intensify education and training activities in IFGs, and their access to loans are some of the key recommendations that this paper suggests. It is hoped that the newly promulgated 2017 National Microfinance Policy shall be implemented to that effect.

The Impact of Informal Financial Groups on Socio‐economic Development in Tanzania

This study examines the extent and the ways in which women’s involvement in sweet potatoes cultivation has been contributing to transforming unequal gender power relations in rural Tanzania. The study the used qualitative research methods to observe the perceptions of numerous stakeholders (women, men, NGOs, government officials, agricultural extension officers) on how commercialisation subsistence crops plays out in the study area specifically in transforming unequal gender power relations within household of the smallholder farmers. By employing the concept of intra household gender power relation model and Patriarchy and Gendered Power Relations in Agrarian Setting to guide the study, the findings show that commercialization and women’s cultivation of sweet potatoes has led to the increase of women’s income and autonomy within smallholder household in rural areas. However, the existing patriarchy system within households prevents women from enjoying the fruits of their effort, particularly unequal distribution of resources, decision making over households’ income and daily responsibilities. Also, the findings show that commercialization of subsistence crops, women’s empowerment and patriarchy system within household of smallholder farmers together has created complexity in gender relations that has led to the increase of family conflicts and separation. Additionally, findings from the study also disclose that even though women are much involved in sweet potatoes farming, but there are still barriers that hinder women from accessing resources and participating effectively in the market economy. This study recommends that through government support by providing women farmers with subsidies and addressing the patriarchy system within households specifically in income distribution and decision-making power to achieve sustainable rural household welfare and economic development.

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Smallholder commercialization and its implication for gender relations in Tanzania: The case of sweet potatoes cultivation in Gairo district in Morogoro region

Domestic violence is a crime that affects women across the world. Tanzania is no exception. However, only a few studies have examined the relationship between domestic violence and women’s employment status in Tanzania. Moreover, such studies have methodological limitations. Using a 2‐stage linear probability model on a nationally representative sample, this study shows that the impact of women’s employment status on reducing domestic violence is much greater if endogeneity is controlled for. We conclude by arguing that there is a need for policies that enhance women’s employability and we call for greater rigour in research analysis to avoid drawing misleading conclusions.

Women’s employment status and domestic violence in Tanzania: How do they link?

Poverty reduction has been a difficult milestone for Tanzania to achieve despite recording remarkable economic growth over the past decade. This is because the attained growth is not inclusive, in that sectors contributing to this growth employ fewer people. Given the fact that agriculture continues to employ the majority of people in Tanzania, efforts to improve livelihoods should necessarily be geared towards transforming the sector. It is in this context that using a sample of 3,000 farmers from 13 regions of Tanzania; this Tanzania, this study set out to examine challenges facing farmers and their respective solutions following the sustainable livelihood framework. Findings show that improving farmers’ livelihoods would entail concerted efforts by the government to avail to farmers, quality and affordable seeds, fertilizer, agricultural infrastructures, subsidies, extension services, markets, information alert, affordable loans, and areas for pastures. This implies that the government needs to allocate enough funds to the agricultural sector if farmers’ needs are to be met. We note, however, that government’s allocation to the sector has alarmingly generally been exhibiting a declining trend for the past four years. It is against this background that we strongly recommend that the government rethinks its position and prioritize the agricultural sector in its budget.

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Joseph Magashi

Papers

Enhancing rural livelihoods in Tanza-nia : A small-holder farmers’ perspective

The Impact of Cash Transfers on Women's Empowerment: The Case of the Tanzania Social Action Fund