AN ASSESSIMENT ON THE CHALLENGES FACING FARMERS OF CASHEW NUT IN CASHEW NUT FARMING. CASE STUDY MTWARA RURAL DISTRICT.
(MTWARA CENTER)
RESEACH PROPOSAL
AN ASSESSIMENT ON THE CHALLENGES
FACING FARMERS OF CASHEW NUT IN CASHEW NUT FARMING. CASE STUDY MTWARA RURAL
DISTRICT.
BELAMU STEPHANO S.
BAED/163041
MTWARA
2019
CHAPTER ONE
10
Introduction
This chapter presents the background of the
study, statement of the problem, significance of the study, objectives of the
study, limitation of the study and research questions. It also presents the
scope of the study and definition of all operational variables.
Tanzania is among of the countries where
Agriculture is the predominant sector in economy. In 2008, agricultural
activities contributed to 33.6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employed about
60% of the labor force, and accounted for 54% of foreign exchange earnings. The
sector itself is composed of five subsectors, namely crops other than cocoa,
livestock, fisheries and forestry. However, non-traditional crops, such as
pineapple, mango and cashew nuts, are increasingly of importance to the
Tanzania economy (MOFA, 2007).
Cashew is one of the non-traditional
export crops being given the necessary boost by the government of Tanzania.
Cashew has a long history as a useful plant and only in the present century it
has become an important tropical tree crop. The earliest reports of
Cashews are from Brazil (Mitchell and Mori,
1987). Cashew (Anacardiumoccidentalelinn) is one of the important
tree-nut crops, ranking third in international trade after hard nuts and
almonds (MOFA, 2007).
The first ever recorded exports of cashew
nuts from Tanzania was in 1991, amounting to 15 metric tons. In 1997, export
volumes rose to 3,571 metric tons. According to the Tanzania Export Promotion
Council, 2002, the country exported 3,893 metric tons of cashew valued at
$1,450,306. This export figure increased by 79.15% in 2003 to 6,338 metric
tons, which was valued at $1,598,636. Annual export of raw nuts reached 47,000
metric tons in 2006, contributing approximately US$ 23 million in foreign
exchange earnings. This figure is considered very small when compared with
world excess demand of 4,300,000 metric tons of raw nuts, valued at US$270
Million, and growing at a rate of 5-8% per annum. It is therefore obvious that
demand continuous to exceed supply; meanwhile there are many cashew farmers in
Tanzania and their productivity is on the lower side (MOFA, 2007). This study
was designed to analyze the determinants of cashew farming in Mtwara rural,
farming experience and sources of finance. Also the study made use of secondary
data obtained from the internet, academic journals, libraries and the Ministry
of Food Tanzania and Agriculture (MOFA)
The study helped the community of Mtwara
rural in providing knowledge to the indigenous people who engaging in whole system
of production. Also the study encouraged others to invest in this production
through analyzing the significance of cashews production. Finally the study
helped several stakeholders in different ways including the government
Researchers and Community.
The extent or rates of the contribution cashew
nuts farming in world is differ from place to place depending on the way
particular country or region investing in this production, whereby well
invested countries such as Vietnam, Nigeria, Brazil as well as Indian, the
cashews nut farming played great roles toward the people and national
development by earning of foreign currency as well as creating opportunities
towards employment opportunity of entire population. Mtwara rural is among the
major producers of cashew nut in Tanzania for many years but still most of
cashew nut framers of Mtwara rural area are very poor in such a way that most
of them fail to afford basic need properly such as food, health, and clothes.
And have not benefited from production despite of being leading area in
production, for instance this study will assess the problems which facing
farmers in cashew nut farming to the people of Mtwara rural area.
1.4. Objectives of the study
1.41.
General objective
The study intends to examine the challenges
facing Farmers of cashew nut in Cashew nut farming in Mtwara rural area.
1.4.2. Specific Objectives
·
To
determine the contribution of cashew nut farming to the daily life of
people in Mtwara rural district.
·
To
identify the challenges facing farmers of cashew nut in cashew nut
farming in Mtwara rural district.
·
To
suggest measures of the challenges facing farmers of cashew
nut in cashew nut farming in Mtwara rural district.
1.5.
Research questions
Ø What is the contribution of cashew nut
farming to the economic livelihood to farmers in Mtwara rural?
Ø What are the challenges facing Farmers of cashew nut in
cashew farming in Mtwara rural?
Ø What are the measures should be taken to
overcome challenges facing
farmers of cashew nut in cashew nut farming in Mtwara rural district.
1.6. Limitation of the study
During conduction of this study was faced
with the different problems in data collection, such as problems are,
Ø Time insufficient to make comprehensive
study, so it is not possible to go through all areas found Ziwani village.
Ø Language barrier also affected the study due
to high useful of local language Makonde. This is to say the society used much
the vernacular language in communication that is Makonde. It brings about
misunderstanding between the researcher and the respondents.
Ø Shortage of enough money because researcher
need a lot of money to fulfill the study.
1.7. Scope of the study
The scope of study is to investigate the
challenges that face Farmers of cashew nut in cashew nut farming in Tanzania,
the case study of Mtwara rural district.
1.8. Definitions of key terms.
Cashew nut; is an edible kidney-shaped nut, rich in oil and
protein, which is roasted and shelled before it can be eaten. Oil extracted
from the shells is used as a lubricant, in the production of plastics, etc.
