Participartory approach in soil conservation (Tanzania, United Republic of)

Mbinu shirikishi za kuhifadhi udongo

Description

SWC using participatory approach in conservation agriculture application of crop rotation, crop residues, covercrops and intercropping by conducting demonstrations, conducting field schools/days and training

Aims / objectives: To introduce farmer groups to sustainable land use practices namely conservation agriculture and evaluate management technologies with farmers in order to come up with best practices that farmer can use. (ii) To demonstrate conservation agriculture technology (iii) To conduct economic analysis of the different patterns of cropping system involvedn i conservatio n agriculture (iv) To prepare work plan for conservation agriculture activities.

Methods: i)Baseline survey conducted consisted of structured questionnaires to gather information demographic socio-economic data of the villages in the study structure and size of the family, age, education of household members, available land and resource endowment (ii) Participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools were used to collect information from villages in the study area (iii) Both purposive and random sampling techniques were used the villages were purposively sampled and householdswere randomly selected for questionnaire interviews.Pair wise scoring and ranking enabled the analysis of problems hindering adoption land management technologies. (iv) Semi structured interviews were used to get information to key informants Forty plots were established to demonstrate conservation agriculture

Stages of implementation: a)Collecting base line information in eight villages b)Participatory rural appraisal in eight villages to identify problems and gather information on soil conservation techniques. c) Selecting participating farmersd) Setting demonstration plots and planting crops in farmers field e) Conducting training/ field days/ and schools.f).Evaluating the agriculture conservation technology.

Role of stakeholders: a)Farmers/land users set demonstration plots on CA in their own fieldsb)Researchers and Extension staff assisted farmers in setting demonstration plots and follow up of activities

Location

Location: Mkuranga & Bagamoyo, Coast Region, Tanzania, United Republic of

Geo-reference of selected sites
  • n.a.

Initiation date: 2007

Year of termination: 2009

Type of Approach

Approach aims and enabling environment

Main aims / objectives of the approach
The Approach focused on SLM only (crop roration, cover crop, mulch, crop residues)

i.To disseminate conservation agriculture in the tree based farming systems of coastal area in Tanzania. ii.To evaluate soil management practices used by small holders iii.To conduct economic analysis of the different patterns of cropping system involved in conservation agriculture

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Low agricultural productivity,Lack of technical knowledge, Lack of cash to invest in SLM, and poverty
Conditions enabling the implementation of the Technology/ ies applied under the Approach
  • Legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights): Most land is owned by farmers either bought or inherinted
Conditions hindering the implementation of the Technology/ ies applied under the Approach
  • Social/ cultural/ religious norms and values: few women participants in the project Treatment through the SLM Approach: education compaigns to involve more women in the project
  • Availability/ access to financial resources and services: Land user lack funds to invest in conservation agriculture Treatment through the SLM Approach: advise to join saving society schemes/cooperatives
  • Knowledge about SLM, access to technical support: lack of technology in SWC Treatment through the SLM Approach: introduce appropriate management in SWC to farmers

Participation and roles of stakeholders involved

Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles
What stakeholders / implementing bodies were involved in the Approach? Specify stakeholders Describe roles of stakeholders
local land users/ local communities Farmer groups 40 farmers, 10 farmer groups. In one of districts the number of women was higher than another district. Religous believes women are supposed to stay at home
SLM specialists/ agricultural advisers
researchers Research and extension staff
local government District Council Village authority
national government (planners, decision-makers) Mikocheni Agriculture Research Institute Ministry of Agriculture Tanzania
international organization Center for Development and Environment University of Berne Switzerland
Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach
none
passive
external support
interactive
self-mobilization
initiation/ motivation
x
researchers,extension staff and farmers. Informal meetingsconducted to discuss land issues problemsurveys, questionnaires.carried out to gather various information, soil conservation practices......
planning
x
researchers,extension staff and farmers.Results from.questionaires gave guidance in planning,planting materials,size of plots,inputs
implementation
x
researchers,extension staff were involved in supervision of activities setting demonstration plots,conducting farmer.field days, exchange visits Farmers managed.their plots.
monitoring/ evaluation
x
researchers,extension staff and farmers. visited the..plots.regurally. . to minitor progress. at different growth stage
Research
x
Flow chart

Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology

Decisions were taken by

  • land users alone (self-initiative)
  • mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists
  • all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach
  • mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users
  • SLM specialists alone
  • politicians/ leaders

Decisions were made based on

  • evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
  • research findings
  • personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management

The following activities or services have been part of the approach
Capacity building/ training
Training was provided to the following stakeholders
  • land users
  • field staff/ advisers
  • politicians
Form of training
  • on-the-job
  • farmer-to-farmer
  • demonstration areas
  • public meetings
  • courses
Subjects covered

Soil water conservation practices more emphasis was in conservation griculture techniques ( cover cropping, rotation mulching and crop residues.

