The Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Variations on Household Food Status in Bahi District, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to examine the socio-economic factors influencing variations on household food status in Ibugule and Kigwe villages, Bahi district, Tanzania. A mixed method approach through cross sectional research design was employed to 130 household heads aged 18 years and above. Interviews, focus group discussion, documentary review and field observation techniques were used in data collection. Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages were used to analyze quantitative data while content analysis has been used to analyze qualitative data. The relationship between demographic characteristics and the status of household food security was tested through Pearson Chi-square Tests at 5% significant level. The main socio-economic factors identified as influencing variations on household food status were demographic variables such as sex, age, marital status, household sizes and household heads’ occupations. Other factors include labour variations, variations on the use of agricultural inputs and equipments as well as improper usage of household grains. The correlation results indicate significant influence of sex, marital status, education level, household size and occupation on household food status variations while age had insignificant influence.  It is concluded that, variations on household food status in Bahi district is aggravated by socio-economic characteristics though the amount of grain harvested is mainly controlled by climatic factors.  Therefore, in addition to providing food aid at times of dire food shortages caused by recurring droughts, other measures such as education on post-harvest loses, proper use of the harvested grains, availability of soft loans and provision of agricultural education on good farming techniques ought to be effected in order to improve crop production and supply consequently, reduce transitory households food insecurity.

Keywords: Socio-economic factors, household food status, transitory food insecurity, grains, Bahi, Tanzania