Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment

During the last decade, post-harvest losses (PHL) reduction has been topping the agenda of governments as a pathway for addressing food security, poverty, and nutrition challenges in Africa. Using survey data from 579 households, we investigated the factors that affect farmers’ decisions to adopt po...

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Main Authors: Mutungi, C., Manda, J., Feleke, S., Abass, A., Bekunda, Mateete A., Hoeschle-Zeledon, I., Fischer, G.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/132390
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author Mutungi, C.
Manda, J.
Feleke, S.
Abass, A.
Bekunda, Mateete A.
Hoeschle-Zeledon, I.
Fischer, G.
author_browse Abass, A.
Bekunda, Mateete A.
Feleke, S.
Fischer, G.
Hoeschle-Zeledon, I.
Manda, J.
Mutungi, C.
author_facet Mutungi, C.
Manda, J.
Feleke, S.
Abass, A.
Bekunda, Mateete A.
Hoeschle-Zeledon, I.
Fischer, G.
author_sort Mutungi, C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description During the last decade, post-harvest losses (PHL) reduction has been topping the agenda of governments as a pathway for addressing food security, poverty, and nutrition challenges in Africa. Using survey data from 579 households, we investigated the factors that affect farmers’ decisions to adopt post-harvest technologies: mechanized shelling, drying tarpaulins, and airtight storage validated for reducing PHL in Tanzania’s maize-based systems, and the impacts on households’ food security and welfare. Mechanized shelling addressed a labor issue, while tarpaulins and airtight storage addressed product quality and quantity concerns. The results revealed large farm sizes and location in higher production potential zones (proxies for higher production scale) and neighbors' use of the technologies as universal drivers for adoption. Access to credit and off-farm income were unique determinants for airtight storage, while group membership increased the probability of adopting drying tarpaulin and airtight storage. The technologies have positive impacts on food security and welfare: drying tarpaulins and airtight storage significantly increased food availability (18–27%), food access (24–26%), and household incomes (112–155%), whereas mechanized shelling improved food and total expenditures by 49% and 68%, respectively. The share of total household expenditure on food decreased by 42%, 11%, and 51% among tarpaulin, mechanized shelling, and airtight storage adopter households, signaling significant improvements in food security and reductions in vulnerability. The results point to the need for policy support to enhance the adoption of these technologies, knowledge sharing among farmers, and financial resources access to support investments in the technologies.
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spelling CGSpace1323902025-11-11T10:05:40Z Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment Mutungi, C. Manda, J. Feleke, S. Abass, A. Bekunda, Mateete A. Hoeschle-Zeledon, I. Fischer, G. food security maize adoption postharvest technology households farming systems tanzania During the last decade, post-harvest losses (PHL) reduction has been topping the agenda of governments as a pathway for addressing food security, poverty, and nutrition challenges in Africa. Using survey data from 579 households, we investigated the factors that affect farmers’ decisions to adopt post-harvest technologies: mechanized shelling, drying tarpaulins, and airtight storage validated for reducing PHL in Tanzania’s maize-based systems, and the impacts on households’ food security and welfare. Mechanized shelling addressed a labor issue, while tarpaulins and airtight storage addressed product quality and quantity concerns. The results revealed large farm sizes and location in higher production potential zones (proxies for higher production scale) and neighbors' use of the technologies as universal drivers for adoption. Access to credit and off-farm income were unique determinants for airtight storage, while group membership increased the probability of adopting drying tarpaulin and airtight storage. The technologies have positive impacts on food security and welfare: drying tarpaulins and airtight storage significantly increased food availability (18–27%), food access (24–26%), and household incomes (112–155%), whereas mechanized shelling improved food and total expenditures by 49% and 68%, respectively. The share of total household expenditure on food decreased by 42%, 11%, and 51% among tarpaulin, mechanized shelling, and airtight storage adopter households, signaling significant improvements in food security and reductions in vulnerability. The results point to the need for policy support to enhance the adoption of these technologies, knowledge sharing among farmers, and financial resources access to support investments in the technologies. 2023-08 2023-10-24T07:21:33Z 2023-10-24T07:21:33Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/132390 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Mutungi, C., Manda, J., Feleke, S., Abass, A., Bekunda, M., Hoschle-Zeledon, I. & Fischer, G. (2023). Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment. Food Security, 15, 1-17.
spellingShingle food security
maize
adoption
postharvest technology
households
farming systems
tanzania
Mutungi, C.
Manda, J.
Feleke, S.
Abass, A.
Bekunda, Mateete A.
Hoeschle-Zeledon, I.
Fischer, G.
Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment
title Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment
title_full Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment
title_fullStr Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment
title_full_unstemmed Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment
title_short Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment
title_sort adoption and impacts of improved post harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize farming households in tanzania a comparative assessment
topic food security
maize
adoption
postharvest technology
households
farming systems
tanzania
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/132390
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