IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/ajaees/368220.html

Farmer Research Networks and Dissemination of Agroecological Knowledge and Practices in Singida District of Tanzania

Author

Listed:
  • Athumani, Hadia Mwarizo
  • Mosha, Devotha B.
  • Kalungwizi, Vituce J.
  • Mwaseba, Dismas L.

Abstract

The paper explores different methods used by Farmer Research Networks (FRNs) to disseminate agroecological knowledge and practices in Singida District, Tanzania. The study used cross-sectional research design, using a qualitative research approach. Data were collected from 75 participants of focus group discussions, 19 key informants, 26 in-depth interviewees and personal observations. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis, a structured method to identify patterns and themes based on the study topic. The use of natural pesticides (bio-pesticides), use of organic fertilizer (mainly compost), intercropping, crop rotation, mixed cropping, nine seed planting methods, Zambian hoe, soil conservation techniques (mainly mulching), timely planting as well as application of recommended spacing are common and major practices in Singida district. FRNs used farmer field schools (FFSs), village government meetings, demonstration plots, farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing, and community groups as the main methods for disseminating agroecology knowledge and practices to farmers. These methods create a wide awareness of agroecological knowledge and practices among farmers in the study villages. It is recommended that local government authorities and development organisations should utilize FRNs to disseminate agroecological evidence-based knowledge and practices to farmers and scale up the utilization of the FRN approach to communicate and disseminate recommended agroecological and agricultural practices for sustainable farming and food systems in Tanzania.

Suggested Citation

  • Athumani, Hadia Mwarizo & Mosha, Devotha B. & Kalungwizi, Vituce J. & Mwaseba, Dismas L., 2025. "Farmer Research Networks and Dissemination of Agroecological Knowledge and Practices in Singida District of Tanzania," Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, vol. 43(3), pages 1-14.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ajaees:368220
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/368220/files/Athumani4332025AJAEES131628.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dawson, Neil & Martin, Adrian & Sikor, Thomas, 2016. "Green Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications of Imposed Innovation for the Wellbeing of Rural Smallholders," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 204-218.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Schaafsma, Marije & Eigenbrod, Felix & Gasparatos, Alexandros & Gross-Camp, Nicole & Hutton, Craig & Nunan, Fiona & Schreckenberg, Kate & Turner, Kerry, 2021. "Trade-off decisions in ecosystem management for poverty alleviation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Christophe Muller & Nouréini Sayouti, 2019. "How Do Agro-Pastoral Policies Affect the Dietary Intake of Agro-Pastoralists? Evidence from Niger," AMSE Working Papers 1917, Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France, revised Apr 2020.
    3. Clay, Nathan & King, Brian, 2019. "Smallholders’ uneven capacities to adapt to climate change amid Africa’s ‘green revolution’: Case study of Rwanda’s crop intensification program," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 1-14.
    4. Océane Cobelli & Irene Teixidor-Toneu & Salama El Fatehi & Younes Hmimsa & Christian Leclerc & Vanesse Labeyrie, 2025. "The impact of agricultural policies on agrobiodiversity management in a pre-Rif farming system in Morocco: what implications for resilience?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(3), pages 1285-1305, September.
    5. Musa Hasen Ahmed & Kumilachew Alamerie Melesse, 2018. "Impact of off-farm activities on technical efficiency: evidence from maize producers of eastern Ethiopia," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 6(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Hirons, M. & Robinson, E. & McDermott, C. & Morel, A. & Asare, R. & Boyd, E. & Gonfa, T. & Gole, T.W. & Malhi, Y. & Mason, J. & Norris, K., 2018. "Understanding Poverty in Cash-crop Agro-forestry Systems: Evidence from Ghana and Ethiopia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 31-41.
    7. Mahlako Nthabeleng Mokgomo & Clarietta Chagwiza & Phathutshedzo Fancy Tshilowa, 2022. "The Impact of Government Agricultural Development Support on Agricultural Income, Production and Food Security of Beneficiary Small-Scale Farmers in South Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-21, October.
    8. Adolwa, Ivan S. & Zingore, Shamie & Mutegi, James & McNee, Matthew & Akorede, Bolaji A. & Masidza, Denver & Murrell, T. Scott & Ndungu, Samuel Mathu & Nchanji, Eileen & Cook, Simon & Oberthür, Thomas, 2025. "Delivering nutrient management impact through farmer-centric research: a systematic review of innovation systems in African smallholder systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    9. Bird, Kate & Chabé-Ferret, Bastien & Simons, Alexandre, 2022. "Linking human capabilities with livelihood strategies to speed poverty reduction: Evidence from Rwanda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    10. Michelson, Hope & Gourlay, Sydney & Lybbert, Travis & Wollburg, Philip, 2023. "Review: Purchased agricultural input quality and small farms," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    11. Zhao, Qiang & Yu, Le & Chen, Xin, 2024. "Land system science and its contributions to sustainable development goals: A systematic review," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    12. Okereke, Chukwumerije & Coke, Alexia & Geebreyesus, Mulu & Ginbo, Tsegaye & Wakeford, Jeremy J. & Mulugetta, Yacob, 2019. "Governing green industrialisation in Africa: Assessing key parameters for a sustainable socio-technical transition in the context of Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 279-290.
    13. Aline Nkurunziza & Dorine Intwarinkase Mutaganzwa & Willy Marcel Ndayitwayeko & Jacques Nkengurutse & Beth A. Kaplin & Irene Teixidor Toneu & Noelia Zafra-Calvo & Aida Cuni-Sanchez, 2023. "Local Observations of Climate Change and Adaptation Responses: A Case Study in the Mountain Region of Burundi-Rwanda," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-14, January.
    14. Carmenta, Rachel & Cammelli, Federico & Dressler, Wolfram & Verbicaro, Camila & Zaehringer, Julie G., 2021. "Between a rock and a hard place: The burdens of uncontrolled fire for smallholders across the tropics," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    15. Sébastien Boillat & Raphaël Belmin & Patrick Bottazzi, 2022. "The agroecological transition in Senegal: transnational links and uneven empowerment," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 281-300, March.
    16. Dona Octavia & Sri Suharti & Murniati & I Wayan Susi Dharmawan & Hunggul Yudono Setio Hadi Nugroho & Bambang Supriyanto & Dede Rohadi & Gerson Ndawa Njurumana & Irma Yeny & Aditya Hani & Nina Mindawat, 2022. "Mainstreaming Smart Agroforestry for Social Forestry Implementation to Support Sustainable Development Goals in Indonesia: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-29, July.
    17. Stevens Bechange & Emma Jolley & Anita Jeyam & George Okello & Ben Wekesa & Elena Schmidt, 2024. "Disability and labour market participation among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(7), pages 1-18, July.
    18. Geoffrey M. Kistruck & Patrick Shulist, 2021. "Linking Management Theory with Poverty Alleviation Efforts Through Market Orchestration," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(2), pages 423-446, October.
    19. Clay, Nathan & Zimmerer, Karl S., 2020. "Who is resilient in Africa’s Green Revolution? Sustainable intensification and Climate Smart Agriculture in Rwanda," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    20. Broegaard, Rikke Brandt & Rasmussen, Laura Vang & Dawson, Neil & Mertz, Ole & Vongvisouk, Thoumthone & Grogan, Kenneth, 2017. "Wild food collection and nutrition under commercial agriculture expansion in agriculture-forest landscapes," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 92-101.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:ajaees:368220. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journalajaees.com/index.php/AJAEES/index .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.