Conservation agriculture Tanzania_casestudy.pdf - Sokoine ...

To get insight information on conservation agriculture technologies in Karatu,key informants interviewed were people responsible for improving agriculture andenvironment (conservation), farmers practising conservation agriculture, farmerswho once tried conservation agriculture and abandoned it, and those who chosenot to practise conservation agriculture even though they’d had the opportunity todo so. A key informant discussion was conducted mainly with selected extensionists,SARI staff, Karatu agricultural officers and leaders of the organizations facilitatingconservation agriculture practices.Focus group discussions and workshops were conducted with villagers and members offarmer field schools (FFSs). Focus group discussions were conducted in the villages ofArusha, Ayalabe, Gyeknu Getamock, Gyeknu Lambo, Kilimatembo, Mbulu Mbulu,Rhotia Kati, and Tloma. The focus groups in each village included village governmentmembers, sub-village leaders, and scores of any readily available ordinary villagers.Field sites to visit were identified to see the different conservation agriculturepractices in situ. Observed practices include intercropping pigeon pea and maizeor sunflower, Dolichos lablab as a pure stand or intercropped with maize, contourcultivation, and agroforestry practices. Information was collected through discussionwith representatives from different stakeholders working to improve agriculture. Fieldobservations were made of individual small-scale farmers practising conservationagriculture and those not practising. In addition, large-scale farmers were visited:Gibsi Farm dealing with coffee production and agroforestry, and Msituni Farm.Photographs were taken to enrich the written information. All information anddata were brought together, synthesized, analysed and used to compile the report.The draft report was summarized and circulated to stakeholders.4 Background informationGeneral description of Karatu DistrictLocationKaratu is one of five districts in Arusha Region, located in the northern part ofTanzania (fig. 1). It became an administrative district in 1997. It is located south ofthe equator between latitudes 3°10'–4°00'S and longitude 34°47'E. Karatu Districtborders Mbulu District to the west, Ngorongoro District to the north, BabatiDistrict to the south-east and Monduli District to the east. It is the traditional hometo the Iraqw tribe. Other minor tribes are the Bardaigs, who are pastoralists, andthe Hadzabe, noted mainly as hunters and gatherers.Area of occupationThe district measures 3300 km 2 . Land use is classified as follows: arable land 102,573ha; pastureland 155,808 ha; forest, bush and tree cover 61,218 ha; and Lake Eyasi1060 ha. Karatu has 4 administrative divisions, 13 wards and 45 registered villages.The administrative headquarters in Karatu town. approximately 150 km west ofArusha town. It is an important stopover for most tourists heading for Ngorongoroand Serengeti National Parks.Karatu District 59