SUAIRE (Sokoine Univ. of Agriculture)
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Factors influencing student’s use of various gender based violence strategies implemented in Ilemela Municipal Secondary Schools
No full textInternational Journal of Research Studies in Education 2025 Volume 14 Number 6, 189-199This study explored factors influencing students' use of GBV prevention strategies in
secondary schools. The study was conducted at Ilemela Municipal. A total of 381 respondents
were used as sample size, among them were 378 students and 3 school counselors. Employing
a mixed method concurrent triangulation to collect and analyse data among respondents in the
study area. Data collection methods included self-administered questionnaires, interviews
with key informants and focus group discussions. The quantitative data were analysed by
using binary logistic regression and thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The
binary logistic regression model identified critical factors, such as sex, courage of speaking
out and awareness and education, impacting students' participation in GBV interventions. The
validation of the instrument was conducted through pilot testing to assess its validity.
Additionally, expert opinions were sought from the supervisor and senior researchers to
ensure the quality of data gathering instrument. To enhance the reliability, the researcher
utilized the test-retest method. Ethical consideration obtaining relevant authority and consent
and insuring the willingness of respondents to participate in study by providing relevant data
to fulfill the study objectives. Results indicated that female students were more likely to
engage in workshops and peer education sessions, while courage of speaking out and
awareness significantly hindered participation. Recommendations include creating supportive
environments to encourage male student participation, establishing confidential reporting
mechanisms, and implementing awareness campaigns to address knowledge gaps. By addressing these factors, schools can enhance the effectiveness of GBV interventions, fostering safer and more inclusive learning environments
Organic spices farming in west districts, Zanzibar: it’s contribution to income of smallholder farmers.
No full textAsian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research Volume 25, Issue 7, Page 95-107Aims: In recent years, organic agriculture has been gaining considerable importance. Many
farmers today show interest all over the world in organic farming. The concept of organic farming is
not new, but it has been scantly studied. Organic spice farming is therefore, requires to be studied
widely. Spice production is a popular economic activity in Zanzibar. The purpose of this study was
to assess the contribution of organic spice farming to income of the smallholder farmers.
Study Design: The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in two districts of Zanzibar, the West and
Central districts between August 2018 and September 2018.
Methodology: A random sampling procedure was used to obtain 120 households. The households
were categorized from three clusters namely: merely organic, certified organic and inorganic spice
farming farmers. Data were collected using a household questionnaire survey.
Results: Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Among the three types of spice
farming, inorganic spice farming averagely produced 174.3 kg/household, followed by merely
organic (86.3 kg/household) and certified organic (70.2 kg/household). However, certified spice
farming households earned in average 565 900 TAS higher than others (merely organic (361 170
TAS) and inorganic (350 500 TAS)). Further, certified spices contributed to 26.2% of the total
household’s income, followed by merely organic (23.1%) and inorganic (19.0%) spices.
Conclusion: The study concludes that spice farming increased income among households.
Therefore, there is a need of putting more effort in spice farming improvement, particularly certified
organic spice farming as it gives high earnings to the households
The role of matrilineal kinship in resources allocation, decision making and marketing of spice products in Morogoro region Tanzania
No full textJournal articleIn some regions of Tanzania, including Morogoro, spice production is a significant economic activity. However,
its full potential may not be realised due to the complex socio-cultural kinship that influences resource allocation and
marketing strategies. Specifically, the role of matrilineal kinship in these processes has not been adequately explored. While
matrilineal societies may have distinct patterns of resource ownership, decision-making, and distribution, their impact on
the management of agricultural resources and commercialization of spice products remains under-researched. This study
seeks to fill this gap by examining how matrilineal traditions affect the allocation of resources in cultivating spices and
marketing its products in the Morogoro region of Tanzania. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect data.
Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires to 121 respondents obtained through the probability
sampling technique. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions from two groups, one group of 16
participants in each village, and key informant interviews with one Extension Officer and two village leaders. Findings
reveal that while matrilineal systems grant women certain rights, such as land inheritance, decision-making remains male-
dominated, particularly in critical aspects such as land use and sales of bulk spices. Household decision-making tends to be
collaborative, but men often retain the final authority. The study concludes that gender dynamics continue to shape key
decisions regarding land use and the bulk sale of spice products. The findings underscore the complexity of gender roles
within matrilineal societies, where women’s rights may not fully translate into control over economic resources
Traditional knowledge and use of wild cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) in selected communities of Tanzania
No full textJournal articleWild cowpeas are utilized as food, medicine, and nutritious fodder. However,
there are limited reports on the cultural significance of wild cowpeas across
different agroecologies of Tanzania. This study analyzed the traditional knowledge
and identified the most culturally important species. The study involved 260
respondents interviewed from 13 villages in seven districts, using descriptive
and ethnobotanical methods to assess traditional knowledge. Fisher’s exact test
(p = 0.0403) revealed that knowledge of wild cowpeas depends on age, not gender
and education. A Pearson’s test showed significant differences in use categories of
wild cowpeas among the respondents, with 31% as animal fodder, 6% as medicine,
3.5% as food, and 2.5% as green manure, while 57% did not use it. Spearman rank
correlations revealed positive correlations among the variables tested, with FC
and UR significantly having a high correlation index of 0.98, while the cultural
value (CVe) index highly correlated with all ethnobotany indices evaluated. Vigna
dekindtiana is the most culturally significant species, with the highest frequency
of citation (FCs = 20), use reports (URs = 27), and cultural importance (CIs = 1.125).
