Survival and accumulation strategies at the rural-urban interface in north-west Tanzania.

This study determines the nature of village economics in the town of Biharamulo, Tanzania, and in four surrounding villages. This study also identifies the links between the villages and the town and the extent of differences between village households. Town population in 1993 was 20,000 persons, or 1020 households, of which 29.4% were female-headed. Only 7.1% of village households were headed by women. The town experienced considerable in-migration. The town is the seat of district government, has important service and market functions, serves the needs of a military outpost, and is easily accessible by road. Households are widely scattered among the four villages. The survey of 84 village households found 57 heads of households and 47 spouses who were born in their villages. 6 households were headed by women. 82 households owned land (97.6%). 69.0% of households gained control of their land through inheritance. 20% of households grew coffee as a cash crop. Cash market agriculture is shifting to beer banana culture due to the year-round crop potential and ease of culture. 83% relied on a variety of income generating activities for survival and savings. Most villagers preferred their village residence over urban life, but visitation to Biharamulo town more than once a month occurred among over 90% of households. Both city and rural populations had a variety of income levels, expenditures, size of landholdings, and access to opportunities for using urban and rural resources. The estimated income for a rich household in Biharamulo was 103.750 TSh per month compared to 950 TSh for the poorest household. Rich households had diversified income from farmland, wholesale shops, and employment in the local hospital. A rich householder in one of the villages earned 45.521 TSh per month, while the poorest earned 4.4 TSh. 70% of all urban households received income in part or fully from farm sales. Households with little land survived on labor income, which was considered marginal and not a well thought out survival strategy. Only 14 village households and 4 households in Biharamulo relied solely on crop sales and were subject to greater distress in drought situations. The most secure households combined mixed crop production with marketing and non-farm and off-farm income generating activities.