A history of food production, preservation and storage system in Iramba District, Singida Region, Tanzania, 1920-1960

The dissertation examines the history of food production, preservation and storage systems in Iramba district. Singida region, Tanzania, from 1920 to 1960. It also examines why and how the British colonial government encouraged the production of each crops over food crops, also introduced silos/granaries as strategies to combat food shortage before and after Second World War. The study employed qualitative techniques of data analysis. Data collection combined both documentary and oral sources. The primary sources included archival sources and field work- interviews and observation. The study has found the following impact to the socio economic developments of peasants in the district. First, it transformed the district from a labour reserve into each crop production area, exporting groundnuts and other cash crops outside the region. Secondly, it accelerated food shortage among peasants in the district. Third, the introduction of silos/granaries in some areas in the district did not help the peasants. Therefore, peasants throughout the colonial period relayed on traditional coping strategies during food shortage. The study concludes that the introduction and development of silos/granaries together with drought resistant crops by the British colonial government was not aimed at improving the social and economic well-being of peasant in the district. Rather, it disrupted the peasant traditional storage and preservation system. The development of capitalist relation in Nyiramba societies passed through several stages. First, during pre-colonial days Iramba exported slaves and natural products, second, during the colonial period; Iramba was characterized by labour migration and export of natural products. Taxation forced peasant concentrate first on the cultivation of each crops or food crops which enabled the head of a family to get money to pay taxes. All these measures resulted in low food reserves among the people in Iramba.