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Nucleus-outgrower schemes as an alternative to traditional smallholder agriculture in Tanzania – strengths, weaknesses and policy requirements

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Brüntrup

    (German Development Institute/Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE))

  • Fabian Schwarz

    (University of Bayreuth
    University of Bayreuth)

  • Thomas Absmayr

    (Formerly DIE, now Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES))

  • Jonas Dylla

    (Formerly DIE, now Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW))

  • Franziska Eckhard

    (Formerly DIE, now Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development)

  • Kerstin Remke

    (Formerly DIE, now Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development)

  • Konrad Sternisko

    (Formerly DIE, now Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development)

Abstract

The public debate about the right type of agriculture for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) often constructs a dichotomy between smallholders and large-scale agriculture. This over-simplification ignores some important intermediary forms for organising agriculture, including nucleus-outgrower schemes (NOSs). NOSs promise to combine the benefits of both while potentially reducing, though not avoiding, (part of) their drawbacks. This article analyses the conditions under which NOSs are feasible and beneficial for investors, outgrowers and rural development for selected value chains in Tanzania. It is based on an empirical study comprising 276 qualitative interviews with various stakeholders conducted in central Tanzania in spring 2015 on 10 NOSs in three subsectors (rice, sugar cane and tea) in different stages of realisation (planning, establishment, full production and failure or near-failure). The study examines why investments succeed or fail in different stages, the socio-economic impacts and various policies important for their fate. Findings show that there are many challenges to successfully implementing NOSs in Tanzania, including national policies on the business environment, on agriculture in general and on specific subsectors, and, especially, on land issues. Nevertheless, these schemes seem to have considerable potential to support local development, particularly by providing employment and salaries, incomes for outgrower farmers, infrastructure and corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects as compensation for loss of access to land for the community. The specific details of a particular business model influence the opportunities and risks, but no single model seems to be superior; much depends on the subsector structure and the services already available. In general, policies to attract and steer NOSs in Tanzania are not yet sufficiently developed, coordinated or implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Brüntrup & Fabian Schwarz & Thomas Absmayr & Jonas Dylla & Franziska Eckhard & Kerstin Remke & Konrad Sternisko, 2018. "Nucleus-outgrower schemes as an alternative to traditional smallholder agriculture in Tanzania – strengths, weaknesses and policy requirements," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(4), pages 807-826, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:10:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s12571-018-0797-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-018-0797-0
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    2. Nguyen Hung Anh & Wolfgang Bokelmann & Ngo Thi Thuan & Do Thi Nga & Nguyen Van Minh, 2019. "Smallholders’ Preferences for Different Contract Farming Models: Empirical Evidence from Sustainable Certified Coffee Production in Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-26, July.
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    4. Luca Tricarico & Andrea Galimberti & Ausilia Campanaro & Chiara Magoni & Massimo Labra, 2020. "Experimenting with RRI tools to Drive Sustainable Agri-Food Research: The SASS Case Study from Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Sakketa, Tekalign Gutu & Herrmann, Raoul & Nkonde, Chewe & Lukonde, Mwelwa & Brüntrup, Michael, 2022. "The effects of a private-sector-driven smallholder support programme on productivity, market participation and food and nutrition security: Evidence of a nucleus-outgrower scheme from Zambia," IDOS Discussion Papers 19/2022, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    6. Hendrik Feyaerts & Goedele Van den Broeck & Miet Maertens, 2020. "Global and local food value chains in Africa: A review," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(1), pages 143-157, January.

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