Factors Influencing the Growth of Floriculture. A case study of Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania

Abstract

A study to evaluate the factors influencing the growth of floriculture and its contribution to the community livelihoods was conducted in Dar es Salaam city, using Kinondoni Municipality as a case study. Specifically, the study intended to (i) explore the influential factors for the growth of floriculture in the case study (ii) examine the socio-economic contribution of floriculture to the local community livelihoods (iii) identify the challenges facing the floriculture and (iv) suggest remedies towards the challenges. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to get a total of 60 respondents. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect data. Data were collected through observations, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results of the study show that income generation, availability of open spaces (road reserves), shortage of other employment opportunities, high demand, environmental conservation are the main factors for growth of the floriculture. Low markets, shortage of the water supply services, informality, the eruption of pests and diseases and a shortage of working tools were revealed as significant challenges facing the floricultural business. To improve this business, it suggested that the government must recognize floriculture as a business. It should provide more support in terms of the improvements of the water supply services, provision subsidy, aids and loans of the low conditionality to the smallholder farmers.