| dc.identifier.citation | Mchopa, A.D. and Jeckoniah, J.N., (2018): Sunflower and Livelihood Outcomes among Households of Smallholder Farmers in Iramba District, Tanzania, in Kinyashi, G.F., Mwang’onda, E., Mandala, C.G., Hauli, E., and Mdendemi, T.R.K (eds.), Conference Proceedings for an International Conference on Planning and Development under the theme Towards Industrialisation in the Global South: Making Rural Regions Inclusive, held at the Institute of Rural Development Planning-Dodoma June 28-30, 2018;pp.. | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Sunflower production is an important economic activity which is potential for improving
livelihood outcomes among smallholder farmers’ households. However, despite such
potentials, studies still debate on whether livelihood outcomes among smallholder farmers
can be attained through sunflower cultivation or otherwise. This paper presents analysis of
the livelihood outcome levels among smallholder farmers before and after engaging in
sunflower cultivation. Also, it compared the livelihood outcome levels between sunflower
and non-sunflower smallholder farmers. The study adopted a cross-sectional research
design whereby household survey, focus group discussion and key informants interviews
were used to collect data from 368 respondents. Qualitative data were transcribed,
categorised, coded, and grouped into themes and analysed using constant comparison
technique. Quantitative data were analysed by using descriptive statistics while difference
in difference estimation was run to compare livelihood outcomes. Findings show that
households of sunflower smallholder farmers’ had higher levels of livelihood outcomes
and they were significantly different unlike before sunflower cultivation. The livelihood
outcomes between sunflower and non-sunflower smallholder farmers’ households were
significantly different (t = 12.51; p =0.000). The significant differences were evidenced by
the number of household assets and access to financial services. Thus, sunflower
cultivation stands a better chance for improving livelihood outcomes among smallholder
farmers unlike other economic activities in the study area. Since findings show that some
of the households had low level of livelihood outcomes it is recommended to smallholder
farmers that they should consider building their livelihood capabilities through collective
efforts as they are constrained by land size for cultivation. This can be done through
forming farmers groups whereby they can join efforts to access microfinance loans and
acquire small scale processing machines. This would enable them to increase household
incomes by selling sunflower oil as well as seed cakes compared to selling few quantities
of raw sunflower seeds individually. | en_US |