The leaves of V. dekindtiana have been used as animal feed and vegetables, while
its roots have been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. This study revealed
that wild cowpeas can be utilized in various ways, such as ecological and social
aspects, and in breeding programs to improve cultivated cowpeas
Drivers and barriers to climate‑smart aquaculture adoption: Insights from Mwanza and Mara Regions, Tanzania
No full textJournal ArticleClimate-Smart Aquaculture (CSAq) optimizes resource use, minimizes environmental
impacts, and enhances resilience to climate stresses. However, adoption remains limited in
African countries, including Tanzania, due to socio-economic, institutional, and environmental
barriers. This study investigated drivers and enabling conditions for CSAq adoption
in the Lake Zone of Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey of 384 smallholder aquaculture
farmers in Mwanza and Mara regions was analyzed using a multinomial logit regression
model. The results show that socio-economic factors significantly influenced adoption,
particularly education level (higher education increased integrated farming adoption;
χ2 = 132.48, p < 0.001), gender (male farmers were more likely to adopt integrated farming;
χ2 = 5.239, p = 0.003), and household size (larger households favored integrated systems;
χ2 = 10.838, p = 0.021). Institutional factors, including access to finance (χ2 = 10.258,
p = 0.013), extension services (χ2 = 14.888, p = 0.008), and training (χ2 = 19.564,
p = 0.003), facilitated adoption. Environmental conditions, such as proximity to water
(χ2 = 6.351, p = 0.048) and lower climate variability (p = 0.011), also influenced uptake.
Integrated farming, which combines aquaculture with agriculture and livestock, emerged as
the dominant CSAq practice. Polyculture and monoculture were less commonly adopted.
The regression results confirmed that integrated CSAq adoption is significantly driven
by income diversity, household size, training, and climate risk perceptions. These findings
directly inform the study’s recommendations, which emphasize targeted financial and
technical support, including access to credit, extension services, and gender-responsive
policies. Strengthening institutional capacity and embedding CSAq into national climate
adaptation frameworks will be critical for scaling sustainable aquaculture in Tanzania and
similar contexts
Extension advisory services on farmer’s climate change mitigation strategies in Misungwi district, Tanzania: issues and options
No full textJournal articleThis study evaluates the impact of extension advisory services on farmers’ climate change
mitigation strategies. Questionnaires were completed by 64 extension agents and data were
analysed using descriptive statistics. The study found that the most common method used for
identifying farmers’ climate change adaptation needs is extension agents visiting farmers (84.6%),
followed by training sessions are less frequently used (26.2%), and other methods are rarely
employed (1.5%). Insufficient training on climate change, with a frequency of 55, resource constraints, reported by around 49 respondents and limited access to climate information also stand
out as a significant issue, with a frequency of about 41, and lastly knowledge barriers with 39
respondents were shown as the challenges encountered during dissemination of advisory services
to farmers. This study revealed that majority (56.9%) of extension agents reported receiving
transport facilities, while 41.5% had access to timely updated information. Though, only 18.5% of
respondents indicated receiving regular training. This study concludes that the majority of extension
agents have reported that they do not receive sufficient support in their efforts to educate farmers
on how to adapt to climate change. The extension agents are not prepared to deal with the
complexities of climate change, despite the fact that they rely on personal visits to capture the
needs of the farmers. The low level of diversity engagement approaches, the low rates of hands-on
training, and the moderate perceptions of comfort in communicating climate information are all
indicators that this is the case. In addition, many extension agents believe that the increase of these
concerns is caused by resource problems, which include inadequate access to timely information,
inadequate training, and inadequate financial resources. This study recommends that the
government should allocate enough resources aimed at supporting the extension agents in fulfilling
their operations
Domestic water accessibility and its effect to households livelihood: a case of Maswa District, Shinyanga Region, Tanzania
No full textAsian Journal of Environment & Ecology Volume 24, Issue 6, Page 336-345, 2025; Article no.AJEE.139340Water supply is an essential requirement for people and it has intrinsic connection with lives and
livelihoods. Water shortage affects households’ labour because of much time and energy spent on
obtaining it. Unavailability of safe and clean water has several implications, among them include
waterborne diseases, labour, income and time. The study was carried out to explore information on
domestic water accessibility and its effects to households Livelihood in Maswa District of Tanzania.
Specifically the study intended to get information related to sources of water for domestic use and
its accessibility, who are mostly responsible for collecting water, time spent seeking for water and
challenges related to unsafe and clean water 120 respondents were engaged in this study. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and focused group discussions (FGDs).
