The influence of formal central-local government interface on implementing good agricultural practices

Sarah Killagane; David Mhando; Pius Nyamhanga; Christopher Mahonge

doi:10.20525/ijrbs.v14i4.4008

Authors

Sarah Killagane Department of Local Government Administration and Management, Local Government Training Institute, P.O. Box 1125 Dodoma, Tanzania https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9361-4097
David Mhando
Pius Nyamhanga Department of Policy Planning and Management, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Sokoine University of Agriculture; P.O. Box 3035 Morogoro, Tanzania
Christopher Mahonge Department of Political Science & Public Administration, The University of Dodoma P.O. Box 395 Dodoma, Tanzania https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8180-2950

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v14i4.4008

Keywords:

Central government, Local government, Central-Local government Interface, Good Agriculture Practice (GAP), Implementation of GAP, Formal Interface

Abstract

The implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in developing countries, particularly Tanzania, requires strong government intervention to achieve sustainable agricultural outcomes in line with both national and international standards. Given the high costs and institutional demands associated with GAP implementation, the central–local government interface plays a critical role in facilitating, coordinating, and overseeing this process. This formal interface comprises key dimensions, including the transfer of authority, interaction channels, adherence to existing legislation, and resource-sharing mechanisms. However, limited understanding of how these institutional arrangements influence the effective implementation of GAPs has contributed to persistent inconsistencies and inefficiencies. This study investigated the extent to which Tanzania’s formal central–local government interactions affect GAP implementation. A total of 228 respondents were surveyed across Local Government Authorities in the Morogoro, Mbeya, and Shinyanga regions, and data were analysed using multiple linear regression. The results demonstrate that the transfer of authority (? = 0.124, p < 0.05), interaction channels (? = 0.540, p < 0.001), and resource-sharing mechanisms (? = 0.134, p < 0.001) significantly influence the implementation of GAPs. In contrast, adherence to existing laws and regulations showed no statistically significant effect (? = 0.018, p = 0.587). These findings underscore the importance of decentralised authority, effective intergovernmental communication, and coordinated resource allocation in strengthening agricultural governance. The study recommends more targeted policy reforms that empower local governments and foster institutional synergy to enhance GAP implementation, thereby contributing to Tanzania’s agricultural transformation and broader development objectives. It is therefore, the study reinforce the need for integrated governance as a pathway to achieving agricultural modernisation and food security goals in line with SDG 2.

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