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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and sustainable development : the case of Makonde wood carvers in Mwenge, Dar-es-Salam Tanzania

Laurent, Makawa Newa
Master thesis
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URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/135135
Date
2009
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  • Master's theses in Development Management [90]
Abstract
In recent years we have seen an increase in demand for the wood carvings products especially

those made using ‘Mpingo’ tree. The industry has also been a source of employment to the

majority of Makonde people and non-Makonde people conducting carving activities. Despite its

basic social and economic value, both to the carvers and all those who are engaged in the carving

activities, it has been noted however that with increasing demand for the ‘Mpingo’ tree it is

likely that the species is might be depleted if strong measures are not taken to assure that the

species is sustainably harvested.

This study therefore was aimed at assessing the sustainability of the carving activities and in so

doing the study assessed the impact of the carving industry to the economic welfare of the artists

and analyzed the contribution of the Makonde wood carving activities in the depletion of the

‘Mpingo’ tree.

The study was conducted at Mwenge in Dar-es –Salaam, Tanzania and Makonde wood carvers

were the case study.

The study used the qualitative research strategy and the methods of data collection included

questionnaires, observation, group discussions and interviews. In addition, secondary data from

the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism were used and analyzed.

The findings showed that the carving activities constitute the major source of income for the

Makonde wood carvers at Mwenge. Most of them entirely depend on carving activities to earn

their income and sustain their livelihood. It was also discovered, however, that carving activities

have direct contribution in the environmental destruction and have also been one of the causes of

‘Mpingo’ depletion. The study found out that the ‘Mpingo’ tree is the most preferred tree for

carvings and rarely do carvers use other tree species for carving. Limited supply and availability

of ‘Mpingo’ logs, difficulties in getting the logs in Mwenge carving market were also identified

as among the indicators for the depletion of the ‘Mpingo’ tree.

The study revealed also that sustainability of the ‘Mpingo’ tree is threatened and in order to solve

this problem the carving activities need to be closely monitored and controlled.

It is recommended that despite the measures in place to control harvesting of forest products in

general, specific measures should be imposed to save ‘Mpingo’ from current high rate of

depletion.

It is also recommended that entrepreneurship education, and financial support is also important

for the carving industry in Tanzania for achieving economic benefits.
Description
Masteroppgave i development management- Universitetet i Agder 2009
Publisher
Universitetet i Agder : University of Agder

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