Farming Systems in Tanzania: Empirical Evidence of Changes in Livelihood Patterns and Poverty Among Smallholder Farmers

Abstract

In this paper, the major farming systems in Tanzania are described and evidence regarding the recent changes in livelihood patterns across the farming systems and their effect on poverty among smallholder farmers is provided. Evidence from the literature shows that the six major farming systems in Tanzania are characterized by diverse livelihood activities, with agriculture-based livelihood activities being dominant across all of the systems. The contribution of agriculture-based livelihood activities to total household income varies from 53 % in the coffee/banana/horticulture system to 65 % in the wet rice/sugarcane system. These activities have been affected by changes in both climate- and non-climate-related factors; however, climate-related factors significantly influence these changes. Furthermore, the evidence shows that the magnitude of the effect of changes in livelihood patterns on poverty among smallholder farmers varies across the farming systems – smallholder farmers in farming systems with more diverse sources of livelihood are less affected than those with limited sources of livelihood. The proportion of households that were categorized as being poor varies from 46 % in the coffee/banana/horticulture system to 72 % in the cassava/cashew/coconut system. Given differences in resources, livelihood patterns, and constraints among the farming systems, farming system-specific rather than countrywide policy interventions will be required to improve agricultural productivity, enhance livelihoods, and reduce poverty levels in rural Tanzania. The differential impact of climate- and non-climate-related factors on the farming systems implies that coping strategies should take into account the differences in these systems’ vulnerabilities to such changes.