Integrating Vegetables Into Maize Based- Farming Systems in Babati District, Tanzania Successes, challenges and lessons learned June, 2016 Victor Afari-Sefa – World Vegetable Center - Arusha Inviolate Dominick – World Vegetable Center - Arusha Philipo Joseph –World Vegetable Center - Arusha Leonard Marwa- ILRI/IITA, Arusha Danny Coyne-IITA, Nairobi

Introduction Research Theme “Integration of vegetables into maize/legume-based farming systems of Babati” has been designed along the Africa RISING principles to experiment / evaluate diverse innovative options for sustainable intensification/diversification of vegetables into crop and poultry enterprises for diversified income and improved household nutrition, while reducing negative environmental impacts.

Africa RISING Methodological Approach (Program level) ActivityApproach General approach1.Research theme model was used as an implementation strategy 2.Integration between and within the research themes assured through joint planning and implementation of activities on same action sites and where possible, at same time. RO1: Situation analysis (2013) Scoping studies, household interviews,, FGDs, physical soil and production characterization RO2: Integrated systems improvement ( ) Mother/baby trials; multiple-site trials; on- station trials, participatory farmer assessments RO4: Scaling & delivery actions ( ) Demo trials, Sensitization meetings, Field days, study tours, television, radio, training Fit an interview/FGD foto here.

Introduced Flagship Technologies TechnologyPractice 1. Good quality elite quality vegetable seeds & healthy seedlings Use of resistant varieties pathogen free seeds; disease Pathogen free seedling transplants 2. Good agronomic practice (GAPs), Crop rotation, intercropping, soil and water management, pest management (Cultural, biological & keep pesticide at minimal and used only within the framework of in IPM), Good Postharvest handling (proper harvest, sorting and grading, packaging, storage and cooling, recipe preparation) monitoring visits & farm record keeping 3. Vegetable– poultry integration Uses of vegetables and residues as poultry feed & poultry for biological control of insect pests, poultry droppings manure in integrated vegetable farming 4.Mobile vegetable gardens Solution to limited land, easy to manage and available for human and feed poultry, decreased potential for fungal diseases.

Number of farmer self initiated babies (adoption/ spillover ) Village Name MaleFemaleMaleFemale Matufa Galapo Bermi Seloto Total Total Farmers/year %

Success a) Increased yield Use of flagship technologies substantially increase outputs and incomes of smallholder farmers while minimizing negative environmental impacts of agrochemical use through IPM adoption b) Increased dietary and income diversity Vegetable integration in staple-based systems and vegetable-poultry integration leads to diverse and balanced diets for enhanced household nutrition while increasing farm household income c) Demo trials attracts youth, women & Men participation in project activities & increased consumption of vegetables (Gender involvement). ‘I managed to increase production in a small area. My family eats vegetables in every meal. Income from vegetables helped to rehabilitate two rooms in my household and manage to pay school fees for my children ‘ says Monica Paskal farmer trainer in Galapo viillage in Babati ‘’I sold 5 bags (50kgs) of amaranths intecroped with maize, consumed more than 20 kgs with my family and expect to harvest 2 bags of maize from my small plot, something I never got before thanks to Africa rising project’ says Castory farmer from Bermi vilage in Babati

Environmental impact caused by use of technologies 1. Incidence of pest and diseases reduction 2. Reduce amount of artificial fertilizer application & pesticide use per crop production season 3. Recycling – poultry droppings as manure, water bottles for irrigation and local containers, mulch, crop residues feeding livestock e.g. poultry ) 4. Mobile garden Keeps produce off the ground, preventing rotting on the bottom and reduce incidence of pest and disease attack 5. Design and Location of poultry structure Easier in collection of poultry droppings; keeps environment clean 6. Postharvest handling technologies & practices Crop Value addition: Proper harvest, grading, sorting, packaging and storage

Pest incidence on tomato  TREATMENTS  1. Healthy seedlings, GAP  2. Healthy seedlings farmer practice  3. Farmer seedlings, farmer practice

Challenges a) Pest and diseasesPesticides Usage, Perceptions, Practices and Health Effects among Farmers and crops -Low Farmers’ knowledge and perception about pesticide risks including environmental hazards -Lack of following pesticide safety measures b) Inappropriate use of pesticides Has led to water pollution and damage to larger ecosystems, where excess nitrates from farm activities enter water systems. c) Lack of Farmer access to land and land-use rights Limit farmers to practice some GAPs such as crop rotation, intercropping limited on mono cropping in the same plot as a results increase pests incidents, soil deteriorating and degradation d) Socioeconomichigh price of farm inputs, poor quality seed sold by some agro-suppliers, and lack of money/credit to buy farm inputs such as fertilizes/manure by some farmers e) BiophysicalDrought, low soil fertility, lack of water for irrigation. The demand for water is rising and water scarcity is becoming acute, thus limiting the future expansion of irrigation f) DiversificationVegetable commodities are perishable, their markets are fragmented, high volatility in their prices, and thus high market risk..

Opportunities For higher productivity, improved nutrition, higher incomes and sustainability 1. Best -bet Technological innovations Developed and available with ability to benefit poor farmers, particularly in less favored areas to address malnutrition, environmental problems and yield growth 2. Farmer/producer groups To overcome challenges related to high transaction costs, small farmers under project area have formed producer groups to support them in gaining access to markets and public services including trainings. 3. Information and communication technology Through continued trainings some farmers are able to collect information on farm input and output prices and production technologies, find markets for their farm produces and payments by us of mobile phones. 4.Vegetable improved varieties There is great scope for continuing developing vegetable improved varieties with higher resistant to drought, pest and diseases as they will pay a vital role in the face of adverse climate change impact on crop productivity 5.On farm diversity Farmers get major benefits on farm diversification though increased revenue, low input costs, adoptability to climate variation and resistance to overcome risks and uncertainties

Lessons learnt  Through experience in the field it was noted that farmers respond better to a business service approach than to methods that focus on production  Women farmers have benefitted from demo trial trainings and are in some cases getting better yields and have access to their income from sale of vegetables  Farmer trainer and participants in demo trials have seen and believe on improved practices (HS-GAPs) and are more likely to invest in new technologies, build their market linkages, and improve their production and incomes in a more sustainable manner  Growing vegetables in rotation or intercropping with maize, legumes and other crops helps to benefit from the large, diverse population of soil organisms for good yield and improve livelihoods of farming particularly for female farmers who are the major part of labor force in crop production.  Approach to partnership is too complex, particularly on reporting requirements

Thank you ? !!!??? What can governments and external partners do to promote cooperation in sharing lessons learned and in replicating and up scaling successful experiences?