Socio-economics of land development for sustainable agricultural production in some villages in Mikese division, Morogoro district, Tanzania.

The purpose of this study was to examine the socio-economics of resource use in the traditional farming system in selected villages in Mikese Division, Morogoro Rural District. Data collection was based on surveys using a structured questionnaire. Tools of analysis employed included descriptive statistics, gross margins, mUltiple regression and correlation analysis. The results reveal that most of the farmers in the survey area have one plot around the homestead and additional plots located away from the households. Households with one plot vary from 35% in Mkambarani to 45% in Fulwe. Forty to thirty five percent in Rubungo and Maseyu respectively have one plot. In basically all villages, households with 2 to 3 plots ranges between 30 and 45 percent. About 25% of the households in the villages have 4 to 5 plots. Households with more than 5 plots range from 4% in Rubungo to 10% in Maseyu. Thirty five to forty five percent of the households in the four villages have their plots located 1.0 km away from the homesteads. A greater percentage of households from Fulwe and Maseyu however, have their plots located some 2.0 km away from the homesteads. Only 20% of Rubungo and 15% of Mkambarani have their plots located 2.0 km away from the homesteads. Plots located 3-5 km away from the homesteads vary from 10-15% in Rubungo, Fulwe and Maseyu and 10-25% in Mkambarani. The average cultivated area per family ranged from 10.5 to 23.5 hectares for all crops. The main crops grown in the four villages are maize, paddy, cotton, sesame, sunflower, cowpeas and cassava. The results indicate that maize was grown in all villages and form the biggest crop farm size. Maize yields per hectare varied from 800 kilogrammes per hectare in Rubungo to 1000 kilogrammes per hectare in Mkambarani. Paddy, which forms the second biggest crop farm size is mainly grown in Mkambarani (3.5 ha per household). The other villages grow about 1.0 ha per household. Cotton which forms the third biggest farm size in the villages studied yields 2,500 kilogrammes per hectare in Maseyu and 3,500 kilogrammes per hectare in Mkambarani. Mkambarani has also the biggest hectarage of sunflower with 3.9 ha per household, followed by Rubungo, Maseyu and Fulwe with 1.4, 1.3, and 1.2 hectares per household respectively. Mkambarani appears also to lead in cassava production, 1.8 ha per household followed by Rubungo and Maseyu with 1.2 ha per household each. Fulwe has an average of 0.8 ha per household