smallholder farmers' preferences for improved maize seeds varieties in tanzania ange pacifique ...

87 Pages·2017·1.11 MB·English

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SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ PREFERENCES FOR IMPROVED MAIZE SEEDS
VARIETIES IN TANZANIA

ANGE PACIFIQUE MUTANYAGWA

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
AGRICULTURAL AND APPLIED ECONOMICS OF SOKOINE UNIVERSITY
OF AGRICULTURE. MOROGORO, TANZANIA.

2017
ii
ABSTRACT

Improved maize seed varieties are bred with characteristics such as drought and disease
tolerance which may not capture farmers’ preference. It is therefore, imperative to consider
attributes that are preferred by farmers in developing maize seed varieties. This research
was conducted to determine attributes that are most preferred by smallholder maize
farmers in Tanzania. Specifically, the study aimed to (i) characterize smallholder farmers’
preferences for improved maize seed varieties depending on their socio-economic
characteristics, (ii) assess the heterogeneity of farmers’ preferences for improved maize
seed varieties and (iii) determine factors that influence farmers’ choice of the most
preferred improved maize seed varieties. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic
regression were used for data analysis. The study findings revealed that majority (74.7%)
of the households were male-headed and (83%) were married. About 90 percent of the
farmers had no access to extension services that is supposed to play an important role in
agricultural information dissemination. The most preferred improved maize varieties in all
zones were PAN6549, SC 627, SC 713, STAHA, KILIMA and DK 8371due to higher
production potential. A Logit model showed that agro-ecological zones, farm size,
household size and yield positively influenced the likelihood of farmers’ choice of
improved maize seed varieties. Based on these findings, it is recommended that researchers
and suppliers of seed should consider the attributes of farmers’ preference in the
production of improved maize seeds and put more emphasis on facilitating the delivery of
agricultural extension services for more effective uptake of agricultural technologies.
iii
DECLARATION

I, Ange Pacifique Mutanyagwa, do hereby declare to the Senate of Sokoine University of
Agriculture that this dissertation is my own work done within the period of registration and
that it has neither been submitted nor being concurrently submitted in any other institution.

_______________________ ___________________
Ange Pacifique Mutanyagwa Date
(MSc. Agricultural and Applied Economics Candidate)

Above declaration is confirmed by;

_______________________ ___________________
Prof. Isinika, A. Date
(Supervisor)
iv
COPYRIGHT

No part of this dissertation may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author or
Sokoine University of Agriculture on that behalf.
v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank the Almighty God who facilitated me at every step in my studies. Let His name be
honored forever.
The completion of this study has been possible through contributions made by different
individuals and institutions. I hereby therefore wish to acknowledge all the different
persons and institutions that have made completion of this dissertation possible and a
successful.

First and foremost, I wish to express my profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to my
supervisor Professor Isinika for her guidance, constructive suggestions and professional
comments on both my research proposal and this dissertation.

I heartily thank the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) for the full
scholarship grant, without which joining the M.Sc. programme would have not been
possible. I also thank CIMMYT-Tanzania for organizing a workshop and training on using
R software.

It is difficult to mention here all the people who assisted me and their contribution in
various ways toward the successful completion of this research. Special thanks go to my
loving husband, JMV Senyanzobe to whom I shall always remain greatly indebted for his
moral support, love and advice during my education. I would also like to convey my
sincere gratitude to my lovely children Linka, Lisa, Lenny and Leisssy. Finaly, my sincere
appreciations go to all friends and relatives specially, Sabin Sana, Aloyce Patrick,
Triphine, Solange, Providence, Anna Joyce, Annuarite and Antoine for their contribution
during the entire period of my study. May God bless you always.
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... ii
DECLARATION ................................................................................................................ iii
COPYRIGHT ..................................................................................................................... iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... vi
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ x
APPENDIX ......................................................................................................................... xi
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................... xii
CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background Information ............................................................................................ 1
1.2 Problem Statement ..................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Justification of the Study ............................................................................................ 6
1.4 Objectives of the Study .............................................................................................. 6
1.4.1 Overall objective ........................................................................................ 6
1.4.2 Specific objectives ...................................................................................... 6
1.4.3 Research question ....................................................................................... 7
1.4.4 Hypotheses ................................................................................................. 7
1.5 Organization of the Dissertation................................................................................. 8
CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................. 9
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 9
2.1 Status of Seed Industry in Tanzania .......................................................................... 9
2.2 Importance of Maize Seed Industry in the Country ................................................ 10
vii
2.3 Attributes for Seed Demanded ................................................................................ 12
2.4 Maize Varieties Grown by Farmers in Tanzania .................................................... 14
2.5 Improved Maize Varieties Preferred by Farmers in Tanzania ................................ 15
2.6 Farmers’ Preference for Maize Variety Traits ........................................................ 16
2.6.1 Quality of seed ......................................................................................... 17
2.6.2 Seed availability and affordability ........................................................... 18
2.6.3 Farmers’ attitude and knowledge ............................................................. 19
2.7 Analytical issues on Preference of Improved Maize Seed Varieties........................ 20
2.8 The Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................... 22
CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................... 24
3.0 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................. 24
3.1 Area of the Study ...................................................................................................... 24
3.2 Research Design ....................................................................................................... 25
3.3 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................ 25
3.4 Analytical Framework .............................................................................................. 26
3.5 Description of Variables ........................................................................................... 30
3.6 Type of Data and Source .......................................................................................... 34
3.7 Sample size and Sampling procedures ..................................................................... 34
3.8 Data Collection ......................................................................................................... 34
3.9 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................... 35
CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................. 36
4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ............................................................................. 36
4.1 Characterisation of Smallholder Farmers in All Agro-ecological Zones in
Tanzania ................................................................................................................... 36
4.2 Heterogeneity of Farmer’s Preferences for Improved Maize Seed Varieties .......... 39
4.3 Factors Influencing Farmers’ Choice of Improved Maize Seed Varieties ............... 44
viii
4.3.1 Sex ............................................................................................................ 46
4.3.2 Age ........................................................................................................... 46
4.3.3 Marital status ............................................................................................ 47
4.3.4 Education level ......................................................................................... 47
4.3.5 Household size ......................................................................................... 47
4.3.6 Farm size .................................................................................................. 48
4.3.7 Harvested yield ......................................................................................... 49
4.3.8 Distance to market .................................................................................... 49
4.3.9 Access to extension services .................................................................... 50
4.3.10 Agro-ecological zone ............................................................................... 50
CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................... 52
5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................. 52
5.1 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 52
5.2 Recommendations .................................................................................................... 53
5.3 Suggestions for Further Research............................................................................. 54
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 55
APPENDICIES .................................................................................................................. 69
ix
LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Maize production trends and consumption required in Tanzania from
2002-2012 ............................................................................................................ 11
Table 2: Percentage of the area planted with improved maize seed varieties. .................... 14
Table 3: Respondents in each agro-ecological zone by maize seed varieties ..................... 27
Table 4: Expected signs for the coefficients ....................................................................... 33
Table 5: Socio-economic characteristics of the respondents............................................... 37
Table 6: Farmers preference of maize variety of Maize Seed Preference by zone ............. 40
Table 7: Relationship between agro-ecological zone and farmers’ preference of
improved maize seed varieties ............................................................................. 42
Table 8: Factors influencing farmer’s choice of improved maize seed varieties ................ 44