The role of capacity-building programs on the Economic Development of Women Smallholder Farmers.

Abstract

The study explains the role of capacity-building programs in boosting the economic development of women smallholder farmers and concludes that smallholder agriculture will be a driver of economic growth and development in Tanzania. However, women smallholder farmers are constrained by a lack of capital assets that would enable them to increase agricultural productivity, food security, and income. Despite these challenges, women smallholder farmers contribute significantly to the rural economy and play a significant role in natural resource conservation. The study initially identifies the different capacity building approaches used, then examines the economic welfare of women smallholder farmers and lastly evaluates the influence of the capacity building approaches in promoting attainment of economic development among women smallholder farmers. The study adopted a cross- sectional research design which is a type of observational study that analyses data collected from a population or a representative subset at a specific point in time and provides a clear 'snapshot' of the outcome and the characteristics associated with it. The study used a sample size of 109 respondents selected through area sampling by choosing respondents from different villages within Karatu district. Data was collected from 11 villages by the use of questionnaire and the data was analyzed using descriptive analysis method through percentages, mean and standard deviation with the aid of the statistical package of social scientist program SPSS version 20. The study findings show that capacity building program has a positive influence to the individual economic development of women smallholder farmers in Karatu district like improvement of productivity in agriculture, income variation, early acceptance of modern technology, attainment of proper nutrition, and being able to pay for their children’s education. Furthermore, the findings conclude that capacity building viii approaches are important in promoting women smallholder farmers economic development but challenges such as high interest rates, provision of lower inputs and low education levels of beneficiaries’ act as challenges towards attaining development. Lastly, strategies that were recommended are the increase in frequency of the provision of training to women smallholder farmers together with the revision of interest exerted on loans provided to women smallholder farmers to help them attain both the knowledge and funds to increase income variation and improve their economic status.