|
|
| |
| The Prospects of SMEs in Promoting Sunflower Oil Processing Activities in Dodoma Urban, Tanzania |
Seleman Shenkambi Hamza, Cosmas Timothy Maembe, MacLean Charles Mwamlangala
|
Abstract:
Enterprises dealing with sunflower oilseeds processing prospects in the creation of backward and forward linkages can be examined by their ability to offer a reliable market for farm produce while also fulfilling demand for cooking oils by the local population. The philosophy of this paper by design is pragmatic which accommodates both quantitative and qualitative design. A survey method with a cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 50 owners-managers of enterprises processing sunflower oilseeds located around Dodoma city's hot spots, which are Chamwino, Kikuyu, and Majengo. Under cluster, disproportional, and purposive sampling, a sample size of 50 respondents was selected to represent the owner-managers of the enterprises. Meanwhile, key informants from organizations like Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO), Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), the City Council, Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA), and leadership from the enterprise association were also included in the study. Through the data analysis instrument which is the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), it was revealed that the backward linkage created by the enterprises is weak with respect to the constant availability of potential raw materials, sunflower seeds in particular, subsequently amounting to capacity underutilization of infrastructures which are already being set up. On the other hand, the findings report that the forward linkage created by the enterprises is weak in the sense that sunflower oil output is far less than the demand for cooking oil in the local market. The essence is that enterprises dealing with processing sunflower oilseeds are producing and supplying sunflower cooking oil in a less competitive environment in terms of quantity, quality, and price. According to the study, the ministry of agriculture, in collaboration with counterpart sector ministries such as trade, infrastructure, and industries, should harmonize existing sector policies in order to have all relevant sectors and stakeholders prioritize and allocate resources, i.e., financial, human, and material resources, in a coordinated response to address existing shortfalls in the realization of backward and forward linkages.
|
|
|
| | |