Impact of Cut-Flower Industries on Sustainable Livelihood and Poverty Reduction in Arusha-Tanzania: Community Perspectives

Abstract

Various theories regarding cut-flower industries in Tanzania suggest that，the major perspectives of the community was to improve people's living conditions, including housing, education, health and water supply. This paper evaluates the relationship between the development of cut-flower industries and sustainable community livelihood with a focus on constraints to the implementation of the entire development process of cut-flower industry. A research was carried in Arusha region where most of flower industries are locate. A sample of 200 respondents were obtained from five cut-flower companies, including Kiliflora, Tanzania flowers limited, Kombe roses, Tanzania flowers and La Fleur D’Afrique, with fifty respondents randomly selected form each company. Key informants and focus group discussion (FGD) were the main methods used to elicit data. The results showed a low level of community participation in industrial development and a wide gap in income distribution between management group and implementers group. This creates problems with regards to administrative position and living standards of the community. We suggest that cutflower industries should abide by companies salary scale regulations (CSCR) to reduce the income gap between casual workers and management group. The industries should provide protective gears to the worker and abide by government heath risk policies and regulations.

Key words: Cut flower industries, community perspectives, sustainable livelihood, poverty reduction.