Dissertation (MA Business Administration)
The study had aimed to assess the contribution of onions (Allium cepa) production to households’ income of smallholder farmers at Kilolo District Tanzania. It specifically focused on mapping actors involved in onions production, determined levels of smallholder farmers’ productivity, households’ income generated from onions productions and analyzed the contribution of onions activities in improving social and economic status.
A cross sectional research design was adopted; a sample size of 120 smallholder farmers was obtained through purposive and non-purposive sampling techniques. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were employed by using SPSS and Microsoft
Excel.
Findings were presented in form of tables and figures. It was observed that, most of growers were indigenous people without enough capital to invest, while the main participants were males by 70% with a big group of youth being involved. Productivity level per acre observed to be lower. Harvesting was done throughout the year although June to November had a higher supply with low price which call up for storage structures and processing. Main constraints were capital and low price, which call up for intervention to support farmers.
The research ascertained factors which hindered smallholder farmers not to generate enough income to improve their living standards. Findings provided the base for policy makers and planners at different levels to set appropriate strategies on improvement.