Gendered livelihood outcomes from woodlots in Mufindi District, Tanzania

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE. MOROGORO, TANZANIA.Woodlot farming has potential of improving livelihood of both women and men. However, little is known on the extent to which woodlot benefits the livelihood of women and men in Mufindi District. The study was conducted to examine gendered livelihood outcomes from woodlots. The specific objectives were to describe roles played by women and men in woodlot farming, to assess factors affecting women and men woodlot ownership, to analyze and compare woodlot livelihood outcomes of women and men with and without woodlots. The study was conducted in Mufindi District and adopted a cross-sectional research design, involving 120 respondents. Slightly more than half (53.3%) of respondents were woodlots owners and 46.7% were non-woodlots owners. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to compute women and men roles in woodlot farming, factors affecting women and men woodlot ownership and to establish livelihood outcomes in woodlot farming. Binary logistic regression was used to establish the factors affecting woodlot ownership. T-test and Chi-square tests were used to compare the livelihoods outcomes. Land ownership was found to be a major factor affecting woodlots ownership. Binary logistic regression revealed that total land acreage was a key predictor of woodlot ownership (P < 0.05). Gender distribution of roles revealed that men dominated land preparation, thinning, pruning, harvesting, transportation and price negotiation while women dominated in seed preparation and weeding. Woodlots owners had better livelihood outcomes (higher income, more asset and better housing conditions) compared to their counterparts non woodlot owners. The T-test and Chi- square tests revealed that there is significant difference in livelihood outcomes of women and men with and without woodlot (P < 0.05). The study recommends that individuals and community to acquire land through purchasing parcels of lands and or leasing land. Village Assembly and Village Council should distribute village land to villagers at reasonable cost. Also individuals, community, governmental and non-governmental organisations should increase efforts to sensitize and promote women involvement in performing woodlot farming activities by creating awareness through gender sensitizations programmes that target both women and men with emphasize on women involvement in woodlot farming and promote individuals and community to engage in woodlot related activities like timber and poles selling for better livelihood outcomes through investing in woodlot farming