A Baseline Assessment of Socioeconomic Conditions and Production Systems of Rice Farming Households in Selected Regions in Tanzania
Year: 2026
Type: report
Abstract: Executive Summary Tanzania’s rice sector is central to rural livelihoods and national food security but faces persistent challenges related to limited irrigation infrastructure, low input use, and increasing climate risks such as erratic rainfall, drought, and pest pressure. These constraints suppress productivity, particularly among smallholder farmers who rely heavily on rainfed systems. Strengthening climate smart, resource-efficient crop establishment methods, such as mechanized direct-seeded rice (DSR), offers an opportunity to reduce labor burden, improve input efficiency, enable water savings, and enhance resilience to weather shocks. The ScaleDirect Project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in partnership with Bayer Crop Science Ltd., aims to support smallholder farmers in adopting DSR and related climate-smart solutions across Asia and Africa. The Project advances innovative tools, targeted agronomy, and market-aligned germplasm development to address systemic issues such as labor shortages, water scarcity, climate risk exposure, and limited seed system integration. Four interlinked work packages drive activities in product development, digital tools, seed system strengthening, and evidence generation. This baseline assessment established household- and farm-level indicators to inform project design and future impact evaluation. It documents socioeconomic profiles, organizational participation, access to capacity development, farm characteristics, varietal preferences, crop management practices, and knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward mechanized DSR, with gender integration throughout. The survey covered 614 households across the Mbeya and Katavi regions. Within each region, one district was purposively designated as a treatment site and another as a control site, following a multistage sampling design. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire administered through Survey Solutions, a computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) platform that facilitates efficient and accurate field data collection. Findings highlight that farmers were predominantly male (75%), with low formal schooling (eight years) but long experience in rice farming (19 years). Household sizes were larger in Katavi (10 members) than Mbeya (6). Rice production was the primary livelihood for 100% of surveyed households, while 73% also cultivate non-rice crops as supplementary income sources. Participation in community organizations remains limited, especially in Katavi, constraining access to information networks and support services. Most farms were rainfed and exposed to climate risks such as flooding and drought, reinforcing farmers’ vulnerability. Farmers sourced most seed informally and showed varied varietal preferences: Katavi placed higher value on grain processing traits while Mbeya prioritized eating quality and drought tolerance. Crop establishment and input application remained largely manual, with mechanization concentrated in Mbeya. DSR adoption was significantly higher in Mbeya, where farmers demonstrated greater awareness and generally positive perceptions of its potential to save labor, raise yields, and reduce costs. In contrast, Katavi farmers showed limited awareness and largely neutral perceptions of mechanized DSR. While transplanting currently delivered higher incomes, DSR remains promising where adequate weed, land leveling, and water management support are available. These results point to the need for tailored capacity building, particularly community-level training and awareness activities in Katavi, alongside investments in mechanization access and service provision. Supporting locally adapted seed systems, strengthening farmer networks, and improving climate-risk management are critical to foster uptake of DSR and enhance long-term farm performance. Continued engagement, especially through gender-responsive approaches, will help ensure women gain equitable access to knowledge, decision-making, and DSR-related opportunities.
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204741874