Browsing by Author "Rwejuna, Charles Stephen"

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    Transformation of smallholder farming systems in the Central semi-Arid lands of Tanzania :a case study of Rice Irrigation Schemes in Dodoma Rural District
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2006) Rwejuna, Charles Stephen
    This study set out to find out why institutions have failed to change the smallholders behaviour in the central semi-arid areas of Tanzania in adopting technology in order to transform their subsistence farming systems. A case study methodology was deployed by concentrating on two rice irrigation number of causes, which have Chipanga rice irrigation schemes). The findings uncovered a number of causes, which have hampered rice farming in the modern rice schemes from thriving. They include the lack of enough experience in designing irrigation schemes and lack of the undertaking of preliminary studies on the entire smallholders’ economy before introducing the new farming technology. Other causes include failure to have prior knowledge of critical factors such as the smallholders’ capacity to absorb the introduced technology; possible areas of diversifying the farm and non-farm activities; and possible ways of setting the inter-sectoral linkages. In addition, it is shown that there has been failure to build the necessary supportive structures by the by the government. The thesis is concluded by providing support to efforts aimed at rice irrigation as a necessary farming system in the semi-arid central areas of Tanzania and giving several recommendations, which may transform and make such systems sustainable. Among the recommendations, a number of ways are elaborated, which would help in tackling problems of irrigation schemes such as the engagement of a multidisciplinary study and the use of sociologists in agriculture. Further, the best ways are explained, which would help in monitoring the adopted technology, applying interventionist projects in the ongoing schemes, as well as possible ways to agricultural diversification. Lastly, the study recommends areas for furthers, studying rural investment strategies especially the type of industries to be invested in the rural areas; and studying farmers’ constraints in relation to their utilization of rural resources.