Food deficits in Tanzania: the case of Kibara Ward in Bunda district, Mara region

The purpose of this study is to look into the socio-economic and political reasons behind food deficits in Tanzania by taking a case study of two villages in Bunda District, Mara Region. Various alternative policies attempted by the state to alleviate the food problem are also examined. The study concentrates on the household (and village) level because it is argued that the family farm is still the dominant unit of production. The study is presented in six chapters. Chapter one provides the conceptual framework, background to the problem and the problem under investigation. Chapter Two gives an overview of the debate concerning the agricultural crisis in Tanzania. Chapter Three provides the historical development of food problem in Tanzania and a Review of literature. Chapter Four provides the background to the area of study, hypotheses and Methodology used in data collection. The hypotheses were related to social division of labour, labour constraints, and commercialisation of food crops. Methodology used includes written sources and concrete investigation in Busambara and Bunere villages by use of survey method. Questionnaires and informal interviews were used to collect information. Chapter Five presents, discusses and analyses the research findings. It was revealed that causes and solutions to the food problem are varied and complex. Causes range from physical, climatic, technical to socio-economic and political. These causes and solutions offered by peasant’s point to one significant fact that they understand the socio-economic and political problems which limit them. In Chapter Six, conclusions and suggestions are made to alleviate the food problem. The study calls for the transformation of the whole socio-economic and political structures along socialist lines as the basic solution. This should take into account the mistakes committed previously and learn from those past experiences.