Age differentiations and poverty status among Tanzanian smallholder maize farmers: Perspectives on income and food poverty

Abstract

Understanding the intricate relationship between agricultural production and poverty is crucial for enhancing household welfare and societal development. However, research on poverty among different age groups of smallholder maize farmers is insufficient. In this study, employing a non-experimental approach, we examine the determinants of poverty status across 7,646 smallholder maize farmers using a logistic regression model. Our findings underscore the importance of factors like household head's gender, off-farm employment, household size, land use, fertilizer use, education, seed type, cooperative membership, and food security, influencing poverty status across various age groups concerning income and food poverty. The poverty status is significant influenced by education, Sex of household head, food security status, type seed used for both income and food. But cooperative membership, household size and land size were significant influence income poverty status only. These results have significant policy implications, highlighting the need for age-specific solutions in the smallholder maize sector. Also, emphasizes the policies to promote educational enhancements, improved maize seeds, and cultivate a sense of dignity in farming among the youth. Encouraging cooperative engagement and enhancing access to agricultural resources, along with optimizing land use, are critical steps toward economic empowerment and poverty alleviation.