Smallholder rice farmers profitability in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Tanzania: A case of Mvomero and Mbarali districts

Smallholder rice farming in Tanzania is an important economic activity that has the potential to livelihood improvement of smallholder farmers, yet their profitability remains low due to several challenges they face. This study analyzed costs and benefits associated with smallholder rice farming, de...

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Main Authors: C. Mauki, J. Jeckoniah, G.D. Massawe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-06-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023042470
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author C. Mauki
J. Jeckoniah
G.D. Massawe
author_facet C. Mauki
J. Jeckoniah
G.D. Massawe
author_sort C. Mauki
collection DOAJ
description Smallholder rice farming in Tanzania is an important economic activity that has the potential to livelihood improvement of smallholder farmers, yet their profitability remains low due to several challenges they face. This study analyzed costs and benefits associated with smallholder rice farming, determined profit distribution among farmers and assessed risk bearing ability of smallholder rice farmers under changing circumstances of total variable costs, price and yields. The study was conducted in Mvomero and Mbarali districts and adopted a cross-sectional research design, the sample size was 382 smallholder rice farmers selected from three Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies during 2021 cropping season. Data were collected through a questionnaire-based survey and key informant interviews. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and excel whereby Enterprise Budgetary Technique and Sensitivity Analysis were performed. The study found an average Return on Investment of 0.42, Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.42 and Profit Margin of 24%. The level of profitability differed among co-operatives where ‘Umoja wa Wakulima Dakawa’ (UWAWAKUDA) had the highest return per acre (524 417 TZS) followed by Kapunga (414 111 TZS) and Madibira (316 638 TZS). Furthermore, smallholder rice farmers' Gross Margins were significantly affected by changes in Total Variable Costs, output price and yield per acre. The study concludes that rice production is a profitable business in the study area. Therefore, the local government, co-operatives and other stakeholders should improve drivers that lead to increased profitability such as the water infrastructures, organize markets and build farmers’ capacities to improve yields and profitability among smallholder rice farmers.
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spelling doaj.art-918c6bb634f04fa7b11f447877b804b72023-06-10T04:28:15ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-06-0196e17039Smallholder rice farmers profitability in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Tanzania: A case of Mvomero and Mbarali districtsC. Mauki0J. Jeckoniah1G.D. Massawe2Department of Development and Strategic Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3024, Morogoro, Tanzania; Corresponding author.Department of Development and Strategic Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3024, Morogoro, TanzaniaDepartment of Policy, Planning and Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3035, Morogoro, TanzaniaSmallholder rice farming in Tanzania is an important economic activity that has the potential to livelihood improvement of smallholder farmers, yet their profitability remains low due to several challenges they face. This study analyzed costs and benefits associated with smallholder rice farming, determined profit distribution among farmers and assessed risk bearing ability of smallholder rice farmers under changing circumstances of total variable costs, price and yields. The study was conducted in Mvomero and Mbarali districts and adopted a cross-sectional research design, the sample size was 382 smallholder rice farmers selected from three Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies during 2021 cropping season. Data were collected through a questionnaire-based survey and key informant interviews. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and excel whereby Enterprise Budgetary Technique and Sensitivity Analysis were performed. The study found an average Return on Investment of 0.42, Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.42 and Profit Margin of 24%. The level of profitability differed among co-operatives where ‘Umoja wa Wakulima Dakawa’ (UWAWAKUDA) had the highest return per acre (524 417 TZS) followed by Kapunga (414 111 TZS) and Madibira (316 638 TZS). Furthermore, smallholder rice farmers' Gross Margins were significantly affected by changes in Total Variable Costs, output price and yield per acre. The study concludes that rice production is a profitable business in the study area. Therefore, the local government, co-operatives and other stakeholders should improve drivers that lead to increased profitability such as the water infrastructures, organize markets and build farmers’ capacities to improve yields and profitability among smallholder rice farmers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023042470ProfitabilityRiceSmallholder farmersCo-operatives
spellingShingle C. Mauki
J. Jeckoniah
G.D. Massawe
Smallholder rice farmers profitability in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Tanzania: A case of Mvomero and Mbarali districts
Heliyon
Profitability
Rice
Smallholder farmers
Co-operatives
title Smallholder rice farmers profitability in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Tanzania: A case of Mvomero and Mbarali districts
title_full Smallholder rice farmers profitability in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Tanzania: A case of Mvomero and Mbarali districts
title_fullStr Smallholder rice farmers profitability in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Tanzania: A case of Mvomero and Mbarali districts
title_full_unstemmed Smallholder rice farmers profitability in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Tanzania: A case of Mvomero and Mbarali districts
title_short Smallholder rice farmers profitability in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Tanzania: A case of Mvomero and Mbarali districts
title_sort smallholder rice farmers profitability in agricultural marketing co operative societies in tanzania a case of mvomero and mbarali districts
topic Profitability
Rice
Smallholder farmers
Co-operatives
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023042470
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