John Jeckoniah - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by John Jeckoniah

This paper explores the impact of large-scale agricultural investment on household livelihood out... more This paper explores the impact of large-scale agricultural investment on household livelihood outcomes among smallholder farmers in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. The study used qualitative and quantitative data from a sample of 376 households. Quantitative data analysis employed independent samples t-test and multiple linear regressions. There were associations in livelihood outcomes and household headship (p < 0.05). The age of household head, years of schooling, household size, land size, group membership, household participation in the out-grower scheme, and livelihood strategies had influence on household livelihood outcomes (p < 0.05). Household livelihood outcomes depend on household socio-economic characteristics and household participation in LSAI. The study recommends Local Government Authorities, non-governmental organization to help farmers to diversify livelihood strategies, group strengthening, promoting gender dialogues in the community to transform gender norms th...

Sunflower value chain represents one among the valuable vegetable oil subsectors worldwide. Howev... more Sunflower value chain represents one among the valuable vegetable oil subsectors worldwide. However, some constrains limit smallholder farmers to effectively participate in the value chain activities in order to generate household incomes and improve their livelihoods. Therefore, the study examined the socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder farmers' participation in sunflower value chain whereby a cross sectional research design and mixed methods approach laid the framework for collection and analysis of data. Data was sourced from 368 smallholder farmers selected by using a systematic sampling technique. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used for qualitative data collection while household survey questionnaire for quantitative data. Constant comparison technique was used to analyse qualitative data and binary logistic regression for quantitative data. Findings indicate that socioeconomic factors including age, education level and possession of agriculture tools significantly (p < 0.05) influenced participation in sunflower value chain. The study concluded that socioeconomic factors collectively other than singlehandedly have a significant influence towards participation in value chain. Since some findings had indications that males dominate productive resources unevenly, it is recommended that gender sensitive approaches should be used to circumvent the biased practices in order to increase participation in sunflower value chain activities.

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AND MANAGEMENT

The study aimed to assess the factors influencing the growth of small-scale fish businesses (SSFB... more The study aimed to assess the factors influencing the growth of small-scale fish businesses (SSFBs) owned by women in Mwanza, Tanzania. A total of 309 individuals in the fish industry were surveyed through questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The study assessed the nature of small-scale fish businesses, the constraints facing them, and the determinants of small-scale fish businesses measured by the daily profits obtained. Results showed that marital status, experience in the business, daily capital, type of customers, storage facilities, and involvement in self-help groups significantly impacted daily profit. The study found that women's capital investment and profits were lower compared to men, mainly due to differences in these factors. The study highlights the need for policies to support women-owned SSFBs, including the establishment of self-help groups to provide opportunities for networking and support. The study calls for programmes to bo...

High mobility of sexually active population continues to be a risky factor for the spread of STIs... more High mobility of sexually active population continues to be a risky factor for the spread of STIs and HIV, both in the source and destination sites. This paper analyses the social and cultural determinants for the spread of STIs and HIV along road construction sites which harbour a number of migrant workers from rural and urban areas. The study adopted a cross-sectional study design, using a structured questionnaire for respondents, a checklist for key informants and a guide for focus group discussants. A total of 308 respondents, including eighteen key informants and 20 focus group discussions were involved. Descriptive statistical analysis was employed for quantitative data whereas ethnographic content analysis was used for qualitative data. It was found that the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, how the disease spreads and the prevention methods was generally high. However, a corresponding change in sexual behavioural response was low. Many respondents still practise risky sexua...

Rice is Tanzania’s third most important staple crop after maize and cassava, and produced by more... more Rice is Tanzania’s third most important staple crop after maize and cassava, and produced by more than 1 million households who are mostly small-scale farmers. Meanwhile sunflower is the most important edible oil crop in Tanzania, also grown mostly by small-scale farmers. Over the last two decades, rice and sunflower have increasingly become important sources of income. This can be attributed to efforts by the government, in collaboration with development agencies, to commercialise rice and sunflower production to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty among actors in both value chains. There have also been efforts aimed at ensuring sustainable commercialisation and involvement of women and youth in the commercialisation process. Despite these initiatives, women and youth involvement in the rice and sunflower commercialisation process is likely to be constrained by their limited access to land and financial capital. Looking at government policy to promote commercial rice and sunflow...

