Integrating the soybean-maize-chicken value chains to attain nutritious diets in Tanzania

Abstract In Tanzania, diets are dominated by starchy staple crops such as maize, levels of malnutrition high and largely attributed to lack dietary diversity. We employed fuzzy cognitive mapping understand the current soybean, maize chicken value chains, highlight stakeholder relationships identify entry points for chain integration support nutritious in Tanzania. The maps were constructed based on information gathered during household interviews with 569 farming households, followed a participatory workshop 54 stakeholders involved three chains. found that chains interconnected, particularly at level smallholder systems processing facilities. Smallholder households part one or more Chicken feed is an important point integrating soybean meal main sources energy protein chicken. Unlike utilization limited, mainly due inadequate quality grain into meal. As result, produced smallholders exported neighbouring countries further processing, imported relatively prices. Enhancing local sourcing adequate coupled strengthening farmers other actors offers opportunity improve access people. Our method revealed importance interlinkages integrate network within domestic markets.