The cashew; is a strong plant that is
renowned for growing in soils, especially sandy soils, that are generally
unsuitable for other fruit trees. For the best production deep, well-drained sandy
or sandy-loam soil is recommended. Cashew trees will not grow in poorly-drained
soils.
Farming; is
the act or process of working the ground, planting seeds, and growing edible
plants? You can also describe raising animals for milk or meat as farming. Also farming is a great way to describe the lifestyle and work
of people whose jobs are in the agriculture industry.
Agriculture; is the growing of crops and tending of livestock
whether for subsistence or surplus has replaced hunting and gathering as economic
of the most significance of the Primary activities.(Getis&Fellmann, 2008)
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0. Introduction
This
chapter entails the reviews of the related literatures that having information
related to the challenges being investigated, summary and research gap.
2.1. Review of the related literature
Some researcher
tried to describe and emphasis on the implication of the new cashews technologies
and practice. But the challenges of the cashew nut farming has remained as the
myth in the whole world that is to say the governments and the farmers they
contend each other and become difficult to solve such challenges. The new scientific
practices or approaches such as an ability of farmers or peasants to diversify
and respond to the weather and price information during the crop seasons or
production cycle as among the great factors for the agriculture preventing wide
spread adoption of new cashews technologies although does not become the prime
reason to solve such problems, (Abubakar M. 2003)
Freire, F.C.O.; Cardoso, J.E.; Santos, A.A.;
Viana, F.M.P.( 2002)Problem of Soil; In
China Soil is a challenge
issue in cashew nut farming. The
fertility of soils is destroying day after day due to use of more chemical
fertilizers. Farmers in the Khanakul region of the District Hooghly in China
consider that soil of that region was excellent for cashew farming about two to
three years ago. But recently some problems are identified within soil which is
an important cause for reduction of cashew production.
Food and Agriculture Organization
[FAO].(2005) Problem of Capital;
Finance is a among all challenge
farmers of the State. Farmers of the Hayatpur village in the Khanakul C.D.
Block of Hooghly District are very suitable for cashew production because of
fertile alluvial soil of the river. But the farmers have financial limitation.
Thus, small farmers of the village do not get profit by cashew farming.
Sometimes they do not get good price by trading cashew from the mahjong(local big trader). Other
example is found among the guava farmers of the Baruipur region who clarify
that they do not get any assistance from the Government to get loan for
cultivation. On the other hand, as regards the rural finance, the lending
procedure of the banks had remained unchanged over time and the poor farmers
had to face formidable difficulties in accessing bank loan. Informal
moneylenders who extend credit at an exorbitant rate of interest overwhelmingly
dominate the rural finance. The farmers could not sell their produces at the
procurement centre. The poor farmers either mortgage the harvest to village
moneylenders or sell it to intermediaries. In this way the poor farmers and
sharecroppers in the farming villages could not benefit because they could not
invest in cultivation, they had to depend on rented land and had to borrow from
moneylenders.
Azam-Ali S.H. and Judge E.C. (2000) the high cost of technologies; this
issue was due to fast devaluation of Indian rupee there by amounting the cost
of a product higher when the income of the farmers remained unchanged or
decreased. Policy on subsidization of cost of important implement/technologies
had been discouraged instead VAT had been coupled in agricultural machineries
as it was observed during the time of survey and data collection. Shortage of
Labor remained the next important problem being faced by farmers. Owing to mass
exodus of labor force in urban areas as well as non-remunerative nature of
agricultural laboring, availability of labor during peak agricultural man days
were harshly difficult. Due to improper management of regulated market, farmers
faced long queue in terms of days and weeks in order to commit the sale of
their produce. No alternatives found, as shared by respondents they had to
contact middle men nexus thereby the profit were compromised. Since,
agricultural and allied systems were capital intensive coupled with high
uncertainty right from sowing till marketing, respondents ‘Lack of finance’ one
of the important problems being faced at present. Further, the little hope of
Indian farmers–cashewe nut insurance did not exist well in the study area.
Availing crop insurance by farmers were a great hurdle due to lot of proofs and
paper works where farmers were not so accustomed and ultimately they got rid of
it after several attempts.
Akinwale T.O. and Ayodele E.A.(1999) Problem of Modern Agricultural Inputs;In
African countries The modern agricultural inputs include high yielding improved
seed varieties, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides. Recognizing
the widespread availability of the chemical fertilizer, the farmers had been
confronting problems such as availability of substandard fertilizer; their
higher and unstable price; ignorance of farmers about the application of
fertilizer, and fertilizer crisis. On the other hand it is observed that,
availability of pesticides increased over time at the local level. However, the
price of pesticides recorded an upward trend and there has been more
fluctuation in its price level in recent past. The farmers opined that the
quality of pesticides had deteriorated over time and could not kill pest and
predators as effectively as before. The increased uses of pesticides have been
causing various environmental problems such as the decline in fertility of the
soil. Lastly, nowadays it is noticed that mechanical andmanual weed control
methods are being replaced by chemical control methods. In the Panskura region
50 per cent of the flower cultivated areas are treated with weedicides. But
recently all types of farmers (i.e.large, medium and small) cannot apply these
chemical weedicides on their flower plants due to its high price.
