Browsing by Author "Philip, Damas"

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An economic comparison between alternative rice farming systems in Tanzania using a monte carlo simulation approach
(MDPI) Kadig, Ibrahim L.; Mutabazi, Khamaldin D.; Philip, Damas; Richardson, James W.; Bizimana, Jean-Claude; Mbungu, Winfred; Mahoo, Henry F.; Sieber, Stefan
Econometric analysis of consumers’ preference heterogeneity for yoghurt and ice cream products in Tanzania: A latent class model and mixed logit mode
(Heliyon, 2024-11-22) Kadigi, Michael L.; Philip, Damas; Mlay, Gilead I.; Mdoe, Ntengua S.
In Tanzania, a growing upper and middle classes, particularly among urbanites, exhibit distinct preferences for higher-quality processed foods, including dairy products. This study examines variations in consumer preferences and their willingness to pay for yogurt and ice cream, which serve as stand-ins for processed milk products. The analysis is based on a discrete choice experiment involving 400 participants in Dar es Salaam. A random parameter logit model was utilized to account for preference heterogeneity, while latent class models (LCMs) were applied to uncover the underlying factors driving these differences in preferences. Our findings reveal three distinct consumer classes: processed milk sceptics (who prefer unprocessed dairy products), processed milk advocates (who prefer processed products), and neutral consumers (indifferent between processed and unprocessed milk). Preferences are influenced by product attributes, so cioeconomic characteristics, and attitudes towards processed foods. The results indicate that Tanzanian consumers place the greatest value on sensory attributes, packaging, and the product’s origin (local versus imported). This research offers fresh perspectives on the intricate preferences of dairy consumers in Tanzania, a topic that has been relatively underexplored. The findings suggest that producers and marketers must adapt to the dynamic market by balancing intrinsic and extrinsic factors against price. Understanding consumers’ socioeconomic and product attri butes is essential for increasing market share and effectively segmenting markets. These findings would be useful incorporated into strategic planning to enhance the competitiveness and sus tainability of Tanzania’s dairy industry.
Factors that affect the adoption of improved maize varieties by smallholder farmers in Central Oromia, Ethiopia.
(Iiste) Teferi, Abadi; Philip, Damas; Jaleta, Moti
Factors that affect the adoption of improved maize varieties by smallholder farmers in Central Oromia, Ethiopia.
(Iiste, 2015) Teferi, Abadi; Philip, Damas; Jaleta, Moti
This study aims at identifying factors which affect the adoption of improved maize varieties in three woredas in Central Oromia, Ethiopia. The study utilized cross-sectional farm household level data collected by CIMMYT from 300 randomly selected sample households in 2012/13. Both descriptive and econometric methods have been used to analyze the data. The descriptive statistics were utilized to compare adopters and non-adopters. The logit model was employed to assess the adoption determinants.The descriptive analyses results show the existence of significant mean and proportion difference between adopters and non-adopters in terms of farmer characteristics. Adoption of the improved maize varieties among households was found to be positively influenced by adult-literacy, family size, livestock wealth, access to output market and credit access for the new varieties. On the other hand, farmer associations, distance to main markets and fertilizer credit negatively influenced adoption. Thus, the finding of this study revealed that educating farmers, strengthening extension services, improving farmer associations and improving market opportunities are some of the measures that need to be taken to enhance adoption of improved maize varieties by farmers.
Profitability of gliricidia-maize system in selected dryland areas of Dodoma region, Tanzania
(MDPI) Swamila, Martha; Philip, Damas; Akyoo, Adam Meshack; Manda, Julius; Mwinuka, Lutengano; Smethurst, Philip J.; Sieber, Stefan; Kimaro, Anthony Anderson
Profitability of gliricidia-maize system in selected dryland areas of Dodoma region, Tanzania
(MDPI, 2021-12) Swamila, Martha; Philip, Damas; Akyoo, Adam Meshack; Manda, Julius; Mwinuka, Lutengano; Smethurst, Philip J.; Sieber, Stefan; Kimaro, Anthony Anderson
Declining soil fertility and climatic extremes are among major problems for agricultural production in most dryland agro-ecologies of sub-Saharan Africa. In response, the agroforestry tech- nology intercropping of Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.)) and Maize (Zea mays L.) was developed to complement conventional soil fertility management technologies. However, diversified information on the profitability of Gliricidia-Maize intercropping system in dryland areas is scanty. Using data from the Gliricidia and maize models of the Next Generation version of the Agriculture Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM), this study estimates the profitability of the Gliricidia-Maize system relative to an unfertilized sole maize system. Results show significant heterogeneity in profitability indicators both in absolute and relative economic terms. Aggregated over a 20-year cycle, Gliricidia- Maize intercropping exhibited a higher Net Present Value (NPV = Tsh 19,238,798.43) and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR = 4.27) than the unfertilized sole maize system. The NPV and BCR of the latter were Tsh 10,934,669.90 and 3.59, respectively. Moreover, the returns to labour per person day in the Gliricidia-Maize system was 1.5 times those of the unfertilized sole maize system. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the profitability of the Gliricidia-Maize system is more negatively affected by the decrease in output prices than the increase in input prices. A 30% decrease in the former leads to a decrease in NPV and BCR by 38% and 30%, respectively. Despite the higher initial costs of the agroforestry establishment, the 30% increase in input prices affects more disproportionally unfertilized sole maize than the Gliricidia-Maize system in absolute economic terms, i.e., 11.1% versus 8.8% decrease in NPV. In relative economic terms, an equal magnitude of change in input prices exerts the same effect on the unfertilized sole maize and the Gliricidia-maize systems. This result implies that the monetary benefits accrued after the first year of agroforestry establishment offset the initial investment costs. The Gliricidia-Maize intercropping technology therefore is profitable with time, and it can contribute to increased household income and food security. Helping farmers to overcome initial investment costs and manage agroforestry technologies well to generate additional benefits is critical for the successful scaling of the Gliricidia-Maize intercropping technology in dryland areas of Dodoma, Tanzania.