Descriptive statistics and content analysis techniques were applied in analyzing the data. Results
from the study show that unavailability of safe and clean water affects income through consuming
time and loss of labour during fetching water. In addition, water related diseases consumes labour’s
time and money for caring patients. Moreover, most of labour used in fetching water was mothers
and daughters. Consequently, women face many challenges which are associated by carrying
water on their heads at a distance and time wasted during fetching water. The challenges
particularly time waste during fetching water hinders women’s participation to other income
generating activities. The study concludes that sources of water such as traditional dug wells and
hand dug wells at the river bed represent the most important water sources for rural households in
the study area. Moreover, women face a number of challenges related to water shortage and time
spent fetching water. The study recommends that authority’s responsible for facilitating Water
supply systems both at National and Regional level should Increase mechanisms which will enable
large population to access water within acceptable distance in order to reduce women and children
burden of carrying water at a distance
Stochastic frontier analysis of technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers in Morogoro municipality: a reflection from RIPAT program
No full textJournal articleThis study looks into the elements that influence maize production and
technical efficiency among households participating in the RIPAT
SUA Project in Morogoro Municipality, using stochastic frontier analysis for the 2022 – 2023 season. The focus was on socio-economic
characteristics, land size, seed usage, use of fertilizer extension services, training from the project, and education. The primaryobjective was to examine the factors influencing maize production and
Stochastic Frontier, efficiency by evaluating socioeconomic aspects and specific
Technical Efficiency, agricultural techniques. A total of 110 households were surveyed with
standardized questionnaires. Socioeconomic data was collected, key
variables were evaluated and key variables were analyzed using
descriptive statistics and analysis. The results
reveal that land size harms productivity (β = -0.436, p < 0.001),
whereas improved seed usage has a positive impact (β = 0.401, p =
0.016). Education level (β = -1.168, p = 0.002) and agriculture
experience (β = -0.016, p = 0.049) considerably reduce insisting on the importance of education interventions.
Additionally, 40% of households have access to VSLA, revealing
financial problems. While 94.55% of households got training, only
18.18% received extension services which could hamper the best
productivity. Every household reported owning land and using seeds
highlighting that they had the necessary materials for maize
production. Regarding technical efficiency, Magadu ward high score
of 5%, while Kauzeni has the lowest at 1.9% suggesting significant
disproportions in productivity among wards. These findings
emphasize the importance of focused initiatives to improve agriculture
productivity through enhancing farmer education and training,
experience, and increased access to finance. These strategies are
critical for improving maize productivity and addressing food security
issues among households participating in programs like the RIPAT
SUA initiative hence will increase agricultural efficiency and
contribute to more farmer-sustainable farming methods throughout
the region
Challenges facing management of operational funds allocated for instructional and support needs of secondary schools in Mbeya District, Tanzania.
No full textInternational Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 17(2) (2025) 627–642This mixed study focused on the challenges experienced by schools in managing operational funds allocated
by the government for instructional and support services. The study employed a cross-sectional design and
involved 17 public secondary schools in the Mbeya district, Tanzania. A sample size of 10 participants,
encompassing 5 headmasters and 5 bursars, were involved to collect qualitative data by interviews that were
analyzed thematically. On the other hand, a sample size of 255 respondents, encompassing members of the
School Management Team (SMT) and heads of departments, were involved to collect quantitative data by
questionnaire that were analyzed by descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages. The study
reveals that, efficiency of schools in managing operational funds received from the government is constrained
by unbudgeted mandates from local government authorities, inconsistent disbursement of funds, extended
delays in fund disbursement, and teachers serving bursary and teaching roles altogether are burdened in the
management of funds. The study underscores the necessity to streamline the coordination in fund allocation
decisions between school administrators and local government authorities to ensure equitable allocation of
requirements. The central government should also ensure consistent and timely disbursement of funds, and
hire dedicated bursars to base in schools
Perceptions of innovation system stakeholders towards grassroots innovators in Tanzania
No full textJournal articleThis study explores the perceptions of various stakeholders toward grassroots innovators in
Tanzania and how these views shape the innovation ecosystem. Stakeholders, including
government agencies, private sector actors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
international donors, influence the grassroots innovation journey through their support, policies,
and funding mechanisms. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected from 35 grassroots
innovators through semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interviews, and observations.
Innovators were selected from the COSTECH database, Mashindano ya Kitaifa ya Sayansi,
Teknolojia na Ubunifu (MAKISATU) records, and participants in the Dar es Salaam International
Trade Fair Exhibition (SABASABA). The findings indicate that while institutions such as the
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) and COSTECH are seen as crucial for
policy support, bureaucratic delays and budget constraints limit their effectiveness. Meanwhile,
organizations such as the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA), Small Industries
Development Organization (SIDO), National Institute of Transport (NIT), and Dar es Salaam
Institute of Technology (DIT) are perceived as more accessible and hands-on in supporting
grassroots innovators. However, challenges persist in aligning private sector and international
donor support with grassroots needs due to issues of trust and mismatched priorities. The study
underscores the importance of addressing these perceptions to enhance stakeholder engagement,
improve resource distribution and foster a more inclusive innovation ecosyste