Abstract:
The current study was carried out during September 2006 to March 2007 in six villages
namely Sawala, Kisada, Ikongosi, Sao-Hill, Ihowanza and Igomaa in Mufindi District,
Iringa Region, Tanzania. The objective of the study was to determine the extent of
dissemination and adoption of Agroforestry by the local communities and indicate the
mechanism of scaling up its performance. Specifically it checked on the current status of
dissemination and adoption of agroforestry practices, identified Agroforestry systems,
technologies, and woody perennials preferred by farmers, determined factors influencing
adoption of Agroforestry systems, technologies and find out corrective measures required
for improving their adoption by the local communities. The methods used include
reconnaissance, social surveys using questionnaires on the household heads and checklists
of probe questions on Government and NGOs officials at the various levels from village
to the Regional. Data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft
Excel Program (MEP). The results showed that the
adoption status of Agroforestry in the district was 65%, although most of the people
adopted during the latter 16 years. The main agents that spearheaded the dissemination
process included CONCERN, HIMA and various government extension agents. The most
adopted agroforestry systems are Agrosilviculture and Agrosilvopasture, with Taungya,
Mixed intercropping, and Homegarden being the most widely adopted technologies.
Woody perennials species that people currently have shown to prefer are Eucalyptus and
Pines. Insufficiend provision
of germplasm, land scarcity and limited
knowledge
indicated to be the main factors limiting dissemination and adoption of Agroforestry in
Mufindi District.
Based on the results and subsequent discussion it clear that although
encouraging the adoption rate of Agroforestry in the district is still low. The study
therefore recommends that the Government should continue with a stepped up provisioniii
of the needed germplasm and propagation materials, farmers need encouragement in
establishing their own nurseries, awareness creation especially in relation to inclusion of
fertility improving and food producing trees and shrubs be stepped up, further research on
the currently unclarified issues and dissemination of available knowledge should be
scaled up by both the government and non governmental organisations.