Sources of technical efficiency among smallholders maize farmers in Babati district, Tanzania
Baha, Michael; Temu, Andrew; Philip, Damas
Sources of technical efficiency among smallholders maize farmers in Babati district, Tanzania
(2013-07) Baha, Michael; Temu, Andrew; Philip, Damas
Maize yield in Tanzania has been decreasing in the past few years. The decline has been attributed to many factors. This paper assesses production efficiency and its determinants among maize farmers in Babati district. The paper uses data collected from 122 maize farmers residing in six villages in the study district. A stochastic frontier model has been used to determine the sources of inefficiency among maize farmers in the study area. The results show that the mean technical efficiency score for famers in the study area is 62.3%. This implies that there is a significant room for increasing maize yield in the study area if farmers use the resources at their disposal efficiently. Moreover, the results show that the efficiency of maize farmers in the study area is influenced by farm size, formal education, number of plots owned by the farmer, frequency of contacts with extension officers, and the use of insecticides. It is therefore plausible to argue that improving farmers’ access to extension services and important inputs such as insecticides will have a significant influence on maize yield in the study area.
The effect of nitrogen-fertilizer and optimal plant population on the profitability of maize plots in the Wami river sub-basin, Tanzania: a bio economic simulation approach
(Elsevier) Kadigi, Ibrahim L.; Richardson, James W.; Mutabazi, Khamaldin D.; Philip, Damas; Mourice, Sixbert K.; Mbungu, Winfred; Bizimana, Jean-Claude; Sieber, Stefan
The influence of geographical concentration of firms on performance of small agro food processing enterprises in Tanzania
(Elsevier B.V., 2021-10-22) Seluhinga, Nicetus S.; Philip, Damas
Geographical concentration/clustering of firms are important in growth of small agro processing firms, having prominent impact in the subsector. Using descriptive statistics, gross sales per worker measured in normal and seasonal monthly output production. This paper assesses the performance of small agro food processing firms by comparing the performance of 31 geographically concentrated firms and 31 dispersed firms using three empirical considerations namely: output per worker, enterprise employment intake (EEI) and average sales per worker were used to analyze the difference in performance of agro food processing enterprises located in clustered/ geographically concentrated relative to others located elsewhere enterprise employment intake (EEI). Survival costs were used to determine sunk costs which are the difference between survival costs and total costs of successful design. Remarkably the results showed that there are differences in mean output per works in both normal and seasonal production. In seasonal production the difference in mean output per worker between firms in clustered and non-clustered firms were significant (p value = 0.0510) compared to normal production with (p value = 0.000). This shows that there is slight significant difference between clustered and non-clustered firms respectively. The results further show that enterprise employment intake vary in the sub sector vary between districts. The survival costs between clustered and non-clustered. Firms show that the cost of staying in the market by sampled agro processing firms is very high because the total value of products in the market is very low. The paper concludes that cluster initiatives with specialization improve the performance of small firms.
Vulnerability and Poverty: what are the causes and how are they related?
(ZEF, 2004) Philip, Damas; Rayhan, Israt
This paper aims to analyze how the terms ‘vulnerability’ and ‘poverty’ can be elucidated in a variety of ways, with different meanings, different implications and their interrelationship. The analysis shows poverty is generally associated with deprivation of health, education, food, knowledge, influence over one’s environment and the many other things that make the difference between truly living and merely surviving. There is another universal aspect of poverty, which makes it particularly painful and difficult to escape is: Vulnerability. The poor are more vulnerable than any other group to health hazards, economic down-turns, natural catastrophes, and even man-made violence. Shocks such as illness, injury and loss of livelihood have dreadful impacts, and are significant causes of poverty. Scholars argue that vulnerability and poverty are comprised of economic, social, cultural, political and environmental factors, thus to identify the full range of factors, this paper encompasses an interdisciplinary analysis with some case studies from developing countries.