International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 3(12), pp. 260-267, Deceember 2014 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of livelihoods of smallholder pig keepers in Mbeya rural and Mbozi districts, Mbeya region, Tanzania

Anania A.S. Kamaghe¹, Malongo R.S. Mlozi¹*, Helena Mejer² and Maria V. Johansen²

¹Depatment of Agricultural Education and Extension, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3002, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania.

²Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 57, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mrsmlozi@yahoo.com. Tel: +255 787 022 609.

Accepted 20 November, 2014

Abstract

This study investigated the livelihoods of 98 smallholder farmers keeping pigs in Mbeya rural and Mbozi districts in Mbeya region. The study found that respondents’ characteristics influenced decision making on pig keeping and that pig keeping overall contributed 5-10% of the households’ incomes. Pig keeping in Mbeya and Mbozi rural districts contributed to food provision and to accelerate technology scaling-up. However, two thirds of the respondents reported that they were not satisfied with the pig trade, and less than half of them knew the livestock extension agents, but two thirds said that they were not satisfied with their advisory and service delivery. Less than half of the respondents reported to having access to water for their pigs and in both districts, one third of the respondents indicated to facing problems of presence of pig diseases. This study recommends that livestock extension agents in the two study districts should educate pig keepers on good pig husbandry, assist them to form associations, and help them to find reliable markets for their pigs and secure loans.

Key words: Smallholder pig keepers, livelihoods, livestock extension agents, Mbeya rural, Mbozi districts, Tanzania.