(Boubacar-Sid et al., 2007) In recent
decades the cashew sector has acquired an enormous importance in
Guinea-Bissau’s economy, both in terms of national budget and of the livelihood
of rural populations. This high dependency - cashew nuts make up about 90
percent of Guinea-Bissau’s sum exports (Boubacar-Sid et al., 2007) -
involves risks to the national economy, as cautioned by several authors (e.g.:
Doré et al., 2006). The development of extensive mono-specific plantations like
cashew in Guinea-Bissau harbors risks, such as increased vulnerability to
weather hazards, as well as to the potential for emergence of pests and
diseases, which either adapt to local conditions or are accidentally imported.
On the other hand, a rise in world production or a drop in demand, may force
down the price paid for Guinean raw cashew nuts and the same can occur due to
an increase in output from more competitive suppliers. Each one of these
short-term scenarios may occur such as happened in recent years: in 2011 and 2012,
1 kg of cashew was purchased for between 250-350 CFA (African Financial Community)
francs as opposed to 100-210 CFA francs in 2013. Each of these scenarios is
likely to occur in the medium to long term, and can result in dramatic losses
of export earnings that would impact the living standards of Guineans in both
urban and rural areas. Moreover, at present practically all cashew nut is
exported raw to the Indian market, which implies that the market for Bissau-
Guinean nuts is more restricted than might be assumed by references to the
international market.
In addition to these macroeconomic impacts we
cannot ignore the critical consequences accruing to food security in the
country. Rice production is declining in Guinea-Bissau, partly due to the increase
in cashew cultivation, and as a result, rice imports have increased. A
deterioration in the terms of international trade or other factors that hamper
raw nut sales, can negatively impact the availability of rice and the food
security of populations.
Waugh, D,
(2002)Lack of Domestic Processing;
Tanzania invested heavily in mechanized processing facilities in the 1960s and
1970s with support from the World Bank and other donors. However, these
facilities are no longer being operated, and nearly all cashew nuts are
exported raw to India for processing. Cashew nuts have a hard outer shell and a
leathery inner coating, and both must be removed to obtain the kernel. The
outer shell contains a caustic liquid (cashew nut shell liquid) that blisters
human skin and spoils the kernel on contact. Removing the shell and skin
without breaking or contaminating the kernel is difficult and has been most
successfully done manually by skilled workers.
Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO].
(2015) Problem of Preservation;
Farmers stated that storage is a problem after the harvesting the crops. There
is no good cold storage near the villages. Sometimes proper preservation of
cashew nut is done in the cold storage.
Bloomberg L.p. (2015) Lack of
information on appropriate adaptation option; was the most prioritized problem
as reported by of the respondents with the Garrett Mean. This might be due to
poor mass media usage and poor information seeking and sharing behavior of
respondents as it had been observed during the data collection. Farmers further
indicated that ‘Shortage of cultivable land and unpredictable weather’ was
second ordered problem being faced by farmers. This might be due to fast
fragmentation land ownership due to increase in population thereby agricultural
lands were used in non-agricultural pursuits. It was also observed that fast
urbanization and industrialization has diminished agricultural land. Vagaries
of natural calamities, due to climate change which led to uncertain weather
forecasting as well as deviations from normal cropping calendar were main reasons
for the identified problem.
Bareu, M and
Hoogeven, J (2009) More Aggressive Replanting with Faster Maturing Varieties;Tanzania has a good climate for cashew nut
production, especially in the southern coastal region bordering Mozambique.
However, most of the trees in Tanzania are old, and yields are relatively low.
The Research Station in Mtwara developed new clones in the early 1990s that are
faster maturing than traditional varieties and yield twice as much, but they
have not been widely adopted. Bloomberg L.P. (2015)
|
White, R, (2007)Export Quality has
deteriorated; the decline in quality can be traced to
changes in the grading system. Before liberalization extension agents in the
villages supervised the sorting of cashews into three grades: standard,
under, and rejects. Now cashew nuts are purchased and exported without
grading and often include nuts that would have been rejected before 1994/95.
This has reduced the average export price received for raw cashews.
|
The failure to grade cashew nuts in the
villages has several undesirable consequences. It reduces the incentives for
farmers to produce high-quality nuts because they receive an average price
regardless of quality. It deprives local workers (mostly women) of hourly wages
for sorting and grading. It reduces the price that traders in Tanzania and
importers in India will pay for nuts because they do not know the quality. It
increases transport costs throughout the marketing chain. And the unsorted nuts
do not store well because wet or rotten nuts contaminate good nuts.
There are two possible solutions to the problem
of grading. Either returns to the old system in which extension agents were
responsible for grading or change the marketing system so that it provides
proper price incentives for graded nuts. The second approach is preferable.
Nuts could be graded through an auction sale, with each sale lot (truck load)
sampled before the auction. This would provide an incentive for producers to
grade nuts and to let buyers know the quality of each lot before purchase.
Sampling and grading could be done by auction officials, with the costs of
grading deducted from the sale price.
According toSanderss et al (1996)
argued in the roles of the political matters towards the agricultural
development. The political matters play the great roles toward agricultural
development through policy making and other decision making toward agricultural
development. according the Africa Non State Actual Forum (ANSAF) latest
research conducted in 2008 titled ‘The
form of Tanzania cashew nut Business Environment’ indicate the urgent
need for good policy must focus in the investments of processing industries and
creating attractive environment toward the trade activities to foreign
investors. Because Cashew farming is commercial production which provides an
important source of income for some 250,000 smallholder farmers in Tanzania.
