Awareness and compliance with feed quality standards: the case of chicken feeds in Tanzania

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of awareness of and compliance with chicken feed standards among chicken farmers in Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach A total of 107 respondents in two regions were selected through simple random sampling. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression approaches were used in data analysis. Findings The results revealed that the level of awareness of standards is low and the compliance level is even lower at the same time as the data indicated a positive relation between awareness and compliance. Attending seminars, knowledge dissemination by extension agents, farmers’ awareness of the existence of other standards and health consciousness have a significant and positive influence on awareness of feed standards while the age of the farm and dependence on farm formulated feeds have a significant negative influence on awareness of standards. On the other hand; knowledge dissemination by TBS, awareness of chicken feed standards and awareness of the existence of other standards apart from chicken feed standards, have a significant positive influence on compliance with feed standards. Research limitations/implications These findings indicate that regulators should invest more in awareness creation campaigns to enhance compliance with feed standards at the same time as feed processors should develop closer knowledge and learning links to farmers. Originality/value The findings of the study are expected to positively contribute to performance of chicken industry in Tanzania by promoting production of products that are of quality accepted domestically and abroad.

Understanding Factors Leading to Farmer Non-compliance with Agri-food Safety Regulations in Kenya: A Quantitative Analysis

“…One overarching strategy is education and information provision, which in this study largely involves extension services. This is consistent with what other agricultural regulatory compliance scholars have found regarding extension service and compliance (see for example, Longo et al, 2019;Muriithi et al, 2011). Longo and fellow researchers reported that extension services were significantly correlated with compliance with chicken feed standards in Tanzania.…”

“…Other normative factors that have been found to influence agricultural regulatory compliance are education, information provision and extension services for farmers (Longo, Akyoo, & Sørensen, 2019;Muriithi et al, 2011). Longo et al (2019) examined awareness and compliance with feed quality standards among 107 chicken farmers in Tanzania and found that compliance was significantly related to access to extension services, the health consciousness of farmers, and farmers' awareness of the law. In Kenya, Muriithi et al (2011) investigated the determinants of awareness and compliance with European food safety standards among bean producers.…”

“…Finally, normative variables (social norms, awareness of law, information, extension and training; and legitimacy) were added to the model in the final block. The order in which variables were entered into regression model was based on the literature review, which showed that instrumental factors have stronger influence on farmers' compliance with agri-food safety regulations than normative factors (Longo, Akyoo, & Sørensen, 2019).…”

East African Community’s Response to Coronavirus: Old Habits Die Hard

“…In a move seen as tit-for-tat, Kenya banned Tanzania's tourist vehicles from fetching or dropping passengers from its airports (The Standard, 2015). In October 2017, the government of Tanzania was reported to have burnt 6400 live chicks from Kenya, alleging that they were illegally smuggled into its territory (Longo, Akyoo & Sørensen, 2019). A similar move was witnessed in February 2018 when Magufuli's government confiscated 5000 live chicks (Longo, Akyoo & Sørensen, 2019).…”

“…In October 2017, the government of Tanzania was reported to have burnt 6400 live chicks from Kenya, alleging that they were illegally smuggled into its territory (Longo, Akyoo & Sørensen, 2019). A similar move was witnessed in February 2018 when Magufuli's government confiscated 5000 live chicks (Longo, Akyoo & Sørensen, 2019). Similarly, Tanzania's authority auctioned over 1000 cattle belonging to Kenyan herders.…”