The average household size in Mumbuni is 6-7 members. It is usually assumed that large families are useful in agricultural households as the children will contribute labour. However as observed by the ILO:
the larger the household, the more likely it is to be poor. The output of an extra child is not equal to her/his consumption (ILO, 1972).
In this study a large family size was indeed strongly associated with low status of the household.
A look at the age structure gave an indication of active household members capable of providing both farm and household labour. Out of 100 households sampled with a total number of 1,037,200 were between ages 1-10 years, 340 were between ages 11-20 years, 430 were between 21-55 and 67 were over 55 years old.
Out of these members of the household, 390 were single, 630 were married, and 17 were widowed. The marital status was a significant demographic factor in the study as it determined one's social position in having access to resources such as land. For example a son did not inherit land until he had a wife. Widowhood particularly on the part of women also led them to own land and make management decisions regarding the land.
By examining the age structure of the household members, we found out that the majority within the age groups are either in early childhood, in school or are employed. Those economically active and can provide farm labour are within the age groups 21-55 years. Nevertheless, these are also the same group viable for wage employment and only worked on farms as a last alternative. Women provided farm labour consistently even after the age of 70 years, unless they were sick.
Income was an important indicator of the economic status of the household. It also shows who is able to afford agricultural inputs, purchase modern tools, hire labour, and acquire other resources such as land.
The average estimated income per household per annum was found to be below K.Shs.1,500/-. Sources of income of over 80% of women interviewed came from agricultural products. Income from employment were mainly earned by husbands. The higher incomes, a part from the ones brought into the families through coffee sales, were thus associated with formal employment or off-farm self employment i.e. business.
The low income in a household was found to be strongly associated with poverty and a large family.
Educational level is an indicator not only of those economically active in agriculture but those knowledgeable in it. It is assumed that those with a longer period of education are more adjustable to new technologies and are able to experiment with new methods of farming compared to those with limited education or none at all. This is not to mention that higher educational standards could mean a good wage employment which can provide money for investment in the farm e.g. hire labour and buy inputs.
The study revealed that the average level of education of 80% of women interviewed did not exceed 7 years in school. The desegregated educational years by sex in Table 1 revealed that women constitute a bigger proportion of the illiterates.
TABLE 1. LEVEL OF EDUCATION BY SEX
|
None |
1-8 Years (Primary) |
9-12 Years (Secondary) |
Above 12 Years (Training) |
Female |
60 (60%) |
20 (20%) |
16 (16%) |
4 (4%) |
Male |
10 (10%) |
43 (43%) |
27 (27%) |
20 (20%) |
These results indicate that the high level of illiteracy leaves women in Mumbuni with no option for seeking wage employment outside of agriculture. Thus because of lack of training and skills for formal sector jobs, the women are unlikely to migrate outside their rural homes at the same rate as men. Because of this, women are therefore more likely to remain stable in the rural population for a long time. Out of our sample, 96% reported that farming was their main occupation.
In summary, one can say that our sample is made up of poorly educated farmers with meager sources of income outside agriculture except for self-employment activities and remittances from relatives who are formally employed.
