Profitability of Using Aflatoxin Smart Technologies amongst Smallholder Maize Farmers in Kongwa and Namtumbo Districts
Abstract
Aflatoxins are among the dangerous food scares on staple crops affecting food and nutritional safety. However, the use of good agronomic practices and aflatoxin-reducing products lessens aflatoxin infestations on farm produce. However, there is information dearth on the profitability of using aflatoxin smart technologies amongst farmers. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the profitability of using aflatoxin smart technologies amongst small-holder maize farmers in Kongwa and Namtumbo Districts. Regarding methodology, the study used a cross-sectional research design entailing 344 respondents (300 maize farmers and other 44 key informants). Whereby, simple random selection procedures were used to determine maize farmers, and purposively sampling procedures were used to determine key informants. Collected data was analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) with the aid of both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study’s findings showed that there were no easy ways used by farmers and traders to differentiate contaminated maize from non-contaminated maize which leads to an inability to pay more price for aflatoxin-free maize. In both districts, there were slightly small differences in the price of maize for farmers who adopted aflatoxin smart technologies and those who didn’t use these technologies. However, despite the prices of maize being almost the same for adopters and non-adopters and the increase in production costs for farmers who adopted aflatoxin smart technologies, data showed it was profitable to use these technologies. Whereby findings showed that the profit margin for adopters was TZS 207,645.3 and TZS 171,176.2 for non-adopters in Kongwa District while the profit margin of TZS 763,788.1 for adopters and TZS 466,142.9 non-adopters in Namtumbo District. Then, the study concluded that there is a need to promote the use of aflatoxin smart technologies since the additional costs of using these technologies are well compensated with a profit margin as well as increased maize quality and quantity (yield).
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