Tanzania - summary of qualitative and quantitative findings by research question Researching Womens Collective Action project team meeting: Arusha, Tanzania,

Tanzania - summary of qualitative and quantitative findings by research question

Researching Women’s Collective Action project team meeting: Arusha, Tanzania, 18-21st July 2012

1. Which categories of women smallholders benefit from participation in collective action in agricultural markets?

Qualitative findings:• WCA- women tend to be- better educated; slightly older on average; with

increased access to land; able to afford membership fees; married;• Women with retired/white collar husbands receive more support to

become involved in WCA activities• Single women may be excluded from CA unless widowed, or divorced after

joining group• More empowered women are able to join the groups more easily- due to

greater freedom from control of husbands/increased economic power• WCA increases diversity of vegetables grown- they are easier to market

through groups. Groups also benefit from support with calendar/market prices info- when to grow what etc. So they tend to know demand/consumer side better

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1. Which categories of women smallholders benefit from participation in collective action in agricultural markets?

Quantitative findings:WCA Members...• Are older- (42 compared to 39) highly significant• Use fewer plots (2.5 versus 3.7)- highly significant• Own more goats/sheep (2.4 versus 1.8) highly significant• Own slightly more durable goods(6.5 to 6) highly significant• Cultivate a greater variety of vegetables (3.7 versus 2.5) highly

significant• Receive better credit (17% versus 1%)- through agricultural

union farmer groups- highly significant

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1. Which categories of women smallholders benefit from participation in collective action in agricultural markets?

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Conflicting findings /gaps in data:• From QUAL no evidence of

more assets in WCA in QUANT significant difference• QUAL WCA have higher

access to inputs in QUANT no significant difference

Complimentary findings:• Age, Marriage,• Women received small

ruminants from NGOs benefiting mostly WCA• Access to credit • Higher diversity of

vegetables, as can access higher markets

2. What livelihoods (income, assets) and empowerment benefits do women smallholders gain from their participation in collective action in agricultural markets?

Qualitative findings:• Membership obviously affects freedom to attend group meetings

but unclear of it is ‘cause or effect’• Involvement in groups does give women more power over income

and decision making over agricultural income – but not necessarily overall household income

• WCA- benefits can be more limited in marketing of product- so empowerment in production or household may not stretch to capturing marketing value

• Women’s product may be sold less than men’s within mixed collectives- due to marginalisation at marketing stage

• More market information for WCA5

2. What livelihoods (income, assets) and empowerment benefits do women smallholders gain from their participation in collective action in agricultural markets?

Quantitative findings:For WCA members-• Total value of vegetables produced is significantly higher (1,420,649

versus 958,425) • Women in WCA are selling more and so receiving higher income from

vegetable sales- high significance• Produce higher yields per acre –one star sig (TS 664,000 more per acre)• Market 4% less on average- 2 star sig• Net value of vegetables- is higher (TS 465,710 difference)• Improved decision-making on agricultural income at HH; increased

ownership of agricultural assets; greater freedom to attend group meetings; and greater influence over all income decisions

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2. What livelihoods (income, assets) and empowerment benefits do women smallholders gain from their participation in collective action in agricultural markets?

Conflicting findings /gaps in data:• QUAL no empowerment

over overall income• QUANT no widows (Table

8)GAPS• Some data have not been

analysed

Complimentary findings:• Higher quantity of veg

production in WCA• More empowerment of

WCA members on decision over agric. income

3. How and to what extent does collective action help women smallholders to overcome key barriers to their engagement in markets?

Qualitative findings:WCA members-• More involved in quality assurance of product; • Increased volume of production; • Have more options for marketing, grow diverse crops• Differences observed between women-only and mixed groups

– better empowerment in regard to decision-making power in women only groups...

• Still strong barriers preventing women from selling at higher value markets- especially cultural restrictions around travel

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3. How and to what extent does collective action help women smallholders to overcome key barriers to their engagement in markets?

Quantitative findings:• No findings from QUANT report• Analysis of Section 4 Question 8 benefits of joining WCA could

add value

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3. How and to what extent does collective action help women smallholders to overcome key barriers to their engagement in markets?

Conflicting findings /gaps in data:GAPS• Analysis of Section 4

question 8

Complimentary findings:• COULD NOT BE WORKED

OUT

4. Which strategies of development actors are most effective in promoting equitable benefits for women from their engagement in CA in agricultural markets?

Qualitative findings:• Few strategies to encourage women’s participation in

particular- • Only organisation that has specifically supported women is

government office (low interest) loans to women’s groups/provision of plots of land etc.

• Interventions need to have focused strategies on benefits for women, otherwise can only be successfully accessed by men

• Involvement in VICOBA and or SACCOS has helped access to credit...

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4. Which strategies of development actors are most effective in promoting equitable benefits for women from their engagement in CA in agricultural markets?

Quantitative findings:• Access to credit

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4. Which strategies of development actors are most effective in promoting equitable benefits for women from their engagement in CA in agricultural markets?

Conflicting findings /gaps in data:GAPS• QUANT – Section 5 on

motivation to join WCA need to be analysed. This could see what strategies worked to make women more involved

Complimentary findings:• Access to credit

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FEEDBACK

No. Findings Feedback

1 Table 7 data on horses Need to be checked as no horses in Lushoto

2 “Mboga vegetable” Better use “vegetable” and define it to exclude dry beans

3 1.5 acres average plot size for vegetables in WCA

Very big, need verification

4 40% of treatment from Sunga ward

Suggest to compare data within the treatment and reducing % of treatment to see the effect

5 -ve correlation of WCA and empowerment

Data analysis need to be revised

15Asante sana! Thank you! Inicheh! Merci! Amesegenallo!