Economic impact of land management and conservation technologies on smallholder agriculture in Tanzania

This study explores economic impact of land management and conservation technologies (LMCTs) on smallholder agriculture in Tanzania. Specifically, the study assesses the impact of adoption of three main LMCTs: soil water conservation and erosion control (SWCEC), organic and inorganic fertilizers, on crop productivity and production technical efficiency (TE). The study uses the national panel survey data, first (2008/09) and second (2010/11) waves. It employs propensity score matching method (PSM) and static panel models to assess the impact of adoption of LMCTs on crop yield in each wave and two-period panel data respectively. Stochastic frontier analysis was used to assess TE and its determinants between adopters and non-adopters of LMCTs. The results from both PSM and panel models reveal that adoption of the LMCTs contributes significantly to maize yield. The highest effect of organic fertilizers and SWCEC on crop yield is in low rainfall zones while that of inorganic fertilizers is in high rainfall zones. Generally, the adopters of LMCTs had significantly higher TE (0.73) than their non-adopter counterparts (0.69). The difference of TE between adopters and non-adopters of inorganic fertilizers and SWCEC was only significant in good and bad soils respectively. Also adoption of LMCTs improves TE significantly while a number of factors affect the TE differently among the adopters and non-adopters. Therefore, the study discourages a blanket land management and conservation programmes. The recommended LMCTs should be supported by research findings in a given area. Promotion and support of the adoption of LMCTs by smallholder farmers are pertinent for improving their TE and increase crop yield, thereby reducing forest clearing.