They are especially important in the southern coastal region, where the
districts of Mtwara, Lindi, and Ruvuma account for 80-90 percent of Tanzania’s
marketed cashew crop. These are three of the poorest districts in Tanzania, and
cashew nut is often the main source of cash income for poor farmers. One survey
Sanderss et al (1996) found that cashews accounted for more than three-quarters
of total cash incomes of farmers in these districts. Cashew nuts are also
important to the national economy, providing 18 percent of Tanzania’s
merchandise export earnings in 1999. Cashews are well suited to Tanzania and to
production by poor farmers. The cashew tree’s tolerance of drought conditions
provides a hedge against crop failure. Its ability to grow on poor soils and to
be intercropped with food crops makes it an ideal product for small farmers.
Production responds to fertilization, but the cashew tree produces some nuts
even without the application of purchased inputs. Cashew nuts are consumed as
food as well as marketed for export.
2.2. Summary
Many scholars have tried to analyze the challenges
facing farmers in cashew nut farming. such as Export Quality has deteriorated, Problem of Soil, More Aggressive
Replanting with Faster Maturing Varieties,) Lack of Domestic Processing, Lack of information on appropriate
adaptation option, The high cost
of technologies, Problem of Capital,
also famers face a Problem of Modern
Agricultural Inputs, since many smallholders depends on agriculture as the
economy base of the economy nationwide measures against such problems must be
taken.
2.3.
Research Gap
Various researchers
have written challenges facing farmers in cashew nut farming and how those challenges
affected the cashew nut farming in national and regional level. This study
intended to asses’ challenges faced farmers to the local levels who are the
main producer of cashew nut national wide and world.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.0. Introduction
This chapter deals with explanation of the methodology
that was used in the study. Along with data collection, data analysis,
interpretation technique and procedure for presentation as well as the setting
of the study area Research methodology is systematic attempt or procedures to
be applied by the researcher in conducting scientific inquiry (Kothari
2004).
The study conducted in Mtwara region. The
study focused in Mtwara rural district namely Ziwani village. Whereby are
nearby Msangamkuu. This village was selecting because many people who chosen in
these village are engaged in farming activities as their main economic
activities that help them to reduce poverty in their societies.
Research design is the arrangement of
conditions for the collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to
combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure (Kothari
2004). The study used case study design to obtain qualitative data which helped
to get the accurate data.
Population is the totality of any group unity which has one or
more traits in common that are
of interest to the researcher and it taken
to large group of people or element.
In this study the targeted population is farmers, village extension
officers and district agricultural officer.
3.4. Sampling techniques
Since the distribution pattern of Mtwara
rural area is scattered the researcher applied random sampling whereby many
individual get an opportunity from the whole group. Therefore the researcher
used this technique by using questionnaire via this instruments helped a
research to collect more information within a short period of time.
Kombo (2006), argue that, a sample is a small
portion of a population selected that will participate in the study. To obtain the
sample size the research targets to use the rule of thumbs as the way of
getting sample size. According to John (1994), the rule of thumb state that for
(0—100) population (100%) of respondents should be used and (101—1000) of the
population should be used as a population sample for data collection. Where by
population of study is more than 300 peoples, therefore the researcher used
(10%) of the population study, due to this, 30 respondents used as a sample to
represent the whole population. The sample comprised different respondents of
different status like 10 peasant, 10 agriculture stakeholders, 2cashew nut
board officer, 2 agriculture officer and other 6 cashew nuts production
experts.
Data collection means together information
which is specially aimed at providing some facts (Combo and Tromp, 2006). In
this study the data collection based on primary source data and secondary
source data
Are
those data which are collected afresh and for the first time and thus happen to
be original in character (kathori, 2004).
Refer to the first hand collected information
or Primary data is information gathered directly from respondents through
questionnaire, interview guide and observing the real situation concerning
illiterates and experimental studies, (Kombo and Tromp, 2006). A researcher used
interview method, questionnaire method and observing the real situation
concerning illiterates to collect primary data.
Is the presentation of oral verbal stimuli
and reply in terms of oral verbal responses (kathorik, 2004) .The researcher is
decide to use this study since it provides the a chance for free respondents by
the respondents. In this study, face to face interview method through
instructing oral questions were used to interviewing the peasants, agriculture
stakeholder and officers. This is to be done since the study needs detailed
information from those groups of respondents especially the peasants and
agricultural officers, this method were applied to interview 4 peasants
especially those who are unable to read and write. This is to be done in order
to minimize the possibility of losing the information from those people who unable
to read and write. Therefore this method enabled the study to get actual data
from the field.
Is a formatted set of questions drawn up to
meet the objectives of the study (Gina, 2014)
The study used this method to gather a lot of
information within a short period of time from a wide area of study. The
questionnaire distribute among the mentioned respondents so as to avoid
interruption of their daily routine activities. Written printed questionnaire
were provided to the selected respondents like 8 peasants, 6 agriculture
stakeholders, 2 agricultural officers, 6 cashew nut production expertise’s.
Is the ability of notice significant details
or is an action of closely looking or monitoring. (John 2000). Whereby a
researcher used non participants by looking the general process of how cashew
nut is affected and the problems that face its production in rural areas or
not. Through observation it helps a researcher to obtain the reliable.
Secondary data are not data collected
directly by the user nor specifically for the user, analysis of published
material or information from internal sources that can be documented or
electronically stored information, they often referred to as desk research, (Kombo
and Tromp, 2006).
Is the process of bring order, structure and
measuring to the mass of information collected (Mugenda, 1999) both qualitative
and quantitative methods used in
analyzing and interpreting the data. Through the method the study enabled to
reach the conclusion and recommendation on the findings (results) which will be
found on the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF DATA AND DISCUSSION OF STUDY
FINDING
4.0 Introduction.
This
chapter dealt with the presentation, analysis and discussion of findings
obtained from the study in which the study was carried. Generally, the study
was aimed to Assess on challenges facing farmers of cashew nut in cashew nut
farming in Mtwara rural area. The study
also included three specific objects which are the examination on the
contribution of cashew nut farming to the daily life of farmers in Mtwara rural
area, identification of challenges facing farmers of cashew nut in cashew nut
farming and the measure to overcome the challenge facing farmers of cashew nut in
cashew nut farming.
Presentation
and discussion of findings in this chapter were done under four measure
sections which are father subdivided into subsections in relation to themes of
the research objectives. The first section presents the respondents
characteristics; the second section presents the contribution of cashew nut
farming to the daily life of people in Mtwara rural area, third section
presents the challenges facing farmers of cashew nut in cashew nut farming and
the fourth section presents the measure that should be used to overcome the challenges
facing farmers of cashew nut in cashew nut farming Mtwara rural district.
4.1 Demographic information
For
fulfilling the study objectives, the study considered various characteristics
of respondents to show reliability of the data collected. Gender of the
respondents, Age of the Respondents, education level, marital status and
occupations of the respondents. Were some of the respondents’ characteristics
considered by the study.
Table 4.1: To indicate
characteristics of respondents
|
NO:
|
CATEGORIES
|
GROUP
|
FREQUENCES
|
PARECENTAGE (%)
|
|
1
|
Gender
|
Male
|
14
|
46.6
|
|
Female
|
16
|
53.3
|
||
|
Total
|
30
|
100
|
||
|
2
|
Age
|
15-30
|
15
|
50
|
|
31-45
|
9
|
30
|
||
|
46+
|
6
|
20
|
||
|
Total
|
30
|
100
|
||
|
3
|
Education level
|
Degree
|
5
|
16.66
|
|
Ordinary
level
|
15
|
50
|
||
|
Primary
|
10
|
33.33
|
||
|
Total
|
30
|
100
|
||
|
4
|
Marital status
|
Single
|
13
|
43.33
|
|
Marriage
|
17
|
56.66
|
||
|
Total
|
30
|
100
|
||
|
5
|
Occupations
|
Employed
|
9
|
30
|
|
Farmers
|
21
|
70
|
||
|
Total
|
30
|
100
|
Source:
field data, 2019
4.2
The
contribution of cashew nut farming to
the daily life of farmers in Mtwara rural area
4.2.1. Meeting basic needs
Food,
shelter and clothing are the three important basic needs that human beings
needs to have .From the study 4
respondents equal to13.3% explained that
cashew nut farming produces income that helps farmers to meet three basic needs
that includes food, shelters and clothing. Basing on this category farmer is
able to maintain their living standard of life. Also Findings indicated that farmers
at Ziwani village they use cashew nuts income to send their children to school.
By achieving this parents are able to reduce illiteracy rate and reach the
goals of providing education to their children
4.2.2. Building modern permanent
houses with blocks.
From
the study 5 respondents’ equal to27.7% explained that cashew nuts income helps
them to construct modern houses by using blocks. The income generated from
selling cashew nuts lead to manage the cost of purchase of materials
that are
used for constructional of these
permanent ensures farmers with security and
having better shelter in the
daily life.
4.2.3 Paying medical bills and
health services,
6
respondents equal to33.3% from study indicates that cashew nut production
provides income that help farmers to have access to medical services and paying
bills. This helps them to reduce death rate and having better health in the
daily life.
4.2.4. Access to transport and
communication
3
respondents equal to 16.6% from the study explained that Communication and
transport is important tools to development in rural developments. The income
generated from selling of cashew nut have helped farmers to have access to
transport and communication by buying Mobile phone and Motorcycles that makes
easy communication from rural areas to urban areas.
Table4.2.The
Contribution of cashew nuts farming to the economic livelihood of farmers
|
NO:
|
Contribution of cashew nuts farming to the
economic livelihood of farmers
|
Frequency
|
Percentage (%)
|
|
1
|
Meeting
basic needs
|
4
|
13.3
|
|
2
|
Building
modern permanent houses with blocks
|
5
|
27.7
|
|
3
|
Paying
medical bills and health services
|
6
|
33.3
|
|
4
|
Access
to transport and communication
|
3
|
16.6
|
|
Total
|
|
14
|
100
|
Source:
field data, 2019
4.3. The challenges facing farmers
of cashew nut in cashew nut farming in Mtwara Rural area.
4.3.1 High cost of purchase
material for production
Importance
factor that insure the growth of cashew nut and its sustainability at Ziwani
village is the presence of pesticides such as Thioritjet, sulphur,Ninja,Mupavil
and Zofran (Ziwani agriculture Research
Instate (ZARI) 2012). These pesticides are distributed by certified
suppliers approved by CBT and sell these pesticides basing or subsidy (50%) and
the remaining amount is paid by farmers on average with the cost of Tsh
13000/=per 1 Liter, often it depends on the size of demand, when the demand is
high the price rise hence farmers fails to supply enough pesticides in cashew
nut trees.