APRA, Future Agricultures Consortium, May 1, 2020

The Tanzanian government has identified rice as a priority crop and has been implementing the Nat... more The Tanzanian government has identified rice as a priority crop and has been implementing the National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) since 2009 to commercialise rice farming (United Republic of Tanzania 2019). The implementation of the NRDS is expected to ensure food security and improve incomes of rice producers and other actors in the value chain. This policy brief examines the impact of rice commercialisation on the food security status of rice-producing households in Mngeta Division of Kilombero District, Tanzania

The East African Journal of Social Sciences and HumanitiesThe government of Tanzania initiated th... more The East African Journal of Social Sciences and HumanitiesThe government of Tanzania initiated the rollout of free antiretroviral therapy (ART) to reduce mortality and morbidity rates and improve the quality of life for people living with Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (PLWHA). The initiative will be successful once the services are widely accessed and register a high level of ART adherence by PLWHA. There are however, limited empirical studies on how gender-related factors affect access to and follow-through treatment for HIV and AIDS hence the need to fill this knowledge gap. The study adopted a cross-sectional design to collect data using a structured questionnaire in Njombe Region, Tanzania. The findings reveal that heterosexual intercourse with a spouse was the leading cause of HIV transmission for women (64.9%), and casual sex outside of marriage was the major cause for men (54.3%). It was revealed that 45.5% of respondents reported women to be responsible for income generation at the household. The study found that 81.4% of women, compared to 42.9% of males walked to the clinic while only 14% of women paid for transport to get to the clinic, compared to 40% of men. It was found that 30% of women and 17% men had no access to a special diet required by the PLWHA. Findings indicate that 96.6% of females and 85.6% of males patients took their medication as prescribed and attended scheduled clinics (97.1% of men and 93.8% of women) as planned. Heavy household workload was reported to constraint women in taking medication on time. Maintaining a good diet was a problem reported by most of the respondents, especially women. The study concludes that as treatment programs are rolled out and scaled up, household gender relations still affects adherence in different ways, therefore considering gender aspect will improve access and adherence to ART for PLWHA

It is argued that gender roles and relations determine distribution of benefits accrued from ones... more It is argued that gender roles and relations determine distribution of benefits accrued from ones' participation in value chain activities. But many value chain programmes are commonly designed and implemented without taking into consideration gender roles and relations. This study analysed onion value chain to determine its impact on gender roles, relations and distribution of income in the chain. The

Gender, Technology and Development

Sunflower commercialisation in Singida Region, Tanzania has been successful. The successes includ... more Sunflower commercialisation in Singida Region, Tanzania has been successful. The successes include increased oilseed production, expanding processing capacity and declining rural poverty. Policies and efforts by development agents to promote sunflower commercialisation have increased the number of actors and service providers. Accumulation from sunflower and other enterprises, including livestock, have not only improved livelihoods, but also contributed to household economic diversity. This paper examines the interactions between activities involved in sunflower production and other livelihood strategies. For example, the paper examines local dynamics in policy and business contexts that have shaped livelihood options available and people’s choices of which option they undertake, and the corresponding outcomes, and reasons for such commercialisation trajectories. The study aims to inform local, regional, and national strategies, to pursue more inclusive and sustainable agriculture d...

Rice is Tanzania’s third most important staple crop, after maize and cassava. It is produced by m... more Rice is Tanzania’s third most important staple crop, after maize and cassava. It is produced by more than 1 million agricultural households and involves many more actors and service providers along the value chain. Tanzania is second after Madagascar for rice production in East, Central and Southern Africa and is the leading rice producer and consumer in East Africa (Kilimo Trust 2014). In all producing areas, rice serves as a food and cash crop for farming households. About 70 percent of the rice produced by small-scale farmers (SSF) is sold, hence the underlying importance of supporting inclusive commercialisation.

Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2012

Women empowerment is multifaceted concept; there are many definitions and perceptions that are us... more Women empowerment is multifaceted concept; there are many definitions and perceptions that are used by programmes and projects espousing to empower women. This study, using qualitative data sought to assess women perception on empowerment among those involved in onion value chain development activities. The study adopted cross sectional research design where focus group discussions, key informant interviews and case studies were the main methods for data collection. Content analysis with constant comparison technique was used to analyse the data. The study found that women empowerment is linked to different achievement in their lives in their social and economic contexts such as increases in income, confidence to speak in public, awareness of their rights and participation in decision making at the household and community levels. Men's attitude and behaviours such as reluctantancy to accept changes suggested by women and control over income accrued from their activities are among the barrier for women empowerment. The study recommends for use of gender sensitive approaches in designing and implementing development programmes on women empowerment. Men and tribal leaders should be involved in women empowerment initiatives in order to change their mindset towards women empowerment.

There is a growing body of literature that argues that normally women derive little benefit from ... more There is a growing body of literature that argues that normally women derive little benefit from cash crops. Some of the barriers leading to women having less benefit from cash crop value chains include cultural norms and power differences in access to, and control over, resources among actors in value chains. It is also argued that women’s participation in different forms of collective action help women to increase benefits to them through their increased agency, hence enabling them to utilise existing and diverse options for their empowerment. This paper explores how women have benefited from their engagement in sunflower commercialisation and how culture has influenced changes in access to, and control over, resources, including land, for their empowerment.

This paper looks at the challenges and shortcomings facing the sunflower sub-sector in Tanzania. ... more This paper looks at the challenges and shortcomings facing the sunflower sub-sector in Tanzania. It showcases the political economy of sunflower based on analyses of the performance of the sector over a 30-year period since the early 1990s, also studying the relations between the importers of edible oil, and the local actors of the sunflower value chain (farmers and processors). In addition, the authors discuss how disparities in accessing resources for production were established across gender, age, wealth status, which led to social differentiation. Following this, they examine how restrictions introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected activities and relations along the sunflower value chain.

International Journal of Gender & Women's Studies, 2017

Women face many barriers in accessing markets for their agricultural products. Collective action ... more Women face many barriers in accessing markets for their agricultural products. Collective action (CA) has been identified as a potential option to overcome such barriers and empower them. As such, they have been organising themselves in different forms of collective action through formal and informal organisations in order to raise the capital base required in production and to influence traditions, laws and regulations that hinder their active participation and benefits. This paper explored the relationship between women's participation in collective action initiatives and their empowerment. A cross-sectional research design was adopted, involving402 respondents in the survey. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to explore thetypes and benefits of collective actions. In the same vein, an index scales was used to gauge the extent of women empowerment and ordinal logistical regression was used to determine the relationship between participation in collective action and empowerment. Women in the study area were categorized into medium level of women empowerment (CEI=0.6033) while 45.8% were categorized into higher level of women empowerment and 13.6% and 16.4% were categorized into no and low empowerment levels respectively. Ordinal logistic regression model revealed that marital status, education level, access to credit and participation in any form of collective action were the most important factors for women empowerment (P<0.05). In view of this, it is concluded that women still face many barriers towards their empowermentand CA has potential to contribute to their empowerment and the government and none governmental organizations need to strengthen efforts in the identified CA initiatives. It is recommended that development actors work beyond increasing the resources at women"s immediate disposal and focus more on addressing unequal social relations and the "structures of opportunity" faced by women, including their sense of collective as well as individual agency.

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AND MANAGEMENT

APRA, Future Agricultures Consortium, May 1, 2020

Gender, Technology and Development

Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2012

International Journal of Gender & Women's Studies, 2017