Achieving SDGs in Tanzania: Is there a Nexus between Land Tenure Security, Agricultural Credits and Rice Productivity?

Abstract

This paper examined the nexus between land tenure security, credit access and rice productivity in Tanzania as a route in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030. The study used cross section data collected from 1188 farm households in eight districts of Tanzania in 2016. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and conditional mixed process were used for data analysis. Descriptive results show that only 4% of the respondents had perceived land tenure security. Similarly, only 10% of respondents had access to credit and the level of rice productivity was approximately 400 kg/ha. The correlation analysis show a positive association between land tenure security, credit access and rice productivity. Education and family size positively affects land tenure security while land survey and district location negatively affects land tenure security. Land tenure security significantly and positively affects access to credit by farmers in the study area. Other factors that significantly affect access to credit includes education level, sex of the household head, non-farm income and location dummies. Access to credit have significant and positive effects on rice productivity. Farmers with access to credit harvested about 2645 kg/ha (*p<0.05) more than farmers without access to credit. The results confirms the existence of the nexus between land tenure security, agricultural credit and rice productivity. The results call for improvement in farmers’ land tenure security through affordable and cost-effective land institutions that will promote emergence of land markets, enhancement of credit markets which will further stimulate improved agricultural productivity for the attainment of the 2030 sustainable development goals.