Advisory service
Advisory service was provided
  • on land users' fields
  • at permanent centres
Name of method used for advisory service: Field days and field schools; Key elements: crop rotation, cover cropping,rentention of crop /plant residues in the field and much , Types of cover crops

Advisory service is inadequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; Lack of extension staff and transport. Lack of funds by local government
Institution strengthening
Institutions have been strengthened / established
  • no
  • yes, a little
  • yes, moderately
  • yes, greatly
at the following level
  • local
  • regional
  • national
Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.
Type of support
  • financial
  • capacity building/ training
  • equipment
Further details
workshop and visits
Research
Research treated the following topics
  • sociology
  • economics / marketing
  • ecology
  • technology

By farmers, reseacher and extension staff through PRA and on farm demonstration plots

Research was carried out on-farm

Financing and external material support

Annual budget in USD for the SLM component
  • < 2,000
  • 2,000-10,000
  • 10,000-100,000
  • 100,000-1,000,000
  • > 1,000,000
Precise annual budget: n.a.
Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (implementation of approach): 80.0%; government (Supervision of approach): 20.0%
The following services or incentives have been provided to land users
  • Financial/ material support provided to land users
  • Subsidies for specific inputs
  • Credit
  • Other incentives or instruments
Financial/ material support provided to land users
partly financed
fully financed
agricultural: seeds

x
agricultural: seeds: fertilizers

x

Labour by land users was

Impact analysis and concluding statements

Impacts of the Approach
No
Yes, little
Yes, moderately
Yes, greatly
Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?

farmers obtained appropriate informantion/knowledge and management of conservation agriculture type of seeds of cover crops

x
Did the Approach empower socially and economically disadvantaged groups?

Women farmers were impowered with CA technology applied in their plots and recorded improved yields in CA plots compared to traditional system because of goodmanagement

x
Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?

not at present may be later

x
Main motivation of land users to implement SLM
Sustainability of Approach activities
Can the land users sustain what hat been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

Conclusions and lessons learnt

Strengths: land user's view
  • 1)Presence of effective District council authority 2)Presence of Research Institution 3).Presence of Credit Saving Soceities (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: 1)Involvement .of farmer groups in planning of .development activities at all stages 2)Work closely with district councils.and village authorities in issues of land management programme 3)Farmers to join Credit society to secure loans for their farms 4)inorder to expand .impoved practices of CA)
Strengths: compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
  • 1)Ample land for agriculture in the two district is an incentive for expansion in CA 2).Willingness.of farmers to adopt CA is high 3)Formal education of farmers is enough to enable to them to follow up technical issues with help of research and extension staff (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: 1)Strengthening advisory services on CA 2)Have more training programes in CA to all stakeholders. 3)participation in agricultural shows exhibitions and field schools )
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: land user's viewhow to overcome
  • 1.Poverty 2.In adequate marketing facility 3.Men and youths not fully engaged in agriculture. 1. Provide input subsidies (seeds, fertilizer, machinery) 2. Goverment provide market facility 3. Education on gender issues
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: compiler’s or other key resource person’s viewhow to overcome
  • 1.lack of CA knowledge 2.In adequate .facility, funds to implement CA 3.inadequate marketing facilty. 3. 1.Conduct. training .programme to. extension staff, framers, policy makers 2. Governments and donor should avail more funds for CA programmes 3.Government .to assist. local. authority construction of mark-ert.facility

References

Compiler
  • Grace Chipungahelo
Editors
Reviewer
  • Fabian Ottiger
Date of documentation: Jan. 30, 2010
Last update: Julie 6, 2017
Resource persons
Full description in the WOCAT database
Linked SLM data
Documentation was faciliated by
Institution Project
Key references
  • Project no. Q 701 promoting conservation agriculture for sustained productivity of tree based farming system incoastal belt of Tanzania, Mikocheni Agriculture Research.InstituteDar es Salaam Tanzania : Tanzania /300 usdollar
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareaAlike 4.0 International