In this chapter, we explore the effects of mechanized tillage among rice farmers in Tanzania. We use two-year panel data to examine the expansion of the area under rice cultivation (extensification) and the intensive use of yield-enhancing rice technologies (intensification). We categorize farmers based on the implements they use to prepare their rice plots, namely four-wheel tractors (4WTs), two-wheel tractors or power tillers (2WTs), draft animals (DAs), and the use of manually operated tools such as hand hoes (HTs). We then examine how the use of each implement is associated with intensification and extensification. We find, among other things, that 2WTs are highly associated with high adoption rates of improved rice technology, resulting in high paddy yield. We do not find any strong evidence that 4WTs or 2WTs significantly affect extensification compared to DAs. This chapter's findings suggest that, since 2WTs can play a role in the intensification of rice farming in SSA, policies to promote the use of this mechanical technology should be implemented.
Microcredit is considered a potential tool for poverty alleviation. This study examines whether microcredit can contribute to an increase in the household income of rural households. We use two-year panel data obtained from a household-level randomized controlled trial (RCT) of microcredit service implemented in Tanzania. Our empirical results show that the provision of microcredit did not have a positive impact on household income. However, when the household income from different sources is examined, we find that microcredit had a positive impact on income from crops other than rice. Our findings are useful in designing microcredit products targeting agricultural communities in developing countries.
How can we achieve a rice Green Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa? In this chapter, we evaluate the progress of the rice Green Revolution and discuss potential policy interventions to achieve it in Tanzania. For these purposes, we summarize four studies that have been conducted by the authors. Especially, we focus on the effectiveness of irrigation, agricultural training, and microcredit for technology adoption and productivity enhancement of rice cultivation. We found a high potential for the rice Green Revolution in Tanzania and that it can be achievable with proper policy interventions. We propose irrigation development and agricultural training as effective means to achieve the rice Green Revolution in Tanzania.
This study investigates how smallholder farmers attract contracts from agribusiness firms. We focus on firm-cooperative-farmer (FCF) contract farming and examine its potential contribution to the income of smallholder rice farmers in Vietnam. We found that participation in FCF is associated with higher paddy yield, revenue, and income from rice cultivation, which is consistent with previous research on staple food crops. Furthermore, this model can be implemented in areas with severely fragmented land, such as Vietnam's Red River Delta region.
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