Conservation agriculture Tanzania_casestudy.pdf - Sokoine ...

9 ConclusionConservation agriculture is a good way to farm, reduce soil erosion, and increasewater infiltration, soil organic matter and, ultimately, food security. It requiresradical change in farmer and extension staff attitudes. This requires patience andcombined effort from all stakeholders involved in conservation agriculture.Practical demonstration of success through good yield is essential to increaseadoption and improvement in the standard of living. When farmers who adoptedconservation agriculture build a new house or repair an old one, it captures theattention of neighbours, who may decide to adopt conservation agriculture togain the benefits. The efforts of the successful farmer are not acknowledged—butcopied secretly.Farmers have been able to select and use different aspects of conservation agriculture,enabling them to see it as friendly and adaptable. Some farmers started with onepractice—reduced tillage or rotation or intercropping cover crops with main crops—and ended with planting pure stands of lablab. In almost all cases, farmers started ona small portion of their land, then expanded it after every season.Conservation agriculture practices in Arumeru District are still at an initial stage,especially for small-scale farmers. The practice started almost entirely throughSARI in Arumeru. Although the technology supporting its principles existed, SARIdid not sustain its effort by moving from demonstrations to farmer plots. Currently,SARI works with a wide network of community organizations, NGOs and privatebusinesses. Sustainable agriculture and soil conservation were disseminated mainlythrough farmer innovators, who were supposed to pass on the knowledge acquired,which often did not happen. The farmer innovators themselves can still beidentified through their practice and knowledge, but few have learned from them.However, diffusion through the farmer groups has taken place quickly. This has ledto spontaneous conservation agriculture adoption and upscaling in plots, villagesand institutions, mainly with rippers, jab planters and cover crops.A lot of soil erosion still needs to be addressed in the lowlands. Soil erosion wasreduced on trial plots with ripping and cover crops. Government agricultural officeswill have to actively advocate attaining the recommended minimum of 30% soilcover. It will reduce labour and increase some yields. Conservation agricultureis an appropriate intervention for small-scale farmers burdened by disease, lowpurchasing power, low productivity, low soil fertility and food insecurity.10 Recommendations• Most conservation agriculture was tested under normal rainfed agricultureconditions. Since the rains are not dependable, conservation agricultureinitiatives need to diversify to suit different situations, such as irrigation andvegetable farming. Crops used in trials should involve crops other than maize.• Herbicides should be used in a manner that the farmers can manage withthe aim of gradually moving away from them. Information on managingArumeru District 39