Influence of Informal Central-Local Government Interface on Implementation of Good Agriculture Practices in Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of the informal interface between central and local government actors on the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in Tanzania. Guided by institutional theory, the study explores how informal norms, values, and interactions shape institutional behaviour in the context of agricultural policy implementation. Specifically, it examines this interface from four key perspectives: implementers’ attitudes towards GAPs, social interactions between government tiers regarding GAP implementation, the role of trust and mutual respect among actors, and the effects of informal knowledge sharing on the implementation of GAPs. A cross-sectional research design was employed to explore the relationships among these variables. A quantitative approach was utilized, with data collected through structured survey questionnaires from key agricultural regions—Morogoro, Mbeya, and Shinyanga. The study targeted employees from central and local government institutions, with a final sample size of 228 respondents. A stratified sampling technique was applied to categorize the target population into regional strata. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted to examine the data, including mean, standard deviation, and multiple linear regression analysis. The findings revealed that implementers’ attitudes, social interaction, trust and mutual respect, and informal knowledge sharing are positively and statistically influencing the implementation of GAPs in Tanzania. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results established that the implementer's attitude had a standardized Beta Coefficient (β) of 0.357 with a corresponding p-value of 0.000. Moreover, informal knowledge sharing was found with a standardized beta coefficient (β = 0.076) with a statistically significant p-value of 0.011, indicating that informal knowledge sharing has a positive statistically significant influence on the implementation of GAPs in Tanzania and plays a supplementary role rather than a primary one. The paper concludes that enhancing the implementation of GAPs requires deliberate efforts to foster positive attitudes among implementers. It recommends targeted training, awareness campaigns, and motivational strategies for all stakeholders involved in GAP implementation to ensure sustained commitment and improved agricultural outcomes.