Enhancing the Capacity of Vulnerable Community to Climate Change: Role of Quality Declared Seed Production Model in Semi-arid Areas of Central Tanzania
In sub-Saharan Africa the rainfed agricultural sector is important and relies heavily on weather-sensitive agriculture. In the semi-arid areas of Tanzania, the overall quantity of rainfall has been declining over time leading to insecure harvests. The study was undertaken in semi-arid areas of Central Tanzania to explore the farmers’ perceptions on the main sources of food crop seeds, access to improved seeds and their limitations, willingness to engage in the production of Quality Declared Seed, and willingness to buy improved seeds. The study employed qualitative and quantitative tools to gather information on the crop production. Findings revealed that 76.4% (n = 400) of households are using poor quality recycled seeds mainly attributed to the lack of improved seeds (44.1%) and high price of improved seeds (41.8%) inter alia. As a result yields of major food crop were low (<1 t/ha) resulting to only 5% of household harvest crop produce that can last for more than 12 months and the rest of household harvest crop produce that can last for 3–9 months. Therefore in order to unravel the problem of food insecurity in uncertain climate of rural Tanzania, production of Quality Declared Seed tolerant to drought was introduced and has gained momentum.
KeywordsSemi-arid Central Tanzania Quality Declared Seed Vulnerable farmers
The authors wish to acknowledge the European Union through Global Climate Change Alliance, Tanzania, for financial assistance and technical support during the implementation of the project in semi-arid areas of Central Tanzania.
- Barnett C, Munhamo C, Pinto Y (2011) East Africa synthesis report (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda). Country case studies on the pass value chain strategy/approach and its impact/ effect on smallholder farmer yields in AfricaGoogle Scholar
- Boko M, Niang I, Nyong A, Vogel C, Githeko A, Medany M, Osman-Elasha B, Tabo R, Yanda P (2007) Africa. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 433–467Google Scholar
- CTA (2014) Seed systems, science and policy in east and Central Africa. CTA, WageningenGoogle Scholar
- FAO and WOCAN (2010) Supporting women producers to respond to the challenges of food insecurity. a paper presented in women meeting by FAO, WOCAN, November 2009 Rome, Italy. 8ppGoogle Scholar
- Leach V, Kilama B (2009) Institutional analysis of nutrition in Tanzania. Repoa special paper 09.31. REPOA, Dar es Salaam, TZGoogle Scholar
- National Adaptation Programme of Action (2007) United Republic of Tanzania, Vice President’s Office, Division of Environment, Dar es SalaamGoogle Scholar
- Shepherd A, Kayunze K, Vendelin S, Darko E, Evans A (2011) Hidden hunger in rural Tanzania: what can qualitative research tell us about what to do about chronic food insecurity? Working paper 206. Chronic Poverty Research Centre. ISBN 978-1-908536-02-0Google Scholar