Indonesian

Abstract

Banjarnahor D, Scholberg J, Almekinders C. 2015. Legume-based diversification; lessons learned from the small-scale farmers in the semi-arid Tanzania. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1: 667-672. For generations, the small-scale farmers in the Mbeya highlands of semi-arid Tanzania had been cultivating maize (Zea mays) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). The major constraints were drought and water shortage, soil fertility degradation, and financial restriction to purchase fertilizers. The introduction of conservation agriculture (CA) which was based on minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crops diversification was expected to provide a solution. Despite the almost two-decades of CA introduction, the adoption rate seemed to be rather low. In this study, the local implementation of diversification strategy was assessed to understand this low adoption. To this end, we interviewed and visited 46 farmers who were joining the local CA training through the local farmer's group, 4 group leaders, and 6 CA promoters/trainers. Several highly nitrogenfixing legumes had been introduced and promoted in the Mbeya rural district. They functioned as nutrient suppliers, soil cover, and sources of organic matter. The adoption of mucuna (Mucuna pruriens), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), and lablab (Dolichos lablab L.) was mostly terminated after 1-3 cropping seasons. Farmers witnessed the effectivity of mucuna and lablab to conserve soil moist and suppress weeds but they ceased growing those legumes due to the absence of market. Most farmers did not observe the direct benefits of mucuna and lablab. They could consume pigeon pea but seeds were not available after household consumption. The free-grazing animal husbandry had led to the short life-span of lablab and pigeon pea on the field. Eventually, farmers maintained the previous combination of maize and beans. The effort to diversify the small-scale farming systems must anticipate the pragmatic challenges in order to be compatible with the local context. The agroecosystem diversification design might potentially improve crop production and overcome farmers’ limitations. Nonetheless, its successful implementation will require comprehensive local assessment and active participation of local farmers to evaluate the empirical challenges and perpetually redesign the most locally-fitted diversification practices.