Evaluation of the association of Tanzania tobacco traders’ reforestation programme: the case of Urambo District

Abstract

The study was conducted in Urambo District. The objectives of the study were as follows: to examine role played by primary farmer co-operatives in implementing the reforestation programme; to determine the planting rate of trees among cooperative members; to assess the survival rate of planted trees; and to identify constraints faced by farmers in implementing the reforestation programme and their coping strategies. The study applied a cross-sectional research design. A variety of methods including personal observations questionnaires and focus group discussion were applied. Sample size for the study was 60 primary-farmer co-operative members, 20 members from each of the three primary-farmer cooperatives, selected purposively and systematically from the most affected division. Sample size represented 7% of total study population which is 862 cooperative members. Data were analyzed using SPSS, both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were analyzed. Results from this study show a poor performance of reforestation programme. Furthermore, the results indicate that, the study had a low planting rate and a low survival rate of 39.6 %. This study recommends proper actions to be taken on several constraints that have been identified to course the lower rates. Furthermore, farmers should be separated from livestock keepers to avoid grazing on tree farms. On issues of fire outbreaks, there is a need to introduce strict by-laws, penalties and fines to those who deliberately burn the forests.