This paper explores the effect of meteorological factors such as rainfall, temperature, sunshine, wind speed, and relative humidity on the yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) at different growth stages in Togo’s Plateau, Central, and Savannah regions. For this purpose, data from 1990 to 2019 on weather variables and maize and sorghum yields were used. The study applied Fisher’s meteorological regression and Chebyshev polynomial function. Our findings revealed that rainfall had a more beneficial than detrimental effect on maize and sorghum yield across stages and regions. Contrariwise, temperature influence was as beneficial as detrimental and more significant across all growth stages of maize and sorghum in the Savannah and Plateau regions. Furthermore, the sunshine effect on maize yield was more significant in the Central and Savannah regions, while negative on sorghum yield in all the growth stages in the Central region. Similarly, the wind speed was also beneficial and detrimental to maize and sorghum yields, although it was more significant for sorghum in Plateau and Savannah regions. Lastly, relative air humidity positively and negatively influenced maize and sorghum yields in all the growth stages and regions for maize and the Plateau and Savannah regions for sorghum. Therefore, there is a need for real-time agricultural meteorological information to help farmers plan crop production more efficiently and increase crop yield.

Crops production subsector depends on various factors including natural factors as well as non-natural factors. Meanwhile, in vast areas of Tanzania including the Mbeya Region, rice farmers struggle to make their living through rice farming regardless of various challenges with which the subsector is crumbled. This study aimed at assessing the factors influencing the performance of rice farming in the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. Multi-stage sampling technique was applied to obtain representative samples. Data was collected from a field survey of 240 small-scale farmers by the use of questionnaires from January to March 2018. Descriptive statistics method was used to analyze the data and the Ordinary Least Square regression model was used to estimate parameters. The results indicate excess rainfall and droughts events significantly influenced rice production negatively by reducing 3 and 5% for each occurrence, respectively. Marital status and gender significantly influenced positively rice production in the study area. Other influential production factors including market price lag, pest and diseases, and farm size were statistically significant in rice production. The study recommends possible interventions such as increased accessibility to extension services, agricultural financial services, improved seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to mention a few by government and other responsible institutions which hamper the growth of the rice industry to increase food security to the farming populace.

As rice develops from sowing to harvesting stages require a combination of both natural and nonnatural inputs. Thus, at every stage, specific proportions are demanded as aggregates which contribute to the final yields. Understanding these inputs and their impacts on rice yield will help the small scale rice farmers in Tanzania to boost rice yields. This study pursues to (i) characterize rice farmers' in Mbeya Region of Tanzania; (ii) estimate parameters for factors affecting rice along the phenological stages and their influences on growth and yield; and (iii) disclose the perceived factors affecting rice production. Data collected through structured questionnaires, interviews and focus discussions. Data analyses were done by descriptive statistics, Garret ranking techniques, and the Translog Cobb Douglas (CD) model. The descriptive results indicated majority of respondents had ages between 45 and 50 years; only 3% of respondents had informal education and 80% of them own farm size of from 1 to 3 acres. Empirical results show that labour, fertilizer, seeds quantity, pesticide cost, floods, and sunshine duration significantly influenced rice yield. Rainfall was the most influential factors as perceived by farmers. Based on these current findings, suggestions were provided to the responsible policymakers to work on utilizing the potential available from the identified major influential factors to increase farmers' income and increase food security.