Adoption of improved cassava varieties and their effects on household food security in Tanzania, lake zone Regions

This study investigates factors influencing the adoption of improved cassava varieties (ICVs) and their impact on household food security in Tanzania's Lake Zone regions. Using a randomly selected sample of 1047 farm households in the regions of Kagera, Mwanza, Geita, and Mara, and employing the logit, Propensity score matching (PSM), and Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) models, the study assesses factors for adoption and food insecurity and productivity outcomes. The results reveal a pooled adoption rate of ICVs at 14.14%, with Kagera having the highest rate at 29.6%. Adopters of ICVs showed significantly better food security, with 62.84% being food secure compared to 49.39% of the non-adopters. The key factors positively influencing adoption include farming experience, access to extension services, radio ownership, participation in village groups, and reliance on off-farm income, while intercropping negatively impacted adoption. The results of the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) for food insecurity (-3.201915), indicate that ICV adopters have significantly lower food insecurity compared to non-adopters. Similarly, the ATT for productivity shows higher productivity for adopters than non-adopters. Conclusively, promoting ICVs can significantly improve food security and productivity in the Lake Zone regions. Addressing barriers to adoption, such as improving access to extension services and information dissemination through media and community groups, is crucial for broader implementation. The policy implications emphasize the need for coordinated efforts to enhance agricultural extension services, promote community-based information sharing, and ensure the availability of quality planting materials to achieve sustainable food security improvements.