Author: Lawi S. Mhoja, (The Open University of Tanzania), Harrieth G. Mtae, PhD, (The Open University of Tanzania), and Cosmas Haule, (The Open University of Tanzania).
Abstract: This study examined the effect of advanced rice production technologies on household economic development among smallholder farmers in Kilombero valley, Tanzania in terms of farmers’ ability to get three meals per day, ability to educate children and ability to own assets like a TV. The study employed the causal-effect survey design. A total of 100 smallholder rice farmers from four wards were sampled through simple random sampling. Twenty smallholder farmers among the 100 sampled farmers who previously received certificates of appreciation as successful users of advanced rice technologies were sampled through purposive sampling as key informants. Data were collected using questionnaire which aimed to capture effect of utilization of new rice production technologies on household economic development among farmers (adopters). Spearman’s rho Correlation coefficienttest was used to analyse data and test the hypotheses. The study concludes that utilization of advanced rice production technologies positively affected the household economic development in that, as farmers utilized improved rice seeds, site-specific-nutrient technology, direct-seeded-rice technology and pests and diseases technologies, their quality of life improved. It is therefore recommended that site-specific-nutrient technology, direct-seeded-rice technology and pests and diseases technology need to be considered by farmers for improved outcomes.