Empirical Study on Factors Effecting Banana Productivity from the Gender Perspective: A Case of Matombo SACCO in Tanzania

Abstract

Agriculture plays an important role in the Tanzanian economy accommodating approximately 74% of the country’s population and contributing 25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite the fact that majority of people in the country engage in agricultural production, the level of productivity remains low because of weak and unaccountable agricultural institutions, as well as socio-economic and cultural barriers. Low productivity in the banana sub-sector affects the well being of smallholder farmers and ultimately leads to food insecurity in the country. SACCOs’ intervention in the respective sub-sector focuses on empowering farmers through the provision of financial and technical services so as to enhance productivity for the common good. This study assessed the role played by SACCOs in supporting the livelihood of male and female banana growers. Raw data were collected from 45 male members and 45 female members together with key informants through structured questionnaire and in-depth interview respectively. Content analysis was used for analyzing qualitative data while Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS software) and Microsoft Excel was used for analyzing quantitative data. The study identified that the level of productivity among male was higher than their female counterparts. The results of multiple regression of the double log form showed that age, education, extension services and SACCOs’ agricultural credit were highly statistically significant, implying positive influence on banana productivity for both male and female members. It was concluded that SACCOs played an essential role in improving banana productivity for their members; however, the discrepancy in productivity between male and female members was identified. Therefore, the study recommends that capacity building should be given the first priority for empowering female members in terms of their awareness in taping the available socio-economic opportunities and skills enhancement.

Keywords: Banana Productivity, SACCOs’ membership, Gender Parity