Evaluating limitations of agroecological practices and stakeholders’ response: a Case of Uluguru mountains landscape in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania
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Date
2023-09-14
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Publisher
East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation
Abstract
In Sub-Saharan Africa, conventional farming is associated with intensive use of synthetic chemicals and
inputs to maximize agricultural productivity. This is done at the expense of sustainable agroecologically
based production systems. This objective was to describe limitations of agroecological practices and
stakeholders’ response along Mountain Uluguru. The area has been vulnerable to unregulated land
degradation aggravated by soil erosion largely due to unsuitable agricultural practices. The data were
collected through questionnaires and in-depth interviews from 72 respondents who were purposively
selected. Both qualitative and quantitative data were analysed using content analysis and statistical
software respectively. Farmers undertake agriculture to increase production so as to meet food needs
(44.8%) and employment opportunities (55.2%). About 41.7% of farmers who had land with secure tenure
grew fruit and non-fruit trees on their farms or homesteads, 11.7% rented the farming land temporarily
from owners through informal arrangements and the rest squatted on public land for cultivation of
vegetables. From SWOT analysis, agroforestry is threatened by unregulated agricultural activities (18.6%)
and overuse of forest resources unsustainably (7.0%). The agroecology training is not coordinated and
supported by government agencies, which have authority to inform the policy makers about insecure land
tenure and unavailability of organic inputs that would increase farmers’ livelihoods. Agro-soil erosion
control and conservation agriculture measures are essential features of agroecology training, but some
farmers were not aware of them and those who are aware do not adopt them effectively. The study
concludes that, without the government acknowledgement of agro-ecology and its associated contributions
there will always be weak institutional coordination among stakeholders required to regulate, promote and
support agro-ecology practices to create a balance of conserved environment, protected ecology and
enhanced farmers’ livelihoods. This is because there is no clear national guidelines and support (financial
and technical) addressing the challenges facing agro-ecology practice yet.
Description
Research articles
Keywords
Agroecological Practices, Stakeholders, Uluguru Mountains, Agroecology - Tanzania
Citation
Tryphone and Thomas, (2023). Evaluating Limitations of Agroecological Practices and Stakeholders’ Response: A Case of Uluguru Mountains Landscape in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation 4(special issue 2).