SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF SUNFLOWER SEED PRODUCTION IN SINGIDA REGION, TANZANIA

Sunflower seed production has been a response of rising demand for sunflower oil in the local and export market of Tanzania. The use of certified sunflower seeds has increased production of sunflower oil among the producers for local and export market. This work aimed at investigating the socio-economic determinants affecting sunflower seed production in Singida region of Tanzania. The cross-section research design with a sample size of 140 respondents was used to obtain information regarding determinants of sunflower seed production in the study area. The findings of the study shows that, the level of technology used by seed producers and suppliers, the use of skilled labor in the factories , the market deman, disasters and diseases were the key factors having a direct effect on sunflower seed production. The extent of seed production was measured based on tons of seeds produced in the years 2016 to 2020, and the study also found that sunflower seed production was low compared to the market demand at the same period. The study concluded that the rate of sunflower seed production and supply in the market can be increased by upgrading the technology used in sunflower seed value chain in Tanzania.