Contribution of Round Potato Production on Smallholder Farmers’ Food Security in Meru District, Tanzania

Abstract

Round potatoes are cultivated as food and cash crops and have the potential to improve the food security status. This paper analyses factors associated with round potato production to food security in Meru District, Tanzania. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design; multi-stage and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 341 respondents (122 project participants and 219 non-project participants). Mixed methods were used in data collection including structured questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Food security status was estimated using HFIAS, a multiple linear regression model was used to estimate the predictors of food security and the comparison for food security among project and non-project participants was estimated using propensity score matching. Findings showed that the use of quality potato seeds, loan application, availability of other inputs, access to extension services, and area cultivated were important predictors of round potato production (p<0.05). Project participants were more food secure than non-project participants in terms of HFIAS and HDDS, using NNM and MDM principles. Therefore, in the study area potato production contributes to the attainment of food security. It recommended that actors engaged in the promotion of round potato production including the LGA, NGOs and development partners should capitalize on factors identified for improved production and productivity such as more use of technologies, access to extension services, marketing strategies for potato produce, availability of quality seeds and other proper agro-inputs as well as provision of soft loans.