Assessment of Intervention Strategies for Addressing Agricultural Production Shocks in Tanzania: The Case of Rufiji, Mbarali and Sumbawanga Districts

Abstract

This study sought to gain in-depth understanding into smallholder farmers’ perceptions of intervention strategies for addressing agricultural production shocks in Tanzania. It involved identification of local policy and intervention strategies that can be used to address agricultural production shocks and build resilience among smallholder farmers in Tanzania. The study employed mixed research methodology, using primary data collected from six villages in Sumbawanga, Mbarali and Rufiji districts in Tanzania. Overall findings reveal that smallholder farmers have good knowledge of possible strategies for addressing agricultural production shocks. The farmers recommended local policy and intervention strategies for supporting them such as facilitation of access to credit and subsidies, reinforcing and strengthening informal social networks, supporting income diversification activities and introduction of crop insurance system. Other intervention strategies include introduction of participatory village land use plans, promoting information access and training to smallholder farmers and enhancing access to small-scale irrigation technologies. Based on these findings, the study recommends that policy makers and researchers should concentrate on understanding farmers’ perceptions in view of using local knowledge in the design and implementation of intervention strategies. The strength of farmers’ perceptions is that it is the outcome of farmers’ actual experience, and it is based on understanding of the local context. .The paper concludes that unless the strategies are fully implemented, agricultural production shocks will continue to affect smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania.