Rural Non-farm Activities and Entrepreneurship in Tanzania

Abstract

This article explores the concept and significance of the Rural Non-Farm Activities (RNFAs) in a poor country, using insights from literature and results from a small 198 survey of three regions in Tanzania.  Though cursory, the evidence from the survey confirms the presence of features and constraints typical of a sector at the rudimentary “stage of rural industrialisation”.  The contrast between advances made by countries like China and other countries of Asia and Latin America points to the need to target interventions for entrepreneurial development on the RNFAs, covering aspects of production and managerial capabilities.  RNFAs entrepreneurs need help to organise into “clusters” to attract providers of  financial and consultancy services in the adoption and adaptation  of simple technologies, production management, product finishing, and marketing contracts.