Decline in Coffee and Ascendancy of Banana Production and its Effects on Household Income in Moshi Rural District, Tanzania

Abstract

The study centred in examining the decline in coffee and ascendancy of banana production and its effects to household income in Moshi Rural District in Kilimanjaro, specifically aimed to assess socio-economic characteristics of smallholder farmers, determine the trend of coffee and banana produced and sold at household level, determine factors for the decline in coffee and ascendancy of banana production and examining socio-economic effects of the decline in coffee. The study employed a cross sectional design. Data were collected from Moshi Rural District in Marangu West ward, sample size of 112 has been used, and simple random sampling and purposive sampling were employed to obtain quantitative and qualitative data, using structured questionnaires, focus group discussion and interview. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, cross tabulation, chi square, multiple linear regressions and multiple responses. Factors for the decline in coffee production from regression revealed a total of seven determinants including supply of agriculture input, change of rainfall, population growth, management of cooperative, pest and diseases, and coffee price. Six factors are statistically significant at p-value 0.005 except one factor which appear insignificant which is change in Temperature with the p-value of 0.711. Widespread of socio-economic effect in coffee production result to the decrease in income, lack of employment and low saving. Both the trend of coffee produced at household level tend to decrease while for banana production trend to ascend from 2010 to 2015.Therefore the study recommends the government through its agencies such as TCB and KNCU has to enhance the market for coffee production that is suitable to meet the cost of production.