Year 2017 Tanzania

Purpose

Reduce the vulnerability of rural farmers to drought and soil degradation.

Climate Impacts

Community members from Kilimatembo report the following impacts:

Declining crop yields

from soil degradation and drought

Increased soil erosion

from erratic rainfall

Food insecurity and livelihood loss

from crop declines

Declining livestock health

from drought and predation

Increase in competition

between humans, livestock, and wildlife for limited water resources

Tanzania-Conservation agriculture-01
Tanzania-Conservation agriculture

Activities

Village consultation meetings and site selection

100 farmers were identified to participate in the project.

Purchase and distribution of equipment

Training of sub-villages teams

Project partners trained participating farmers on constructing terraces and contour bunds.

Planting of vegetation

A total of 9700 seedlings of tree species and 10 lorry trips of elephant grasses were distributed to farmers. An additional 3700 seedlings were supplied by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Continued monitoring of project site

project outcomes

Ground contouring established on 65 farms spanning 199 acres of land

9,700 seedlings of various tree species planted

project design

In partnership with the Karatu District Council and School for Field Studies, this project aimed to promote the conservation of soil and water in smallholder farms in the Karatu District highlands through (i) controlling surface water runoff using contours/terraces, and (ii) planting trees and grasses to stabilize the contour bunds. Both of these approaches were intended to reduce soil erosion by trapping silt and increasing water infiltration in the farms. Elephant grasses with dense root networks and agroforestry tree species commonly grown in the area were planted along the contour bunds for soil stabilization.

Contour/terrace construction to decrease soil erosion and water run-off