Research Articles

Strategic non-use:

2013-01-01T00:00:00Z

Strategic non-use: Mushi, Cuthbert W.; Guo, Mengmeng.; Yuc, Jianyu. This paper investigates a counterintuitive climate adaptation strategy: the "strategic non-use" of high-input resources by smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania when faced with extreme heat. We examine the mitigating role of village cooperatives in driving this low-input production behavior and its subsequent impact on maize yields and household welfare. Our study was conducted in three waves from 2008/09 to 2012/13, analyzing the effects of weather shocks on household welfare in Tanzania using data from the. Tanzania National Panel Survey and weather data from the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) and Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS). We find that extreme heat is a devastating shock, reducing maize yield by 8.9% and household income by 3.0%, with the impact being significantly more severe on households in villages without cooperatives. We uncover a novel dual- mechanism for this institutional resilience: Village cooperatives strategically promote low-input adaptation.We demonstrate that the cooperative's yield-saving mitigation is achieved by rigorously guiding the community to reduce inorganic fertilizer use during the extreme heat season. Simultaneously, cooperatives, promote long-term sustainability investments like erosion control. Critically, these contrasting mechanisms reveal a policy trade-off: the short-term benefit of yield protection comes at the cost of the cooperative promoting erosion control, a sustainable measure associated with a significant short-term reduction in farmer income. This finding re-frames the role of cooperatives from being mere input promoters to essential institutions for climate-smart risk management and financing the adoption of sustainable practices. However, these positive effects have a limited impact on small farmers; therefore, establishing more inclusive cooperatives and greater involvement of small farmers in decision-making processes can be effective. Government and policymakers should prioritize village cooperatives in their policy actions, particularly in light of the growing climate risks. This is Research Article

Profiling Housing Co-operative Models in Addressing Shortage of Affordable Housing in Nairobi City County, Kenya

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Profiling Housing Co-operative Models in Addressing Shortage of Affordable Housing in Nairobi City County, Kenya Onduko, Enock M.; Kaleshu, Jones.; Ndiege, Benson. Housing is a fundamental right and every person is entitled to this basic need. However, the biggest challenge facing Kenya is lack of affordable housing especially for low- and middle-income households in urban areas. We profile housing cooperative models and examine their suitability in addressing shortage of affordable housing in Nairobi City County. Specifically, we: (i) profile housing cooperative models adopted by housing cooperatives in Nairobi City County and (ii) examine the suitability of the models in provision of affordable housing. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was adopted to generate data on how the housing co-operative models formed, membership characteristics, management practices, financing models and ownership practices. The paper is anchored on transaction cost theory. The target population consists of all active housing cooperatives registered by the State Department of Cooperatives in Nairobi City County as of December 2017. The sample size selection for this exploratory study was based on data saturation criteria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 10 key informants, based on their technical expertise and knowledge. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Findings revealed that the limited housing cooperative model is most used among the members of housing cooperatives in Nairobi City County. However, the model failed to take into consideration collective efforts of members in terms of collective housing construction which bring down the total cost of construction. The paper recommends restructuring of housing finance system to take into consideration issues of low- and middle-income households for adoption of a multiple mortgage housing cooperative model. This is Research Article

Smallholder Rice Farmers’ Access to Information in Tanzania

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Smallholder Rice Farmers’ Access to Information in Tanzania Mauki, Consesa; Jeckoniah, John; Massawe, Goodluck Access to quality information plays a crucial role in enhancing the competitiveness of smallholder rice farmers in Tanzania. Agricultural co-operatives have the potential to overcome smallholder farmers’ information asymmetry. Yet, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the extent to which Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies (AMCOS) can effectively provide quality information to smallholder farmers as required by Co-operative Principle number five (Education, Training, and Information). This paper analyses the current level of access to information among smallholder rice farmers in AMCOS, evaluating the relevance, adequacy and reliability of information provided by AMCOS to its members and identifying the factors influencing the adequacy of the information provided by AMCOS. The study was conducted in Mvomero and Mbarali Districts. A cross sectional research design was used and data were collected using a questionnaire that was administered to 382 randomly selected farmers based on registers availed by co-operative managers in three co-operatives. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) whereby ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate the influence of various factors on the adequacy of information obtained from AMCOS. The study found that 77.2% of farmers accessed information on rice agronomy. Smallholder rice farmers obtained adequate (52.6%), relevant (35.6%) and reliable (37.7%) information from their respective AMCOS. The adequacy of information was influenced by membership in social groups, access to rice agronomy information and financial information at p<0.05. It is concluded that agricultural co-operatives are potential platforms for providing quality information in enhancing smallholder rice farmers’ informed decision-making. The study recommends that efforts should be made to strengthen AMCOS by providing them with resources, training, and support to enhance their capacity to deliver accurate and timely information to farmers. This include collaboration with agricultural extension service providers and leveraging their networks to access up-to-date information on agronomic practices, weather forecasts, and market trends to enhance farmers’ competitiveness in rice farming.

Credit Access and Smallholder Rice Farmers’ Productivity in Agricultural Co-operatives Based Irrigation Schemes in Tanzania

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Credit Access and Smallholder Rice Farmers’ Productivity in Agricultural Co-operatives Based Irrigation Schemes in Tanzania Mauki, Consesa; Njau, Luka Access to credit is crucial for enhancing productivity among smallholder rice farmers in Tanzania's irrigation schemes. Despite its importance, various barriers prevent these farmers from securing the necessary financial services. This study investigates the factors influencing credit access and its effect on productivity among smallholder rice farmers in irrigation schemes managed by agricultural co-operatives in Tanzania. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design, collecting data from 382 smallholder rice farmers in three Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies (AMCOS) during the 2021 cropping season. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire and key informant interviews. The analysis employed the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), utilizing descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The findings reveal that only 34.3% (131) of the 382 respondents had access to credit, and this access positively influenced productivity among smallholder rice farmers. The model results indicated that the duration of membership in a cooperative society, land size, access to training, farming experience, and adequate extension services were significant determinants of agricultural credit access. While only 34.5% of respondents had access to credit, this access positively influenced productivity. The key determinants of agricultural credit access include cooperative membership duration, land size, training access, farming experience, and extension services. To improve rural farmers’ access to credit, the Local Government Authority and stakeholders in the credit industry should design interventions that enhance credit access among smallholder farmers. Additionally, promoting capacity building, financial literacy programs, and ensuring that policy interventions focus on supporting rural financial institutions are recommended strategies for improving credit access, boosting agricultural productivity, and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder rice farmers in Tanzania.