Unlocking Farm Income Potential: Exploring Youthfulness Impact on Farm Income in Vertically Integrated Green Tea Markets in Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Participation in vertically integrated markets has a potential of improving farm income, but the influence of youthfulness on farm income remains underexplored. Aim: This paper explores the youthfulness impact on farm income in vertically integrated green tea markets in Tanzania. Study Design: This study employed a descriptive research design. Place and Duration of Study: Southern Highlands Tanzania, between January and June 2023. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey using a structured close ended questionnaire was conducted to collect quantitative data from 277 farmers. Data was cleaned in Excel and analysed using SPSS IBM Statistics Version 26 for both descriptive and inferential statistics. The Ordinal Logistic Regression model was used to assess null hypothesis that youthfulness have no significant impact on farm income. Findings: Results indicate negative association between youthfulness and increased farm incomes, yet the impact lacks statistical significance (P=0.177), suggesting that youthfulness has limited influence on farm income (null hypothesis accepted). Likewise, land access, farming technology, market information and education have negative impact on tea farm income, but its education and land access effect only which had statistical significance at the P=0.05 level. Conversely, vertically integrated market experience (VIME) positively influence farm income but lack statistical significance (P=0.443). Conclusion: This study conclude that, no significant impact of youthfulness on farm income in  vertically integrated green tea markets in Tanzania. Similarly, land, farming technology, market information access and education negatively affect income level. Besides, VIME positively influence green tea farm income. Recommendations: To enhance farm income in vertically integrated green tea markets, it is recommended that policy and practice should prioritize addressing factors such as market dynamics, resource management, pricing policies, and cost management, which may potentially offset the otherwise positive influence of youthfulness, land access, farming technology, market information access, and education on green tea income. Future research may explore youthfulness impacts on various subsectors alongside contextual factors, like market dynamics, resource and cost management.