Factors that influence market participation among traditional beef cattle farmers in the Meatu District of Simiyu Region, Tanzania

Market participation among beef cattle farmers is key to ensuring better income, food security, and sustainable beef supply. Farmers in the traditional beef cattle sector, nevertheless, are well known for their low market participation. This study, thus, sought to examine factors that influenced market participation among beef cattle farmers in the Meatu district of Simiyu region, Tanzania. The study randomly selected a sample size of 393 farmers. The cross-sectional data collected through interviews and questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models. The descriptive analyses showed that the average age of the interviewees was 53.73 years with a family size of 13.11. On average, the respondents had about 24.14 years of farming experience. Most of the respondents (67.9%) had primary education. Among the respondents, about 61.3%, 4.6%, and 32.6% had access to market information, farm credits, and veterinary services, respectively. The average cattle herd size was 53.46 heads. About 90.1% of farmers had participated in the markets by selling an average of 5 heads each, per year. This study has revealed low volume of sales, low education levels, and poor access to credits and veterinary services as the major factors that limit market participation. Furthermore, econometric results show that the key factors that significantly influenced farmers to increase the volume of beef cattle sales in the market at P < 0.05 included price, herd size, off-farm income, distance to market, age of the farmer, and cattle fattening. Moreover, membership in cooperatives, access to market information, and farming experience also had significant influence at P < 0.05. This study recommends establishment of strategic cooperatives to function not only as a communication channel for farm credits, price, market information, and training on commercial farming, but also to assist farmers in selection of profitable markets.

the submission is accepted. Please make sure it is accurate. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. NO   Yes -all data are fully available without restriction  36 An increased volume of beef cattle sales through market participation has become an 37 influential aspect in the commercialization of the traditional beef cattle sector in rural areas [20]. 38 Globally, it is predicted that more than 600 million people keep beef cattle, of which 75% live in 39 rural areas [7]. 40 The beef cattle sector in Tanzania is one of the major agricultural production sectors which 41 contributes to over 50% of the beef cattle farmer's household income, 5.9% to national GDP, 42 employment, and export earnings [11][12][13]27,41]. These contributions are untapped the full 43 potential due to the limited commercialization of the traditional beef cattle sector [21]. The 44 limited commercialization (market participation) of the traditional beef cattle sector is due to 45 numerous challenges faced by beef cattle farmers to access markets and prevents them from 46 taking advantage of market opportunities [23].

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Tanzania ranks third (3 rd ) as the leading producer of beef cattle in Africa and 11 th in the 48 world, with a beef cattle population reaching 34.5 million with a 2.8% annual growth rate 49 [20,27,41]. Beef cattle farming in Tanzania is a habitual means of life in which 94% of total beef 50 cattle herds are predominantly raised under the traditional beef cattle farming system (a free-51 range production system) and 6% raised under the commercial beef cattle ranching system 52 [10,13]. The potential increase in beef cattle is high since Tanzania has vast and abundant natural 53 resources for beef cattle; approximately 60 million hectares are rangelands suitable for grazing 54 [11].

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Given that 94% of beef cattle herds in Tanzania are raised under the traditional beef cattle 56 farming system, supplying 95% of beef meat produced in the country, together with the high 57 dependency of beef cattle farmers on income generated from the sale of beef cattle [11][12][13], 58 government interventions have been undertaken to commercialize the traditional beef cattle 59 sector through different policies, programs, trade, and market liberalization to make more 60 effective contributions to the family food security and income of beef cattle farmers and the 61 national economy [9,12]. Efforts undertaken to commercialize the traditional beef cattle sector 62 include but not limited: encouraging beef cattle farmers with a large number of beef cattle to 63 reduce their beef cattle herd and settle on land allocated for beef cattle grazing, linking beef 64 cattle farmers to profitable markets, encouraging them to operate beef cattle fattening as a means 65 to increasing the productivity of beef cattle and profitability, collecting and disseminating beef 66 cattle market information to beef cattle farmers to increase the volume of beef cattle sales, 67 enabling access to credit, input subsidizing, vaccination control and access to veterinary skills 68 and services [9,15,18]. The expectations of traditional beef cattle commercialization have been 69 regarded as the means of meeting the increasing demand for beef cattle and beef meat in 70 4/31 domestic and international markets and poverty reduction among beef cattle farmers [9,14]. Beef 71 cattle commercialization typically leads to an increased diversity of marketed commodities and 72 increased specialization, thereby triggering beef cattle farmers to increase their incomes by 73 producing beef cattle, which gives the highest returns [19].  indicates a potential opportunity to be utilized by beef cattle farmers through increasing 94 marketable surplus to offer for sale in the market, thus improving their living standards. 95 It is estimated that due to low market participation among traditional beef cattle farmers in 96 Tanzania, by the year 2021/22, the contribution of traditional beef cattle systems will decrease by 97 8.43%, while the commercial beef cattle ranching system will increase by 85.94% [10]. The 98 commercial beef cattle ranching system is more market-oriented than the traditional beef cattle 99 system. More efforts should be put to transform traditional beef cattle farmers from subsistence 100 farming to market-oriented, since 95% of beef meat produced in Tanzania comes from the 101 traditional beef cattle system. The potential of the traditional beef cattle system to contribute 102 more to beef meat production is higher than commercial beef cattle ranching systems. It is  The low market participation of beef cattle farmers leads to an insufficient supply of beef 109 cattle for beef meat production. Additionally, low market participation leads to increased poverty 110 among beef cattle farmers due to less cash generated from beef cattle sales. There should be 111 some factors that sensitize beef cattle farmers to treat beef cattle farming as a business. These 112 factors trigger beef cattle farmers to set aside a large volume of beef cattle for sale each year and 113 then fatten them to produce beef cattle of good quality, which will earn high profits [6]. 114 Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the volume of Market participation is related to commercialization, which refers to the gradual shift from 125 traditional beef cattle farming to commercial beef cattle farming(market-oriented) or the act of 126 farmers entering the beef cattle market and exchanging agricultural products for cash [5]. It is 127 generally believed that the market participation of traditional beef cattle farmers is more 128 important to the livelihoods of the rural population and its impact on the economic growth of 129 developing countries [3]. It is also an important way for poor beef cattle farmers to secure better

