Household Expenditure on Traditional African Vegetables: A Tobit Model

Abstract

Aims: Tanzania is among countries of Sub-Saharan Africa that the effects of malnutrition as result of poor dietary diversity have been witnessed. Traditional African vegetables have proved valuable in providing important nutrients as well as for income generation. This study aims at assessing household expenditure on traditional African vegetables. Study Design: Cross-sectional design was adopted during the study. Place and Duration of Study: Study was carried out in Arumeru District, Arusha Region, Tanzania from January to November 2015. Methodology: Study area was selected purposively to represent traditional African vegetables producing households where the VINESA-AVRDC project was being implemented. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 262 households. Results: Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation; and Tobit model was used during analysis of data. Tobit model results indicate that sex, marital status, education, distance to the market, nutritional knowledge, frequency intake, culture/ food taboos and price affordability had significant effect toward household expenditure on traditional African vegetable (TAV). Size of the household, yearly household income and occupation of the respondent were assumed to influence household expenditure, surprisingly, they were not. Conclusion: These results suggests that intake of TAVs can be enhanced by increasing household expenditure for traditional African vegetables.