Abbreviations and acronyms
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- Agricultural Mechanization
- Agricultural Lands
Irrigation Development
Irrigation is essential for increased productivity and production as it mitigates vagaries of weather, which are becoming more frequent and intensive because of global climate change. The area under irrigation in Tanzania is about 450,392 hectares, which is about 6.3 percent of the high-to-medium irrigation potential of 7.1 million hectares. For high potential alone, the irrigated area is 19 per cent, and about 1.5 per cent of the total potential. The farming households that use irrigation are less than 5 per cent. The main challenge is on how to exploit the existing high-medium potential area of 7.1 million hectares as well as creating an enabling environment for the private sector to develop mechanized medium and large-scale irrigated farms. Efforts to develop an effective irrigation system in the country are constrained by inadequate private sector capacity and funding for irrigation development; inadequate sector co-ordination and lack of holistic integrated planning in water resource utilization; weak irrigators’ organizations to undertake overall irrigation water management and infrastructure maintenance; and low production and productivity in constructed irrigation schemes.
Crop productivity and profitability enhanced in irrigated agriculture in a sustainable manner in order to ensure food security and poverty reduction.
Farm machinery, implements and equipment are important tools for increasing area under production. Despite its importance, the utilization of farm machinery and implements in the country is very low with about 64 percent of farmers using the hand hoe, 24 percent draught animal power and 12 percent tractors. However, the use of modern farm machinery is hindered by high costs of agricultural machinery and implements and low purchasing power of most farmers; insufficient comprehensive agro-mechanization packages and non-compatibility of mechanical technologies to local conditions; inadequate quality control mechanism for agricultural machinery and implements; and inadequate trained operators, mechanics and insufficient after-sale services to agricultural machinery and implements.
Efficient utilization of farm machinery, implements, equipment and agro-processing machines promoted.
Tanzania is endowed with about 44 million hectares of arable land out of which 10.8 million hectares, equivalent to 24 percent, is under crop production. The transformation of agriculture can only take place where land tenure system is favourable for all categories of users including investors. Furthermore, the protection of premium lands for agricultural development is crucial for increased long-term benefits. However, the existing land tenure system is not conducive for long-term investment. Insecurity of land tenure has led to decline in the productive capacity of agricultural land because of non-sustainable land use practices. Such practices have led to land degradation, notably soil erosion causing adverse changes in hydrological, biological, chemical and physical properties of soils. Inappropriate land husbandry practices are among the main causes of low soil productivity in the country. This is aggravated by inadequate enforcement of land laws, regulations and by-laws; land conflicts and inadequate titling of land for agricultural investment; delays in issuance of title deeds; absence of detailed land use plans at district and village levels; and insecurity of agricultural land especially in premium areas. .
Integrated and sustainable utilization of agricultural lands promoted and protected.
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