The influence of high value crops promotion on soil and water conservation practices in the Uluguru Mountains

Abstract

In the western Uluguru Mountains, agricultural officers have introduced soil and water conservation (SWC) practices including terraces, contour strip cropping and agroforestry which, if properly followed, would conserve the soil and improve agricultural production. Various high value crops (HVCs) promotion activities and other incentives have been used to help achieve this objective. Despite these efforts, most farmers continue to use annual ridges which are not effective in SWC, and some other unsustainable agricultural practices. This study sought to determine the influence of HVCs promotion actions on investment in SWC in Mgeta Division, Mvomero District. Data were collected through structured and unstructured interviews as well as direct observations. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to address study objectives. Results show that age, education and income, farm size and slope have significant influence on investment in SWC. Labour force and occupation were not significant. Land security was the most important incentive followed by agricultural sustainability, farm implements, irrigation improvement, labour sharing and suitability for growing HVCs. The least effective incentives were rewards/prizes, market improvement, food-for-work and credit. The statistically significant variables that influence household’s decision to invest in SWC were HVCs (p = 0.005), irrigation improvement (p = 0.039), land security (p = 0.046) and slope of the farm plot (p = 0.083). Extension efforts, market improvement and farm size were not statistically significant. It is therefore recommended to promote SWC measures such as ladder terraces which can be integrated into existing farming systems and to promote HVCs for cultivating on promoted SWC measures. In addition, SWC policies and programmes should improve land security in order to stimulate SWC adoption.

Keywords: Soil and water conservation, investment, high value crops, Uluguru Mountains