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The College of Wooster

Publication Date

Fall 2009

Program Name

Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology

Abstract

Tea is a valuable cash crop that is being influenced not only by individual farmers, but also local organizations, NGOs and even government information and regulations to encourage tea production in Tanzania. Small-scale tea farmers, like the Sagara Group, are a small, but important part of the tea industry. The Sagara Group, former workers united under the Mazumbai Tea Estate, was formed in 1964. The Group consists of 103 members that received a share of tea in 1991 when co-management of the estate was not efficient anymore. The group members (36 original members and 63 members that represent deceased original members) are located in villages of Mgwashi, Sagara, Mayo, Kizanda and Kwabosa surrounding the premises of Mazumbai. The purpose of this study was to look at how land use and productivity has changed the original tea plot allocations of the Sagara Group over time. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data about the individual past and present land use and future goals for improving productivity. It was found that changes in land use are being made to the original tea plots through the addition of various crops. Statistics showed that there have been changes in productivity due to the increase in income, amount of monthly harvest, and available government knowledge. As far as the future for the tea industry, interviewees plan to use inputs on crops and purchase more land for tea.

Disciplines

Agricultural and Resource Economics

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