Economic Efficiency of Organic Coffee Farmers in Kilimanjaro Region
Economic Efficiency of Organic Coffee Farmers in Kilimanjaro Region

Author: Harold Terewaeli Lema

Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing

Published: 2014-09-04

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 9783659584886

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"Organic farming is viewed as affordable farming technology for small scale coffee farmers in Tanzania who cannot afford high costs of production due to continuously increasing prices of inorganic inputs and low prices of coffee. However, there is no consensus among researchers on how organic farming technology affects profit and production efficiency of organic farms. Therefore, this study compares economic efficiency of organic and conventional coffee farming in Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania. Data related to the factors of production and socioeconomic characteristics were collected from 115 coffee farmers. The profit function approach was used. Analytical tools included descriptive statistics and seemingly unrelated regression (SURE). It revealed that the variable costs of organic coffee farming per acre were 45% lower than those of conventional coffee farming while the gross profit received from organic coffee farms per acre was 65% lower than that obtained from conventional coffee farms. Efficiency analysis conducted using the profit function, jointly estimated with wage share equation indicated that economic and technical efficiencies were in favor of conventional farms."

Identifying priority value chains in Tanzania
Identifying priority value chains in Tanzania

Author: Thurlow, James

Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst

Published: 2018-08-23

Total Pages: 20

ISBN-13:

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Value chain development is increasingly perceived as an important approach for agricultural development in developing countries. This paper uses a Rural Investment and Policy Analysis (RIAPA) model for the mainland Tanzania economy to identify the agricultural activities and value-chains whose expansion will be most effective at fostering economic development along four dimensions: generating economic growth in the agricultural-food sector of Tanzania; reducing national and rural poverty; generating employment; and improving nutrition by diversifying diets. The results of scenarios run through the model suggests that there is no single value-chain that can achieve all of the policy objectives. Instead, a more balanced portfolio of value-chains would not only enhance agriculture’s future contribution to poverty reduction and economic growth, but also promote faster rural transformation and dietary diversification, both of which are needed to create job opportunities and improve nutrition outcomes over the longer-term. The analysis suggests that vegetables, coffee, milk, cotton, nuts, and oilseeds should be considered as “priority” value-chains, because these are the most effective at achieving multiple policy objectives. Other value-chains that meet several of the development objectives considered include maize, fishing, wheat and barley, rice, cattle, and poultry and eggs.