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The study applied a multi-stage stratified sampling technique to select respondents of which 174 are beef cattle farmers. The selection process of respondents at different stages involved both 175 random and purposive sampling techniques. Stratified sampling is a sampling method that 176 involves dividing the population into smaller groups called "strata." Stratified random sampling 177 creates stratification based on members who share similar attributes [24]. Then, a random sample 178 was selected from each stratum. In this study, the strata consisted of traditional beef cattle 179 farmers. The Simiyu Region was selected as one of the major beef cattle producing regions.

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To commercialize the traditional beef cattle sector in Tanzania  To justify the hypothesized variables, this study hypothesized that the age of beef cattle 244 farmers has both positive and negative effects on the increased volume of beef cattle sales to the 245 market because [32] found that there was a positive correlation between age and farmers' 246 decision to increase the volume of beef cattle sales in the market, while Kgosikoma and Malope 247 [31] found age to have a negative effect. 248 The study hypothesized that the education level of a beef cattle farmer has a positive impact 249 on the increased volume of beef cattle sales in the market because farmers with higher education 250 12/31 level may have the ability to negotiate, obtain more market information, and adopt new 251 technologies and innovations required to increase beef cattle productivity and beef cattle 252 marketing skills [33].

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A large beef cattle herd size means a more marketable surplus, which is an incentive to sell farming experience to enhance the search for potential customers [31]. 261 Abafita et al. [35] in Ethiopia found that membership in cooperatives encourages beef cattle 262 sales; therefore, this study expected cooperative membership to have a positive effect.  The study hypothesized that obtaining accurate market information has a positive effect on 269 beef cattle sales because beef cattle farmers need accurate market information to be able to 270 correctly determine the number of beef cattle to be sold and the price to be obtained [23]. improving livelihood [23].

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Distance from home to the beef cattle market increases transaction costs, which hinders beef 281 cattle farmers from participating in the market. Hence, this study assumed that the distance from 282 home to the market is negatively related to the volume of beef cattle supplied to the market, [36] 283 also revealed a negative relationship between market distance and beef cattle marketing activities.

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Studies by [16,42] suggested that beef cattle farmers with high non-farm income are able to 289 pay most of the bills without having to sell beef cattle, hence affecting the volume of beef cattle 290 sold in the market, while [25] found that beef cattle farmers with high off-farm income offered 291 more beef cattle for sale. Therefore, this study assumed that off-farm income has negative and 292 positive effects on the volume of beef cattle sold in the market. 293

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The larger the household size, the lower the market participation because big families have 294 higher consumption demand, hence reducing marketable surplus to be offered for sale, contrary 295 to contrast, larger households have the potential to engage more in beef cattle production and 296 sales activities due to the availability of the labor force. In addition, large households need more 297 income for school fees, medical care, and other livelihood needs, which put pressure on beef 298 cattle herds to generate income [28]. Hence, this study hypothesized that household size has an 299 indeterminate relationship with the volume of beef cattle sold to the market.

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Beef cattle fattening improves beef cattle productivity, quality, and profitability of beef cattle.

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Farmers practicing fattening are more market-oriented; hence, the study postulated a positive 302 relationship with the volume of beef cattle sold in the market.

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Distinctive to this study, factors related to beef cattle, such as the number of bulls, cows, 304 heifers, and steers-oxen owned together with beef cattle breeds (local and crossbreeds) kept were 305 included to capture the replacement potential, beef cattle reproductive and availability of 306 marketable surplus. Assumed that cows, heifers, and bulls have a positive impact on the volume 307 of beef cattle sold in the market, cows and heifers increase the marketable surplus due to 308 reproductive capacity, which motivates beef cattle farmers to offer more beef cattle for sale [28]. 309 Generally, bulls are highly salable, which increases the volume of beef cattle sales in the market,       shows that compared with non-market participants, market participants were more exposed to 414 market information. This means that obtaining accurate market information is an essential factor 415 for beef cattle farmers to participate in the market and decision to increase the volume of beef 416 cattle offered for sale. Given that farm credit is important for investing in beef cattle production 417 and marketing activities, thus boosting beef cattle productivity, which increases the tendency to 418 enter the market by increasing marketable surplus. [28].The findings show that out of the total 419 sample (393), only 4.6% had access to farm credit. In addition, the results revealed that among 420 market participants, only 4.5% of market participants and 5.1% of non-market participants had 421 access to farm credit. This means that both market participants and non-market participants were 422 less exposed to farm credit. Beef cattle farmers need a suitable and convenient arrangement as 423 well as assistance in the establishment of a marketing system for securing farm credit. Regarding 424 access to veterinary services, the results revealed that 31.6% and 41% of market participants and 425 non-market participants, respectively, had access to veterinary services. The findings also 426 revealed that among the market participants, 15% were engaged in cooperatives and 85% were 427 not members of any cooperative, while among non-market participants, 87.2% were not 428 members of any cooperatives, but only 12.8% were engaged in cooperatives. This indicates that 429 non-market participants were less involved in cooperative activities than market participants. An indicates that market participants are more market-oriented than non-market participants. In 436 Tanzania, fattening beef cattle has been designated as one of several ways to increase beef cattle 437 productivity through value addition [14]. Beef cattle of a Lower quality are fed with cotton husks, 438 corn bran, or cottonseed cakes for three to four months to improve their quality by gaining 439 weight, and then sell them at high prices [14]. Incentives to encourage beef cattle farmers to 440 practice fattening are suggested.

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The market participation among poor beef farmers is an important way to ensure better 538 income and improve food security to reduce poverty together with its impact on national 539 economic growth. The study revealed that Out of 393 samples of beef cattle farmers indicated 540 that 354(90.1%) beef cattle farmers had participated in the beef cattle market by selling an 541 average of 5 beef cattle per year and only 39(9.9%) beef cattle farmers did not participate in the 542 beef cattle market. Further analysis indicated that market participants were found to be 543 influenced by socioeconomic characteristics such as age, farming experience, off-farm income, 544 grazing land owned, and factors related to beef cattle such as beef cattle herd size, the number of 545 heifers, bulls, and cows owned, which were higher on average among market participants than in 546 non-market participants. In addition, the majority of market participants were found to have high 547 access to market information than non-participants but highly dominated by less educated people 548 26/31 with less exposure to public services such as farm credits, veterinary services, and agricultural 549 cooperative services. Education and public services should be improved among beef cattle 550 farmers to sensitize their level of market participation for sustainable beef cattle supply in the 551 market and poverty reduction among beef cattle farmers.

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The econometric analysis further revealed that for the beef cattle farmers to increase the 553 volume of beef cattle sales in the market, socioeconomic characteristics, beef cattle related 554 factors, and public services are the key factors. Age of a farmer, farming experience, access to 555 market information, distance to market, off-farm income, price of beef cattle, cooperative 556 membership, beef cattle fattening practice, beef cattle herd size, number of cows, bulls, steers-557 oxen, and heifers owned together with local breed type kept were found to have a significant 558 impact on the volume of beef cattle sold in the market. Since the sustainable supply of beef cattle 559 to the market and poverty reduction are directly linked to beef cattle production, its productivity 560 should be improved through the provision of veterinary services, farm credits, education, 561 agricultural cooperative services, and new technologies such as encouraging farmers to practice 562 beef cattle fattening and keeping crossbreeds as it was found that most of the beef cattle farmers 563 kept local breeds. Keeping crossbreed increases productivity due to its productivity vigor hence 564 increases the marketable surplus, therefore motivates beef cattle farmers to offer more beef cattle 565 for sale in the market.

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The policy recommendations for this study focus on agricultural and marketing cooperatives 567 societies (AMCOS) in Tanzania, which deal with the production, processing, transporting, and