Conservation agriculture Tanzania_casestudy.pdf - Sokoine ...

Appendix 3Intervention detailsInitial conservation agriculture approaches by ARI Uyole (1998–2003)Animal-powered ridging, tied ridging, ripping and ploughing were compared onfarmin trial plots for a farmer research group in Wanging’ombe. Each of the 12farmers in the research group managed four subplots, 9.75 x 30 m. Tilling wasstarted two weeks before expected rainfall. Planting was done before or with onsetof rainfall. Weeds were managed using the ridger in ridged plots, the tie ridger intied ridge plots, contact herbicide (Gramoxone) in ripped plots and the hand hoe inthe ploughed plots. These practices were repeated for the second weeding—exceptthat herbicide was replaced with ox ploughing. Cover crops and soil cover werenot considered. In the years that followed, ridges and ripped planting furrows weremaintained, no ridges were split.Farmers contributed land, oxen and labour, while ARI Uyole supplied a testimplement set for each group, improved seeds, fertilizers, herbicides and technicalsupport. The two village extension officers in Wanging’ombe Ward, which has 12villages, constantly supervised the research trials and facilitated group organization.Farmer research group members were guided in evaluating and ranking the farmtools. They were then encouraged to choose technology for scaling up. Field daysinvolving other villagers and outsiders were held before harvest.Conservation agriculture technology introduced under NAEP (2001)Conservation agriculture initiatives by the National Agricultural Extension Project(NAEP) for the Soil Fertility Recapitalization and Agricultural Intensification Project(SOFRAIP) were implemented by the Mbeya District agricultural extension officerin Njelenje and Mshewe and involved 40 farmers in 2001. They used ripping withoxen and the herbicide Round-Up applied two weeks before planting. Fertilizersand seeds, enough for 0.5 ha for each farmer, were provided on credit and as a basisfor a revolving loan fund.Decentralized decisions provided leeway for some farmers to replace Round-Upwith fertilizers, and conventional ploughing was substituted for ripping. Farmerswere familiar with the dramatic results of chemical fertilizers as opposed to Round-Up or long-term soil conserving measures. Cover crops were not included andresearchers were not involved.Rippers were purchased from SEAZ and fertilizers and herbicides were distributedby Tanzania Fertilizer Company and Tanganyika Farmers Company of Mbeya cityand, to a limited extent, by local dealers.For Mbeya region, this pilot project was also implemented by Mbozi and MbaraliDistricts, with several conservation agriculture combinations. For example, MbaraliDistrict introduced comparisons of planting systems with cover crops: mucuna ormaize intercropped with mucuna and maize. The initiative lasted only one seasonand no attempt was made to recover loans provided to farmers for the supplies.This set a bad precedent for recovering future loans.Mbeya District 145