Synergies and Trade-Offs of Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices and Mediating Factors in Enhancing Maize Yields among Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania's Semi-Arid Regions
Amri S. Yusuph *
Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), TARI-Kibaha P.O. Box 30031, Kibaha Pwani, Tanzania.
Emmanuel F. Nzunda
Department of Forest Resources Assessment and Management, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3013 Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Sixbert K Mourice
Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box-3005, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Tommy Dalgaard
Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, P.O. Box 50, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The impact of climate change on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa has been significant in recent years, particularly affecting smallholder farmers in semi-arid regions in Tanzania. Although research on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices has grown, the synergies and potential trade-offs from such practices among smallholder farmers in Tanzania's semi-arid regions have received little attention. To address this, 299 households were interviewed and path analysis was used to analyze the data collected. Correlations between CSA practices used in maize farming in semi-arid areas of Tanzania were analysed as well as direct and indirect effects of access to credit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assistance, Membership in organisations, distance to market and CSA training on increasing maize yields. The results showed that access to credit, assistance from NGOs, membership in an organization, distance to market, and CSA training act as mediating factors between CSA practices and an increase in maize yield. The study found that improved varieties were positively correlated with changes in planting date, use of animal manure, minimum tillage, intercropping, mixed cropping, and livestock diversification (P<0.05).
The study emphasizes the importance of implementing these practices together to generate a positive impact and increase smallholder farmers' crop yields and resilience to climate change in semi-arid regions. The study recommends that in order to increase synergies and minimize trade-offs between climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices the government and non-governmental organizations strengthen the extension system, promote access to CSA training, and make affordable credit available through financial organizations.
Keywords: Climate-smart agriculture, path analysis, direct effect, indirect effects, synergy, intercropping, improved seed varieties, crop rotation, maize yield, mediation