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Assessing Participation in Agricultural Development Projects: A Case Study of the Mbalangwe Irrigation Scheme, Morogoro Rural District, Tanzania

Weston, Cade Michael Gibb
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397708142

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Agricultural and Extension Education.
Participation of smallholder farmers in development programs is highly advocated by international development agencies and governments, alike. In practice, however, little is known about the participation that occurs. This study focused on the Mbalangwe Irrigation Scheme [MIS] in Morogoro Rural District of Tanzania, which is implemented by the Agricultural Sector Development Program [ASDP] of the Government of the Republic of Tanzania. Local participation is viewed as the cornerstone of this project. Therefore, this study examined the local participation that occurs in the project. The study examined the demographic characteristics of smallholder farmers who were to participate in the project; the opportunities for their participation; the degree of their empowerment; the nature of communication in the project; and constraints to participation in the MIS. The study employed survey research method, based largely on Norman Uphoff’s framework for types of and opportunities for participation (1977; 1980). The study was a census of all 127 farmer members who constituted the local “Irrigators’ Organization” of the MIS. Of the 127 farmers, 114 members were successfully surveyed, yielding a response rate of 90 percent. In general, it was found that all farmers participated to some extent in the MIS. For each participation opportunity, an average of 43% of members participated. However, participation in the evaluation opportunity averaged only 20% of members. Only 42 members ever participated in an opportunity for evaluation. The relative frequency of participation was somewhat low. For an individual opportunity, participants engaged only 31% of the available times to participate. Overall, there were 626 discrete times to participate in the MIS; on average members participated 78.1 times. In regard to empowerment, participation occurrences in the scheme were most often categorized under the degree of “some power” (Uphoff, 1977). This is the third lowest of six categories. One person, the project chair, communicated over 40% of the information regarding opportunities to participate. The other 14 channels to communicate information were used much less. It was found that the project was beneficial in increasing the annual income for 60% of members. Participation was significantly associated with this increase in income. There was a “substantial correlation” (Davis, 1990) between increase in income and average relative frequency of participation, suggesting that farmers who participated more often tended to have higher incomes. Overall, respondents said being “not powerful enough to participate” was the main constraint to participation in the MIS. Other reasons for not participating included ill-health and lack of awareness about opportunities. It is recommended that the power differentials at the local level be further investigated and that the district officials hold training for local project leaders on how to empower. It is also recommended that other channels for disseminating information be used in effort to increase the frequency of participation. Further, it is recommended that the market be examined for opportunities to expand it such that all who use the irrigation scheme might benefit from an increased income.
Robert Agunga, Dr. (Advisor)
Scott Scheer, Dr. (Committee Member)
125 p.
African History; African Studies; Agricultural Education; Agriculture; Communication; International Relations; Sub Saharan Africa Studies

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Citations

  • Weston, C. M. G. (2014). Assessing Participation in Agricultural Development Projects: A Case Study of the Mbalangwe Irrigation Scheme, Morogoro Rural District, Tanzania [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397708142

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Weston, Cade. Assessing Participation in Agricultural Development Projects: A Case Study of the Mbalangwe Irrigation Scheme, Morogoro Rural District, Tanzania. 2014. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397708142.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Weston, Cade. "Assessing Participation in Agricultural Development Projects: A Case Study of the Mbalangwe Irrigation Scheme, Morogoro Rural District, Tanzania." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397708142

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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