Determinants of Inorganic Fertilizer Use by Smallholder Rice Farmers in Mbeya and Morogoro Regions of Tanzania

Abstract

This study identifies factors that influence smallholder rice farmers to adopt or not adopt inorganic fertilizer. This study employed a cross-sectional design. This study was guided by the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) in determining the factors that influence the use of inorganic fertilizer among smallholder farmers. The data was collected using multistage sampling, a two-stage design. To do this, secondary data from the National Sample Census of Agriculture (NSCA) survey of 2019–20 are used to model participation and intensity of use of inorganic fertilizer as separate decisions. The results showed that factors such as farm income, membership in the farmer group, and irrigation influence both participation and intensity of inorganic fertilizer use. Moreover, factors such as distance to the homestead, distance to the nearest road, and improved seed use influence participation decisions, while only extension advice and the price of inorganic fertilizer affect the intensity of inorganic fertilizer use. Furthermore, the study found regional differences in the key factors that influence inorganic fertilizer use. The study recommends various strategies for encouraging and increasing the use of inorganic fertilizer among smallholder rice farmers in Tanzania. These include developments to the rural road network, a decrease in the cost of inorganic fertilizer, encouraging membership in farmer groups, and strengthening the existing extension system. In addition, the designed intervention should take into consideration the regional differences that exist in the regions; thus, policies to increase inorganic fertilizer use might differ among regions. Furthermore, the intervention should account for the regional disparities that exist. Consequently, strategies aimed at promoting the use of inorganic fertilizers may vary among regions.