Households’ characteristics and perceptions of weather variability impact on rice yield: empirical analysis of small scale farmers in Tanzania

Abstract

Rice farming is characterized by various factors including environmental and non-environmental factors. The current paper analyses the influence of households’ characteristics, and perceptions of weather variability on rice yield. Authors used primary data collected from small-scale rice farmers in the Mbeya region of Tanzania. Garret technique and Stata software were used for data analyses. Results confirmed that farmer’s education, marital status, gender, and land ownership have a positive influence on rice yield. Thus, for every 1% increase in each variable increases rice yield by 14%, 98%, 26%, and 21% respectively. Owing to empirical results on farmers’ perceptions, it is confirmed that if the drought period increased by 1%, would on average reduce rice yield by 20%. The majority of farmers (70%) have perceived that drought period reduced their rice yield. In addition, farmers’ used averagely less quantity of rice seeds which have impaired their rice yields. If farmers increased the seed quantity by 1%, rice yields would increase by 17%. Our findings also revealed that the previous market price has positive association with the next seasons’ rice yield. Therefore, our study concluded that among households’ variables and their perceptions have positive implications on rice yield; however, with the empirical analyses other variables were insignificant due to multicollinearity effects. Authors recommended to the government and other responsible organizations to capitalize on irrigation infrastructures, agricultural extension and technological services to restraint the enduring food insecurity coercions in Tanzania.

Profitability Analysis of Rice Production, Constraints and Consumption Shares by Small-scale Producers in Tanzania

“…As presented in Table 4, weather variability is highly rated (mean of 2.28) by farmers as the most influential risk factor affecting rice yields while the least rated was poor access to farm inputs with a mean of 4.21. However, at household's level other factors identified include technological factors such as lack to irrigation services, poor access to important farm inputs such as seeds, machinery, fertilizer, and infromation services to curb weather variability risk including shortage of rainfall [20] and also drought shocks [21]. Others factors include price instability which defines the market costs for both inputs and outputs in the rice production industry.…”

Division of Labour in Rice Production and Processing across Gender in Ogun State, Nigeria

“…al., (2020) that male farmers in south western Nigeria tend to be less efficient compared to their female counterparts, implying that women are on average more technically efficient than men. Kulyakwave, Shiwei, and Yu (2019) also find out that female-headed household in Tanzania could produce rice yield up to 3720 Kg per ha as compared to less yield accrued by male-headed household. This is because in most rural areas of Tanzania specifically in Mbeya, women are more involved in agriculture activities than men.…”

Agricultural Commercialisation and the Political Economy of Value Chains: Tanzania Rice Case Study

“…Like the differences in rice productivity, several studies report differences in income, food security, and poverty among different social groups involved in rice production in Tanzania. Jeckoniah, Mosha, and Boniface (2020), Kulyakwave, Shiwei and Yu (2019), Achandi et al (2019), Akram-Lodhi andKomba (2018), and Mwatawala, Mwang'onda, and Hyera (2016) found income levels from rice production among households headed by female farmers are significantly lower than the income levels among households headed by male farmers. For example, in Kilombero valley in Tanzania, the mean income per household among male rice farmers was TSh2,827,012, in the 2016/17 farming season, which was more than twice the mean income among female rice farmers at TSh1,221,899.…”

“…i. Access to and use of improved seeds is reported by Kulyakwave, Shiwei, and Yu (2019), Achandi et al (2019), Kangile, Gabeyahu, andMollel (2018), andNgailo et al (2016).…”

“…Findings from a recent APRA funded survey in Kilombero valley in Tanzania show higher mean land productivity and rice output among households headed by medium scale and male farmers than those headed by small scale and female farmers, respectively (Table 7.4). Productivity is also reported to differ between famers with a formal education and famers without a formal education, with land productivity reported to be higher for educated farmers than farmers without a formal education (Mwatawala, Mwang'onda, andHyera 2016, Kulyakwave, Shiwei andYu 2019). This is because formal education provides farmers with knowledge and a better understanding of improved farming practices (Kulyakwave, Shiwei and Yu 2019).…”