Boosting Productivity: The Impact of Improved Sesame Varieties on Small-Scale Farmers in Mtwara, Tanzania

This study examines the adoption patterns of sesame varieties among small-scale farmers in the Mtwara region of Tanzania and analyzes the effects of adopting improved varieties on productivity the study Utilizing a non-experimental cross-sectional research design, the study collects data from a sample of 150 farmers using simple random sampling to ensure representativeness. The research area, Nanyumbu, Mtwara was chosen due to its significance in sesame production, diverse agro-climatic conditions, and substantial small-scale farming community. Data is gathered through primary sources and analyzed using the Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model to address self-selection bias. The research reveals that 67.13% of farmers continue to use local sesame varieties, while 27.9% utilize a combination of improved and local varieties, and 13.33% have fully adopted improved sesame varieties. The study identifies significant factors influencing adoption and productivity, including access to credit, market connectivity, and land ownership for adopters, and age, marital status, education level, and access to agricultural inputs for non-adopters. The analysis demonstrates that adopters of improved varieties experience a substantial increase in productivity, with a mean difference of 37.94 bags per acre compared to non-adopters. These findings underscore the role of financial access and market connections in enhancing agricultural outcomes and provide valuable insights for improving sesame production practices in the region.