A Survey Report on Pyrethrum Production in Njombe and Makete Districts of Iringa Region

Abstract

This survey has been done for the purpose of getting some highlights on the current situation of the pyrethrum industry in Tanzania, particularly on smallholder producers in Njombe and Makete district and the performance of the Mafinga based Pyrethum Extractiion Plant (MPEF). Specifically, issues dealt with in the survey include the analysis of the nature of smallholder farmers resource ownership and suse with their effect on pyrethrum produdcüon and mareketing, the associated constraints, the relative profitability pf the pyrethrum crop and the requirements, working and problems of the Mafinga plant. The survey was done from December 20, 1991 to February 15, 1992 and it covered ten villages from which a total of 100 farmers were randomly selected and interviewed. The survey has established that land and labour are the main constraints in pyrethrum production, producers get very small returns from the crop (the crop has a low relative profitability), and extension and marketing services are poorly organised. The Mafinga is operating below capacity and the machinery of the plant need some repairs but funds are not available for the job and the product is not refined at the plant. This calls for an urgent need to either privatise the plant, including the liberalization of the marketing of the pyrethrum crop. This will attract potential owners with adequate capital to run the plant and farmers will get access to rnore potential buyers i.e. widen the market opportunities. Competition in marketing of the crop may assist in pushing up producer prices.