Incentives for food crop production in Tanzania : with special reference to the Mbeya region
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine the potential impacts of a) increased output prices, b) reduction of input costs, and c) improved technology on increasing food production, specifically marketable surplus in the Mbeya region of Tanzania. A linear programming model was used to maximize net farm incomes given variable costs by comparison of two sets of technology, namely, Technology Set I and Technology Set II. Technology Set I (existing production conditions) is a proxy for traditional agriculture, and an inverse of the improved one. Technology Set II (improved production conditions) represents technology that has been determined to be physically possible in research trials for the region. It is assumed to be profitable and technically feasible but as yet it has not been adopted in the region by food producers. Production activities under traditional technology entered the plan and a number of bottlenecks in the form of land preparation, weeding, and harvesting labour were encountered. Parametric programming, a post optimal analysis, was used to see the impact of increased prices from current government price levels, reduced input costs, and improved technology. Some agricultural economists have recommended increased output prices for food producers in order to stimulate an increased level of food production. In a labour surplus, hand hoe technology oriented economies, output prices paid to food producers affects total output up to a level dictated by physical and technical factors. Crude tool technology creates physical constraints upon the supply of food and limits the production capacity. The study has indicated that little or no additional food production is likely to be forthcoming in the short run due to labour shortages at specific times for key activities during crop year, e.g., weeding, harvesting, etc. There is no single policy which is necessary and sufficient for increased food production and, hence, marketable surplus. However, in order to obtain sustained increases in food production in the region, it is necessary first to introduce bottleneck-breaking technology which will perform better than crude tool technology, now being used. Only after doing this will increased output prices have a positive impact on the level of food production and, hence, marketable surplus.
Degree
Ph. D.
Thesis Department
Rights
OpenAccess.
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