4.3.2
Pest and disease
Presence
of pest and disease was identified as a challenge facing cashew nuts farming in
Mtwara rural area through the field data from cashew nut officer’s peasants and
stakeholders 5 respondents’ equivalents 16.67% argued that presence of pest and
disease was among challenge facing cashew nuts. During interview with peasants one
of respondents disclosed that presence of pest due to the environmental changes
was among of the problem which affects cashew nut example of that paste such as
anthracnose, colletotriclum and gloesporoides in Mtwara rural was among the challenge
facing farmers in cashew nut farming.
Figure 4.3.2: The cashew nut faced
by disease
Source:
field data, 2019
4.3.3 Poor farming equipment
It
was revealed that inadequate of the equipment facilities was among the challenge
facing farmers of cashew nut in cashew nut farming. The field data from cashew
nut officers, peasant and other stakeholders 6 respondent equivalent 20% argue
that inadequate of the government facilities was among the problem facing
farmers in cashew farming. The pruning is limited to the removal of limbs to
facilitate movements of machinery in commercial plantation and is only
practices on trees that are 6 years old or greater. Such facilities are like
hoe, axes and rake which yield low production of cashew nut output.
4.3.4 Low level of the technology
From
field study it was identified that low level of technology was among the challenge
facing farmer of cashew nut in cashew nut farming. Expert, agriculture
stakeholders and peasants it was revealed that low level of the technology was
among the challenge facing
farmers in cashew nut farming. 2 respondents equal 6.67% of the respondents
disclosed that low level of technology was among of the challenge facing farmers in cashew farming.
The government made efforts to reduce problems in cashew nut farming, effort
such as establishment of cashew nut board of Tanzania (CBT) through the act
No.21 of 1984 to replace Cashew nut Marketing Body (CMB) which proved failure.
Also through trade liberalization and exchange rates adjustments, training
specialist, provision of manures and prices.
4.3.5 Price fluctuation
This
identified from the respondents which show that price fluctuation is a big
challenge facing farmers in cashew farming because the price changes every year
sometimes it falls sometimes rises. The field data from cashew officers, Peasants
and other stake holders 3 respondents equal to 10% argued that last year 2018
the price was low thus why the government refused brokers to buy cashew nut due
to low price which they aimed to pay, the brokers wanted to pay Tsh 2500-2700/=
per kilogram, so the government decided to buy themselves from farmers for
Tsh3300/= per kilogram though the government delayed to pay the farmer on time
this discouraged farmers, but on the
year of 2017 the price was at least good as it was Tsh3800/= per kilogram this
increment of price motivate the farmers
during that period compared to the price of 2014-2015 in which they were paid
in instruments of 600Tsh and then paid 400tsh which is under 1000 thousand
shillings. This process of decrease and increase of price discourages farmers.
4.3.6 Inadequate government support
It
was identified that government support was among the challenge facing farmers of cashew nut production
in Mtwara rural. 2 Respondents equal 6.67% disclosed that inadequate government
support was among the challenge
facing farmers in cashew farming. The government fails to finances on the development
of cashew farming. Poor government support in term of facilities used, finance
of chemicals for the killings pets and disease was identified as the challenge face farmers in the
Mtwara rural. In term of cashew nut product in process, storage and harvesting
is still poor and lead to low productivity of cashew nut output. During
interviewed with cashew nut farmers one of respondents disclosed that,
“Young trees should be provided
with supplemental irrigation to help them grow, in which government do not
support during that period thus the lead to drying out of cashew nuts leaves”
4.3.7 Lack of training to the
farmers.
Training
is important factor for the improvement of farms up to the last stage harvest.
Finding from the study 4 respondents equal to 13.33% showed that the farmers
lack important training on better method of taking care their farms, this lead
to operation of farms with low yields. Farmers’ interview on three sampled
village pointed out that they lack enough training of cashew nut production that
affect much production. Training is accompanied teaching farmers to use better
pest and vegetable propagation by using polythene.
Table 4.3: The problems facing
farmers in cashew farming.
|
No:
|
Problems facing farmers in
cashew farming
|
Frequency
|
Percentage (%)
|
|
1
|
High
cost of purchase material for production
|
7
|
23.33
|
|
2
|
Pest
and disease
|
5
|
16.67
|
|
3
|
Poor
farming equipment
|
6
|
20
|
|
4
|
Low
level of the technology
|
2
|
6.67
|
|
5
|
Low
price of cashew Nuts Products
|
3
|
10
|
|
6
|
Inadequate
government support
|
2
|
6.67
|
|
7
|
Lack
of training farmers
|
4
|
13.33
|
|
Total
|
30
|
100
|
|
Source:
field data, 2019
4.4 The Measures for the problems
facing Farmers in Cashew farming
4.4.1 Provision of modern
instruments
It
was revealed that provision of the instruments as one of the measure for the
problems facing farmers in cashew farming. 5
respondents equivalents to 16.67% of the respondents said yes that
provision of the modern instruments facilities was one of measures which face
cashew nut production, while on other side one respondents from agriculture
officers, peasants and stakeholders of cashew nuts said No. Modern instruments
enables easy in the harvesting and during process of cashew nut. Through that
could enable the productivity of cashew farming production.
