Contribution of floriculture to rural women’s livelihoods: a case of Mount Meru flowers and Kiliflora in Meru district, Arusha region, Tanzania
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Date
2017
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The aim of this study was to understand the contribution of Floriculture to rural women’s livelihoods of Mount Meru Flowers and Kiliflora in Arusha region, Tanzania. To accomplish such objective, the study employed qualitative and quantitative research approaches through a case study strategy. The following data collection methods were employed: questionnaire, interviews, focus group discussion, direct observations and key informant interviews. The data collected through quantitative methods was analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science software and data from Qualitative key informants, focus group discussion was analyzed using a content analysis approach and then presented in summary form. A 10 percent sample led to involve 119 respondents out of 1190 workers employed in the two studied farms. Results from the study revealed that flower farms have positively impacted the livelihoods of the rural women surrounding the farms with far reaching socio-economic implications to people outside Meru District. It has increased women’s participation in labour market and other economic activities that constituted seventy five percent of flower farm workforces. However, such improvement is realised with cost whereby findings showed that 68.8 percent farm workers from Kiliflora and 27.3 percent from MMF works in poor conditions. Furthermore, 90.6 percent workers from Kiliflora 89.1 percent from MMF are subjected to long working hours. In Tanzania, there is no policy that specifically regulates floriculture activities like in Kenya where they have Horticulture Policy of 2012. In Tanzania, the sector is faced with challenges such as poor infrastructure and financial challenges in their operations, to mention a few. In order to improve floriculture the government should support them by constructing physical infrastructures and create enabling environment so as to solve their financial problem. In addition, the government should formulate a Horticulture policy to regulate floriculture activities.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF SB406.A23)
Keywords
Floriculture, Gardens, Tanzania, Design and construction, Mount Meru flowers and Kiliflora, Meru District, Arusha district, Tanzania
Citation
Abel, V. E. (2017) Contribution of floriculture to rural women’s livelihoods: a case of Mount Meru flowers and Kiliflora in Meru district, Arusha region, Tanzania, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.