Conservation Agriculture for Improving Livelihood Of Smallholder Farmers in Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania: A Case Study of Karatu District

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) has become a worldwide practice and has today focused on poorly developing countries such as those in sub-Saharan Africa. It aims at helping smallholder farmers improve their livelihoods. In Tanzania, smallholder farmers in Karatu district have been practising CA since the early 1990s. Study findings have revealed that CA has improved the livelihood of smallholder farmers. Operationally livelihood is defined by variables of increasing the production of food-crops and incomes, improving food security as well as saving time of the farmers to engage in other activities. The study recommends that (i) The government should reduce the costs of agricultural inputs and equipments so that farmers can access them more easily and be able to practise CA; (ii) Financial intermediation should be provided to CA farmers for buying equipment like jab planters, rippers, direct seeders and cover crop seeds; (ii) There should be farmers’ exchange field visits, for example, from one country to another, district to district or ward to ward. These will motivate farmers through sharing of experience, and hence improve CA; and (iv) There is a need to employ more extension officers who will train farmers to adopt CA and change their mind-set.