Journal of Research and Development
Open Access

Abstract

Determinants of Market Information Accessibility among Smallholder Spice Farmers in Tanzania

John Kwingwa*, John Msinde and Stephen J. Bakari

This study aimed at analyzing socio-economic factors influencing accessibility to market information among smallholder spice farmers in Tanzania, a case of Morogoro district. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. Structured questioners were used for collecting quantitative data from 170 smallholder spice farmers at Morogoro District. STATA 16 was used to generate descriptive and inferential statistics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logic regression. Study findings show that variables like means of accessing news, electricity, education and ownership of mobile phones were positively and statistically significant (p<0.05) associated with accessibility to market information. Again, age was positive and statistically significant (p<0.1) associated with accessibility to market information. Other variables like sex of respondents, marital status, farm size, annual spice income, gender, transport ownership were not statistically significant influencing accessibility to market information. It is concluded that means of accessing news, education, electricity and ownership of mobile phones were the only factors that influence access to market information among smallholder spice farmers. It is recommended that the ministry for agriculture in Tanzania and other agriculture stakeholders should strengthen market information systems to smallholder farmers, improve electricity services in rural areas and introduce tax waivers on mobile phones.

Published Date: 2023-01-09; Received Date: 2022-09-12