cases from tanzania - Sustainet

Sustainable agriculture: A pathway out of poverty for East Africa’s rural poor
“Local Government Authorities will initiate, within their respective District Agriculture Development
Programmes and District Development Programmes, programmes for promoting
alternative sources of energy including solar, wind, biogas, and hydropower (Tanzania
agricultural sector development strategy [TASDS], 2001, ch. 8.3).
Sustainable agriculture solutions Agroforestry is an important component of sustainable
agriculture practices. Trees produce wood for various purposes, protect the soil, act
as windbreaks, and produce fruit and honey. The leaves can be pruned and fed to animals,
or used as mulch or green manure. Tree nurseries can be an important source of income
for some farmers. Trees can be planted in and around farms and homesteads, as well as to
restore eroded land.
Policy changes needed Village governments need to reinforce existing environmental
laws against tree cutting through by-laws. It is necessary to create awareness among local
residents for the protection of trees and empower the community to protect their communal
forests and trees.
Improved power supply and lower electricity costs would help reduce the demand for charcoal
and fuelwood.
Free grazing in Tanzania
Cases: All in Tanzania
The problem Livestock keepers traditionally allow their animals to graze freely. Fields are
not fenced, and after harvest, they are traditionally open for everyone to graze their livestock.
But the animals denude the vegetation cover and compact the soil, leave it bare and vulnerable
to erosion. Disputes arise between livestock keepers and farmers who use sustainable
agriculture practices such as leaving crop residues and cover crops in their fields. Free grazing
is an especially crucial problem in densely populated areas. Many farmers keep livestock as
an investment and symbol of wealth, as well as a source of milk and meat.
Current policies “The ministry will carry out rationalization on grazing systems to mitigate
overstocking. The government will develop mechanisms for resolving conflicts among different
interests (wildlife protection, forestry, pastoralism and agriculture)” (TALP, p. 27).
“The Government will strengthen livestock breeding, research, extension services and animal
disease control so as to enable traditional livestock keepers to improve standards of animal
management which will contribute to improved livestock production, productivity and quality
for the needs of the export market” (TALP, ch. 6.3.2, p. 51).
“The Government will recognize and respect the rights of pastoral communities to their
traditional grazing lands and will promote communal initiatives for better management and
integrated exploitation of rangelands resources” (TALP, ch. 6.3.2, p. 48).
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will support destocking of heavily eroded
and degraded areas and their rehabilitation through soil conservation measures including
encouraging tree planting and promotion of investment in biogas production” (TALP, ch.
6.3.2, p. 49).
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