Abstract:
Like other agricultural development efforts in Tanzania, Kilimo Kwanza which was launched in 2009 that is literary translated as “agriculture first;” recognizes that the role of agriculture is to bring about social and economic development. Pillar number three of this resolution highlights in general terms, mainstreaming environmental conservation in Kilimo Kwanza activities. However, the term ‘environment’ is used broadly. Hence, there is no guarantee that forest conservation, a key component of environmental conservation, is being given due consideration when implementing Kilimo Kwanza activities. Besides, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, which is responsible for forest conservation is not included in the core team for Kilimo Kwanza implementation. It is therefore rational to anticipate possible negative consequences to forests in the operationalisation of the Kilimo Kwanza resolution. Agricultural development and sustainable forest management can hardly be separated, for successful achievement of objectives within the two sectors successfully, which calls for a holistic Kilimo Kwanza. This entails addressing soil and water conservation while adopting intensification and landscape conservation approaches including ecoagriculture. If this is not done, agricultural transformation through Kilimo Kwanza will not be sustainable. Using an intensive review of literature, this paper critically analyzed the synergies between objectives of agricultural transformation, using Kilimo Kwanza as a case study, and those of sustainable forestry management, in order to inform an integrated agricultural policy development in the country.
