Factors influencing carrot production among smallholder carrot growers in Songoro Ward, Meru district council, Tanzania

Abstract

The study aims to examine the socioeconomic determinants of carrot production among smallholder carrot farmers. The present study is grounded in the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF). The study adopted a cross-sectional research design with an exploratory sequential and mixed-method approach, whereby qualitative data were first collected, followed by quantitative data. A sample of 286 smallholder carrot farmers was selected using simple random sampling techniques. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis with a constant comparison. Quantitative data were entered into the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), where descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were employed. A multiple regression model was used to assess the socioeconomic determinants of carrot yield in Meru District Council. The sample size selected is adequate for preliminary findings, but the results may not be very generalizable to other countries due to context-specific factors and socio-cultural differences. The results indicated that age, carrot income, education, household size, land sizes, and carrot farming experience were significant determinants of carrot yield at a p < 0.05 significance level. The study's practical significance lies in developing recommendations to enhance carrot production in the Meru District Council. Human capital and socioeconomic characteristics can make valuable contributions to carrot production and increase smallholder farmers' carrot yield. This work contributes by elaborating on how carrot production can be enhanced through the improvement of household income, creation of awareness among smallholder farmers about the potential of carrot production, use of family labor to increase crop yield, and the need for more land allocation for carrot production.