Causes of decline in coffee production and its impact on household wellbeing and gender relations in Moshi, Tanzania

Decline in coffee production has impact on household wellbeing and gender relations. The main objective of the study is to identify factors responsible for decline in household coffee production and further to assess whether the decline of coffee production has led to decline in household wellbeing. The study answered questions on what are the factors responsible for decline in coffee production, how the decline in coffee production affects household socio-economic and what the implications of the changes in coffee production are and livelihoods on gender relations. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis. The methods of data collection were questionnaire, interviews, field observation and secondary data. The types of questions asked include causes of coffee decline, livelihood and gender relations changes. Both closed and open- ended questions were asked. Random sampling was used to get sample whereby 10% households were studied, making a total of 100 sample of the study. Research findings indicated that the decline in coffee resulted in changes from farm to non-farm activities like petty trade, changes from cash to food crops and increasing out-migration. The implications of the decline in coffee crop production revealed that men lacked source of income and failed to assume household cash responsibilities than before. It was also found that women work load of providing household needs has increased. Furthermore the gendered ownership of assets was changed in that women owned bananas, fruits, milk, beans and maize and men owned coffee before, however, later with the decline of coffee production, men owned bananas, milk, beans, maize and fruits.The study recommended that the policies concerned the cut-off agricultural subsidies, population increase need to be reviewed in order to ensure available farm inputs and land for expansion of agriculture. There is a need of empowering both men and women to enable them generate sound income for household needs.