Open AccessEnhancing rural livelihoods in Tanza-nia : A small-holder farmers’ perspective
Author(s) -
Abel Kinyondo,
Magashi Joseph
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of accounting and economics studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2309-4508
DOI - 10.14419/ijaes.v5i2.7672
Subject(s) - livelihood , tanzania , agriculture , government (linguistics) , business , context (archaeology) , subsidy , poverty , economic growth , agricultural economics , economics , natural resource economics , socioeconomics , geography , market economy , philosophy , archaeology , linguistics
Poverty reduction has been a difficult milestone for Tanzania to achieve despite recording remarkable economic growth over the past decade. This is because the attained growth is not inclusive, in that sectors contributing to this growth employ fewer people. Given the fact that agriculture continues to employ the majority of people in Tanzania, efforts to improve livelihoods should necessarily be geared towards transforming the sector. It is in this context that using a sample of 3,000 farmers from 13 regions of Tanzania; this Tanzania, this study set out to examine challenges facing farmers and their respective solutions following the sustainable livelihood framework. Findings show that improving farmers’ livelihoods would entail concerted efforts by the government to avail to farmers, quality and affordable seeds, fertilizer, agricultural infrastructures, subsidies, extension services, markets, information alert, affordable loans, and areas for pastures. This implies that the government needs to allocate enough funds to the agricultural sector if farmers’ needs are to be met. We note, however, that government’s allocation to the sector has alarmingly generally been exhibiting a declining trend for the past four years. It is against this background that we strongly recommend that the government rethinks its position and prioritize the agricultural sector in its budget.