Boosting Productivity: The Impact of Improved Sesame Varieties on Small-Scale Farmers in Mtwara, Tanzania

Abstract

This study examines the adoption patterns of sesame
varieties among small-scale farmers in the Mtwara
region of Tanzania and analyzes the effects of
adopting improved varieties on productivity the
study Utilizing a non-experimental cross-sectional
research design, the study collects data from a
sample of 150 farmers using simple random
sampling to ensure representativeness. The research
area, Nanyumbu, Mtwara was chosen due to its
significance in sesame production, diverse agroclimatic conditions, and substantial small-scale
farming community. Data is gathered through
primary sources and analyzed using the
Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model to
address self-selection bias. The research reveals
that 67.13% of farmers continue to use local sesame
varieties, while 27.9% utilize a combination of
improved and local varieties, and 13.33% have fully
adopted improved sesame varieties. The study
identifies significant factors influencing adoption
and productivity, including access to credit, market
connectivity, and land ownership for adopters, and
age, marital status, education level, and access to
agricultural inputs for non-adopters. The analysis
demonstrates that adopters of improved varieties
experience a substantial increase in productivity,
with a mean difference of 37.94 bags per acre
compared to non-adopters. These findings
underscore the role of financial access and market
connections in enhancing agricultural outcomes and
provide valuable insights for improving sesame
production practices in the region.