4.4.2 Price regulation of cashew
nuts products.
Price
regulation of the cashew nut crops also was one of the measures for the
problems which face farmers in cashew farming. From field data it was revealed
that 6 respondents equal to 20 percentage of the respondents argue that price
regulations of cashew nut crops was among the measures of the challenges which
face farmers of cashew nut in cashew farming. It was suggested that price
regulation of cashew nuts crops this increase the motivation among the farmers
of cashew nut productions. This revealed
during interviews with the cashew nuts officers said that the governments
should regulates the price which could influence and encouraged the increase of
the production of cashew nuts production.
4.4.3 Provision of market
Market
is the place in which sellers and buyer meet for the exchange. Thus from field
data it was identified that provision of market bas the one of the measure for
the challenges facing farmers in cashew nuts production. 5 respondent equal to
the 16.66% of the respondents said yes that provision of the market for the
cashew nut product as the one of the measures for the challenge which faces farmers in cashew farming.
Market of cashew nuts production is very essential for increase the
productivity of the farmers of cashew nuts production. The production of cashew
nut is high but there is no market could enables the framers to gain prices
inadequate market discourage the farmers since they produce but there no
profits.
4.4.4 Use of agriculturally
chemicals for killing pest
It
was identified that medical for killing pest was among the measures for cashew
nuts production. 2 respondents from peasants which equal to 6.67% of the
respondents disclosed that availability of the chemical for killing pest as one
of the measure for the challenge
which faces farmers in cashew nut farming. There is higher production but due
to the disease which affects cashew nuts they hinder in the production process.
A protective coating of copper based of fungicide on susceptible parts of
plants can prevent the buds begin to expand through to fruits set but are not
required during dry periods. The medicine such as sulphur, colletotrichum,
gloeosporoides and anthracnose can be used to kill the attacks disease in the
cashew.
4.4.5 Provision of education to the
farmers
From
the findings 5 respondents from peasants which equal to 16.66% said that the
farmers at Ziwani village should be given continuous training to know the
change in form system for them to cope with the environmental impact on the
production of cashew nut trees. These training must include the use of new seed
(polyclinic seeds) recommendation currently farm.
4.4.6 Improvement of infrastructure
Infrastructure
is the essential component in transporting cashew nut from farmers to
destination of exporting that from Mtwara regional is done at Mtwara Port. But
from findings 7 respondents from peasants which equal to 23.33% said that The
road network from Ziwani is not in tarmac structure that affected much
transport of cashew nut from Ziwani to Mtwara regional for export especially
during rainy season.
Table 4.4: Measures for the
problems facing Farmers in Cashew farming.
|
No:
|
Measures for the problems
facing Farmers in Cashew farming.
|
Frequency
|
Percentage (%)
|
|
1
|
Provision
of modern instruments
|
5
|
16.67
|
|
2
|
Price
regulation of cashew nuts products
|
6
|
20
|
|
3
|
Provision
of market
|
5
|
16.66
|
|
4
|
Use
of agriculturally chemicals for killing pest
|
2
|
6.67
|
|
5
|
Provision
of education to the farmers
|
5
|
16.66
|
|
6
|
Improvement
of infrastructure
|
7
|
23.33
|
|
Total
|
|
30
|
100
|
Source:
field data, 2019
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction.
In
this chapter a research study describes the summary, conclusion and
recommendations concerning challenge
facing farmers of cashew nut in cashew nut farming in Mtwara rural. Cause for challenge facing farmers in
cashew nut farming and measures for the challenge facing farmers in cashew nut farming in Mtwara rural. The
explanations were the opinions from the researchers according to the findings
that obtained from the field study.
5.2 Summary.
As
the data collected indicated, most of the farmers complained about the problem
of price fluctuation of cashew nut to become a big challenge. These markets are therefore fairly
inefficient in a formal economic sense, due to the lack of availability of key
information. The lack of information further extends to insufficient knowledge
about the existing or future economic potential of the lands in question, and
villagers being able to correctly ascertain the opportunity cost involved in
losing their land. The markets value of land like much of Tanzania’s rural
natural-resources based economy is therefore ‘hidden’ and difficult to capture
in a formal economic or financial sense.
5.3 Conclusion.
The
societies should be aware on the challenge
facing farmers of cashew nut farming in order to reduce this challenge in a certain extent
and in order to obtain level of development from it. Also the community should
be accepted with the provision of education, enacted laws, and a forestation
and reforestation that are providing by expertise in order to make availability
of rainfall and usefulness of its resources. The problem that Mtwara rural
facing were lack of facilities, poor governments supports and availability of
pests and disease of the crops. This research found that 73.3% of the
respondents said low price facilities are the problem that facing farmers in
cashew nut product. Therefore measure are needed lack of agricultural facilities
to the farmers both community and authorities that concerned with the
responsibilities of implementing the policies and rules of agricultural for
development by expanding agricultural activities by using irrigation system
along river. The government should not keep in its own on keeping the villages
executive officers, but they should involve other expertise from Non-Government
Organization (NGOs) who can support to reduce the challenges that facing
farmers in cashew production.
5.4 Recommendations.
In
order to solve challenges faced farmers of cashew nut farming in Mtwara rural
for the both sustainable developments, both societies, governments, investors
and Non-governments organization has to play a great role as explaining below.
