Browsing by Author "Mark M Msaki"

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CEREAL BANK AS A NECESSARY RURAL LIVELIHOOD INSTITUTE IN ARID LAND, MAKOJA VILLAGE, DODOMA-TANZANIA
(Asian Economic and Financial Review, 2013) Mark M Msaki; Michael I Mwenda; Irene J Regnard
In 2012, the study was carried at Makoja Village, in Semi-Arid region of Dodoma. The aim of the conducted study was to assess the importance of Cereal Bank to livelihood of farming households. A total of 80 respondents were interviewed. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 computer program. The major findings of the study revealed that, almost all of the households (96.2 %) were poor, while more than a half of the sampled population was chronically food insecure. Income and expenditure analysis revealed that households had no opportunity to manage savings. Further analysis on expenditure revealed that despite being farming households, the later spent large proportion of their income in purchasing food for households. Cereal bank has been potential to provide food at the time of less, storage facility, seed stocking facility and a business opportunity. Cereal banks should be purposively promoted to improve livelihood and assure food security in the rural areas.
Cereal Banks or Seed Banks? An Experience from Makoja Arid Village, Dodoma, Tanzania
(International Knowledge sharing, 2015) Mark M Msaki; Irene Regnard; Michael I Mwenda
Cereal Banks, though important, have failed to become sustainable. The banks have always been requiring close monitoring support or subsidies from an outside agency, but collapse when outside monitoring and subsidies end. Such trend has brought worries and made Cereal Banks labeled negative. Failing to become self-sustaining has called for an inventory to analyze the Cereal Bank benefits realized by the communities. In 2012, a cross section study was done involving 80 households in Makoja Village, Dodoma Region. Makoja Village communities are poor, living in arid land and are chronically food insecure. Surprisingly, significant proportion (89 %) of the respondents acknowledges the Community Cereal Bank as the source of seeds to next season. Poor Makoja Community views the Cereal Bank as the Seed Bank to ensure availability of seeds hence food availability. Cereal banks are essentially not failed attempts but rather require continuing support to ensure production and food security of engaged community. The international development community should explore various outputs realised as benefits by engaged communties before terming them unsuccessful. However, there is a need to increase a pace to promote Community Seed Production Systems to assure improved crop production and household food security.
The impact of small holder commercialisation of organic crops on food consumption patterns in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
(AgEcon Search, 2006-08-12) Sheryl L Hendriks; Mark M Msaki
The impact of smallholder commercialisation on food consumption patterns in a rural community of South Africa was investigated. The consumption patterns, dietary diversity and nutrient intakes of certified and partially certified members of an organic farmers' organisation were compared to data from a random sample of non-member households. Two consecutive survey rounds (n = 200) conducted in November 2004 and March 2005 enabled comparison of dietary diversity, nutrient adequacy (in terms of per household adult female equivalents for energy, iron, and vitamin A) and expenditure elasticities between seasons. Households with members engaged in certified comm ercial organic farming enjoyed greater dietary diversity, improved nutrient intakes com pared to households with members in conversion to organic production and households not engaged in commercial organic farming. Farm and non-farm income strongly and positively influenced nutritional adequacy for households of partially certified and certified members of the organisation. Marked differences in expenditure elasticities were found between the three groups. The results suggested that commercialisation of small holder agriculture has potential to improve food consumption patterns and food quality directly through income generated and indirectly through increased labour opportunities that result in wages and inkind food transfers. While commerciali sation of small holder agriculture shows potential for improving nutrition, caution should be exercised before claiming that such commercialisation can alleviate food insecurity and solve hunger in South Africa.