Agroecology in Tanzania: New research findings demonstrate positive Impact

The people of Tanzania are harshly affected by the effects of climate change: heavy rains, floods, and prolonged droughts dominate daily life, destroying fields and crops. Plants rot, wither, or fall prey to pests. Smallholder farmers face existential problems and suffer from hunger.

So, how can smallholder farming families in Tanzania, heavily impacted by climate change, better protect themselves in the future, ensuring they and their crops become more resilient and no longer suffer from hunger?

A five-year research project has examined common agroecological practices and their effects on the production of cassava and maize, two staple foods in Tanzania. The project is based on the research of Angelika Hilbeck, Senior Scientist for Agroecology and Environmental Biosafety at ETH Zurich. In collaboration with the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania and SWISSAID and local civil society organizations, she explores how digitization can help spread and adoption of agroecological farming among smallholder farming families in Tanzania, thereby sustainably improving their lives.

SWISSAID has always focused on the sustainable approach of agroecology, particularly in Tanzania. Francesco Ajena, Thematic Advisor Agroecology at SWISSAID:

In Tanzania  agroecology is gaining importance and is also supported by the government. Conventional approaches to increase agricultural production, relying on the use of expensive and hazardous chemicals, have proven to be limitedly successful and have damaged the environment.

The Tanzanian government supports this development and has adopted the East African organic label “Kilimohai” to guarantee agro-ecological quality standards nationwide. For the health and food security of the population, but also because agro-ecological cultivation brings Tanzania forward economically. The export of organic products to the USA, England and, in the long term, Asia, benefits both small and large producers.

Although many agroecological practices have already been developed, there have been few scientific assessments of their effectiveness. This research aims to close this gap. 

The study provides interesting scientific insights into the potential of organic farming. To this end, research was conducted in three agroecological zones in Tanzania. It was investigated which common agroecological methods work best locally to improve agricultural production in Tanzania.

Soil fertility and conservation measures through mulching, manure and compost application, increasing biodiversity through intercropping , and biological pest control were examined and evaluated. True to the agroecological principle of co-creating and sharing knowledge together, farmers played an active role in the research project, conducting experiments on their own fields and collecting data. 

A crucial aspect of this research was the integration of information technology into agroecological practices. Two specially developed apps supported field research and significantly contributed to collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. 

• The “AgroEco Research” app allows for quick and systematic collection of field data.
• While the “Ugunduzi” app gives farmers the opportunity to record and evaluate their own research data directly on their farms, enabling them to share their knowledge with each other.
• With the “Macho Sauti” app, farmers can quickly share their challenges by taking a photo of an incidence, record an audio voice to explain the problem   and send the whole thing to an internet platform used by other farmers, agronomists, and scientists in Tanzania and other countries. Within a couple of days  depending on the problem, the  farmers receive a proposed solution. 

The study results for cassava cultivation were particularly interesting. The results showed that locally adapted varieties such as Kiroba can yield higher returns, especially when grown in the lowland coastal regions of Tanzania. 

It was also found that labor-intensive and expensive pest control methods may offer little benefit, especially when robust varieties like Kiroba are used. Instead, the benefits of diverse cultivation should be utilized, promoting a balance between pests and their natural enemies. «It seems that, especially for cassava, it is crucial to use locally well-adapted varieties,» says Simon Degelo, responsible officer for seed policy at SWISSAID.

A surprisingly positive result of the study further showed that a good harvest of maize is possible on nutrient-poor soils when organic fertilizers are combined. The combination of different measures improves the soil and could be crucial for increasing maize production. This synergy has been rarely studied in research and offers a new way to increase maize yield in an ecological way. 

The labour-intensive and costly methods of biological pest control have produced mixed results. They require knowledge of the species and ecology of the pests to be effective, and this is lacking. To fully realise the benefits of biological control, much more needs to be invested in research and advice on crop pest and disease science. 

The study underscores the effectiveness of agroecological practices in increasing agricultural production. It highlights the importance of locally adapted solutions and the need to invest in the development of resistant varieties. The results, supported by solid evidence from scientific sources, can be recommended to smallholder farming families, educational institutions, policymakers, and the general public.

Agroecology is a promising way to address the challenges of agriculture in Tanzania and to create a sustainable future for all. “When implemented well, ecological farming has the potential to increase agricultural incomes. However, cultivation is complex, and smallholder farming families need in-depth knowledge of agro-ecological methods,” explains Angelika Hilbeck.

The integration of technological applications such as apps into agro-ecological research offers new possibilities to further improve efficiency and effectiveness.