5.4.1 Societies.
The
societies as the potential part should involve effectively in production of the
cashew nut as the part of changing their economic rather than considering such
production as just for attaining the basic needs as food, shelter and cloths.
By doing so the society will cooperate with the governments and all
non-government in bringing the cashew nuts production in Mtwara rural.
5.4.2 Government.
The
government should construct good infrastructures such as roads, railway and
airports for transporting cashew nuts either from site to the market but also
improve and employ new science and technology in term of new methods of
farming, improving tools and know-how in order to motivate the farmers. This
will cope with the challenges climate. By doing so the farmers will observe the
efficiency production of the cashew nuts where in turn their living welfare and
the country economy.
5.4.3 Investors.
Investors
is the essential institution in the country especial in the area of cashew nut
production where the government should prepare the conductive environment for
them to involve in the production by decreasing the taxes to them as the way to
attracts investment in cashew nut production this will encourage both the
farmers and investors involve in cashew nuts production.
5.4.4 Non-Governments
Organizations.
Non-governments
organization have to cooperate with the government and societies in providing
them education and financial support on the ways of increasing output in
production of cashew nut for their developments, individual and national level.
Example of the NGOs involves in provision of education and financial supports
in cashew nut production are like TASAF.
APPENDIX 1
Questionnaires to the cashew nut farmers.
I am STEPHANO SANGA, students from Stella Maris Mtwara University
Collage (STEMMUCO), conducting research on the “The problems facing farmers in
cashew farming Mtwara rural” The information to be gathered is for academic
matters and not otherwise. Please you are kindly requested to be gathered is
for academic matter and not otherwise. Please you are kindly requested to
provide your cooperation for the accomplishment of this study.
Put a tick in the bracket for a write
response given under each option and fill in the blanks given.
Gender
male ( ) female (
)
Marital status:
Married ( ) Single (
)
Age:
25-34 ( )
35-44years (
) 45+years ( )
Level of education: STD 7 (
), form four ( ),
Certificate ( )
Diploma ( ) Bachelor Degree ( )
others _____________________
Occupation_________________________.
1. What is the rate of Cashew nuts production in your area?
High ( ) Medium ( )
Low ( )
2.How do you prepare cashew nut production ?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.-------------------------------------------------------------.
3. What are the problems which facing during preparation of cashew nut
production?-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
4. Where do you getting money to buy machine in protecting harmful
organisms from cashew nut production?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
5.What ways do you use in selling the cashew nut
production?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.What do you benefiting from cashew nut
farming?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
7. What problems do you face when dealing with cashew nut farming?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.What do you think can be the possible solution to these
problems?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX 2
Questionnaires to the Agricultural officers
I am STEPHANO SANGA, students from Stella Maris Mtwara University
Collage (STEMMUCO), conducting research on the “The challenges facing farmers
in cashew farming Mtwara rural” The information to be gathered is for academic
matters and not otherwise. Please you are kindly requested to be gathered is
for academic matter and not otherwise. Please you are kindly requested to
provide your cooperation for the accomplishment of this study.
Put a tick in the bracket for a write
response given under each option and fill in the blanks given.
Gender
male ( ) female (
)
Marital status:
Married ( ) Single (
)
Age:
25-34 ( )
35-44years ( )
45+years ( )
Level of education: STD 7 (
), form four ( ),
Certificate ( )
Diploma ( ) Bachelor Degree ( )
others _____________________
Occupation_________________________.
1. What is the rate of Cashew nuts production in your area?
High ( ) Medium ( )
Low ( )
2. How the Cashew nuts price in your area?
Good ( ) Normal ( )
Bad ( )
3.What are the contribution of
the governments,NGOs, CBT and cooperative societies on cashew nut
farmers in
Mtwara?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
4.What does government benefit from the cashew nut in Mtwara rural
district?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
5.What are efforts of government on ensuring enrichment the cashew nut
production?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
6. Are those efforts beneficial to farmers? If YES or NO how?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX
3
Questionnaires to the Cashew nut board
officer
I am STEPHANO SANGA, students
from Stella Maris Mtwara University Collage (STEMMUCO), conducting research on
the “The challenges facing farmers in cashew farming Mtwara rural” The
information to be gathered is for academic matters and not otherwise. Please
you are kindly requested to be gathered is for academic matter and not
otherwise. Please you are kindly requested to provide your cooperation for the
accomplishment of this study.
Put a tick in the bracket for a write
response given under each option and fill in the blanks given.
Gender
male ( ) female (
)
Marital status:
Married ( ) Single
( )
Age:
25-34 ( )
35-44years ( )
45+years ( )
Level of education: STD 7 (
), form four ( ),
Certificate ( )
Diploma ( ) Bachelor Degree ( )
others _____________________
Occupation_________________________.
1. What is the rate of Cashew nuts production in your area?
High ( ) Medium ( )
Low ( )
2. How the Cashew nuts price in your area?
Good ( ) Normal ( )
Bad ( )
3.What are the contribution of
the governments,NGOs, CBT and cooperative societies on cashew nut
farmers in Mtwara?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
4.What does government benefit from the cashew nut in Mtwara rural
district?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
5.What are efforts of government on ensuring enrichment the cashew nut
production?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
6. Are those efforts beneficial to farmers? If YES or NO
how?----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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