Analysis of farm and non-farm occupational choices among youth in rural Tanzania
The agricultural sector in rural Tanzania is practiced more by elderly people than by the youth. This study examined the determinants of youth occupational choice between farming and non-farming in rural Tanzania. Specifically, the study intended to establish the trend of farming and non-farming occupation choices among youth; analyze the determinants of farming and non-farming occupational choices, and to analyze the impact of youth occupational choice on their subjective welfare. The study used National Panel Surveys of 2008/9, 2010/11, 2012/13, and 2014/15. The determinants of occupational choices were analyzed using the logistic regression model while the effect of occupational choice on subjective welfare was estimated using treatment-effect estimation with the nearest-neighbor estimator. The findings show that there was a sustained drop out of youth from farming occupations from the year 2008/09 to 2014/15. Furthermore, education level was found to influence the dropping out of youth from farming to non-farming occupations while land ownership motivates youth to join farming occupations. There was no statistically significant difference between the subjective welfare of youth engaging in farming and those in non-farming occupations. The study recommends the following: introducing agriculture as a subject in primary schools, stabilizing farm products’ markets, changing the perception of youth towards farming, and encouraging a land tenure system that allows youth’s full ownership of farming land.
Related Articles
Taxation and Business Development in Zanzibar: Insights from a Business Survey
The private sector is a critical driver of economic growth in Tanzania. The government has expressed a strong commitment to fostering a vibrant business environment while ensuring sufficient public resources for economic development. However, balancing taxation and business growth remains a challenge. This report presents findings from a survey of businesspeople in Zanzibar, examining their […]
Enhancing Food Security among Smallholders through Climate-Smart Agriculture in Tanzanian Arid Regions
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been proposed as an approach to mitigate some of the threats emanating from climatic changes and guide agriculture management in the era of climate change. This study aimed to (a) assess the CSA practices and technologies and their impacts on household food security among smallholders in Tanzania’s arid and semi-arid agroecological […]
Assessing Small – Scale Fisher’s Use of Traditional Knowledge for Climate Adaptation in Southern Coastal Areas
The study aimed to assess small-scale fishers’ use of traditional knowledge for climate adaptation in Lindi and Mtwara regions located in the Southern Coastal areas of Tanzania. The study used a qualitative research approach wherein in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and observation were used to collect data. Climate change affects fishing activities since rainfall is […]
Evaluating Indigenous Knowledge in Reducing Tomato PHL in Morogoro Region: Case Studies from Mvomero and Morogoro Districts
Tomatoes are one of the most widely consumed vegetables in sub-Saharan Africa, valued for their essential vitamins and minerals. This study assessed the effectiveness of Indigenous Handling Practices (IHP) in reducing post-harvest losses (PHL) in the tomato subsector. Specifically, it examined indigenous handling methods, growers’ perceptions, and factors influencing the adoption of these practices. READ […]