Sesame Value Chain and its Influence on Smallholder Farmers Livelihhods in Tanzania

Abstract

This study access Sesame Value Chain and its influence on Smallholder Farmers Livelihoods in Tanzania a case of Handeni District. Sesame is among the five major oilseed crops in Tanzania. The main objective was to assess sesame value chain and its influence on smallholder livelihood particularly in Handeni. A sample size of 50 respondents (farmers) was randomly selected using multistage sampling procedures. The study used primary data obtained from small holder's farmers through a focus group discussion and questionnaires. The finding used different logistic regression because dependent variable was categorical and independent where dichotomous and an ordinal variable from the objective. Finding revealed all wards was observed that; productivity of Sesame increases significantly of 0.05 due to age, sex, size of land cultivated, Sesame seed variety, extension service means of cultivation and family member. Also, Sesame Activities influence smallholder income generates from sesame sale increases with the amount of sesame marketed. However, llivelihoods capabilities in market arrangement for quantity and market information is significant of 0.05 clearly indicate a preferred market contribution. The conclusion from this study Primary producers, especially smallholders, lack the necessary technical and material input to improve their production and productivity; market arrangements are not well organized, nor are they regularly employed by chain actors. To overcome this situation, it has been recommended that development of processing industries has significant potential to increase the value added of agricultural products, both in domestic and export-oriented chains.