Factors Influence the Adoption of Improved Agricultural Practices among Smallholder Farmers in the Ripat Program: A Case of Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

Abstract

Maize plays a significant role in securing food insecurity mostly in developing countries such as Africa, especially in Tanzania where it is a main dietary staple for most people. This research assesses the factors influencing corn production levels among small-scale farmers who benefit from the RIPAT SUA Project in Morogoro, Tanzania. The project aims to improve maize production and food security through improved agriculture practices such as fertilizer use and intercropping methods. This study employed a cross-sectional design with 110 smallholder farmers. Information was collected through semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and bivariate probit regression models. Findings reveal that household income, farm size, farmer experience, and training play a crucial role in adopting improved agriculture practices. Notably a significant finding is that a higher income household income increases the chances of using fertilizer by 16.9% (p= 0.015) and receiving training improves the likelihood of adopting intercropping by 8.47% (p = 0.007). However, education alone does not have a noticeable impact signifying that specialized training could be more effective in improving adoption rates among small farmers with limited formal education. The research findings conclude that increased training opportunities, specifically for farmers with minimal education, and matching access to credit availability with agricultural investment. This measure will assist small-scale in boosting productivity, eventually supporting the sustainable growth of agriculture in Tanzania.