Assessment of Smallholder Farmers’ Human Capital Development in Crop Farming and Post Harvesting Processing in Ileje District, Tanzania

Abstract

 This study employed the social learning theory to establish major sources of human capital development in agriculture among smallholder farmers in terms of crop farming and post-harvesting processing of crops at Ileje District, Tanzania. The study used the descriptive research design while a questionnaire was the tool for data collection from 364 respondents selected from among smallholder farmers in 10 selected wards in the District. Data analysis involved the descriptive approach. The study found that the major sources of human capital development in both crop farming and post-harvesting processing were parents and guardians, informal education,self-experience, agricultural extension services, and formal education, arranged from the best source to the least source. The study recommends that the government should include the agricultural curriculum in formal education and include other sources of human capital development by application of the social learning theory.