Welcome to SUAIRE

Sokoine University of Agriculture  Institutional Repository (SUA IR). This repository was built and is maintained by the university library  (Sokoine National Agricultural Library-SNAL) , in order to collect, preserve and disseminate scholarly output generated by University research community (staff and students) members.

This repository hosts a variety of openly accessible materials including: scholarly articles and books, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings and technical reports. For assistance about depositing your research output in the repository click here. SUA IR Policy  click here or any queries contact us at snal@sua.ac.tz.

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Communities in SUAIRE

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 14

Recent Submissions

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Perceived effects of tree planting in Iringa and Njombe regions Tanzania
(International Forestry Review, 2025) Martin, R.; Mhando, D.G.; Nyanda, S. S.; Lusasi, J.
The study investigated the perceived effects of tree planting initiatives at a community level within Southern Highlands of Tanzania, addressing a critical gap in the literature regarding local responses to economic benefits and the pursuit of sustainability goals. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study integrated quantitative data with qualitative interviews from local stakeholders. Results indicated enhanced economic benefits from sustainable tree products, which contributed to improved livelihoods and community resilience against climate impacts. The implications suggest that small-scale afforestation can be a viable solution to environmental degradation while providing economic and social benefits to local communities. The findings advocate for policy recommendations that support the integration of tree growing into agricultural practices, promoting sustainability and resilience in small-holder territories.
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A comparative analysis of RIPAT and other selected participatory rural development approaches used in Tanzania
(Mkuki na Nyota Publishers Ltd, 2023) Madaha, Rasel; Martin, Respikius; Mwakatoga, Joyce
Influenced by the African socialism philosophy of the late Julius Nyerere and the participant research practices of Marja Liisa Swantz, Tanzania is one of the pioneers of participatory action research in the world. Within the mentioned milieu, participatory approaches have become widespread. The approaches are geared at enabling rural communities to address their challenges through participatory approaches. This book chapter focuses on a comparative analysis of locally improved rural development approaches that have been developed and improved in the Tanzanian context. Using primary and secondary data from some Tanzanian rural interventions by Uluguru Mountains Agricultural Development Project (process approach) and World Vision Tanzania (ADP approach), the chapter focuses on a comparative analysis of the mentioned strategies and RIPAT (Rural Initiatives for Participatory Agricultural Transformation) to shed some light on rural development efforts in the Tanzanian context. The process approach involves participatory endogenous processes of development that start with the recognition of the local capacities of the people. TI1e ADP (Area Development Programmes) approach is a participatory approach that seeks to induce communities with capabilities to undertake appropriate actions to accomplish economic and social progress. More recently, World Vision Tanzania (WVT) reframed the acronym ADP by calling it Tanzania Empowerment ADP Model (TEAM). RIPAT is a participatory extension approach that transfers a 'basket' of agricultural technology options, including various crops and livestock, to groups of 25 to 30 smallholder farmers in a way that allows for joint, experiential, and participatory learning. In 2017 Research, Community and Organisational Development Associates (RECODA) entered a two year contract with WVT of co-owning the approach; the agreement ended in 2019. The engagement allowed World Vision Tanzania to use the RIPAT approach in ADPs. All in all, some literature suggests that participatory approaches fail to empower people in real life situation. In this regard and drawing from the participatory theory and practice, the chapter assesses the sustainability of the approaches.
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The contribution of the RIPAT approach in the adoption of agricultural technologies in the uluguru mountains
(Mkuki na Nyota Publishers Ltd, 2023) Nyanda, Suzana S.; Martin, Respikius; Mwaseba, Dismas L.
Extension services play pivotal roles in linking farmers to knowledge, information and technologies that are central to attaining agricultural productivity. The limited number of extension agents coupled with the use of inappropriate approaches in the delivery of extension services has been regarded as one of the causes of low adoption of agricultural technologies. To overcome this, innovative and cost-effective agricultural extension approaches have been developed and promoted. One of such approaches is the Rural Initiatives for Participatory Agricultural Transformation (RIPAT) which forms the focus of this chapter. Specifically, the chapter presents: (i) the role of the RIPAT approach in the adoption of agricultural technologies, (ii) technologies promoted by the RIPAT-SUA project and their adoption by farmers, and (iii) factors affecting the adoption of the promoted technologies. The findings presented are drawn from an exploratory cross-sectional research done in six randomly selected villages surrounding the Uluguru Mountains where the RIPAT-SUA project has been implemented. A total of 238 households (120 RIPAT participating farmers and 118 non-group farmers) were randomly selected from the project villages for the farmers' survey. Additionally, a total of 15 key informants were involved in in-depth interviews. Desk review of project documents was also conducted. Descriptive statistics and content analyses were used for the quantitative and qualitative data analysis respectively. The study found that a basket of options that gave farmers the opportunity to choose the technologies they can implement was the key to adoption of technologies. In this respect, 92.5% of the group members adopted more than two technologies whereas 69% of non-group members adopted at least two technologies from the basket of options. The RIPAT approach has great potential to reach many farmers through its scaling-up tactic involving the RIPAT start and RIPAT spreading groups using lead farmers. This approach can facilitate the dissemination of new agricultural technologies in situations with limited professional extension workers. The study therefore recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture should integrate the RIPAT approach in the public agricultural extension framework.
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Participatory future visions of collaborative agroecological farmer-pastoralist systems in Tanzania
(Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 2023-01-09) Johansson, Emma; Martin, Respikius; Mapunda, Kenneth M.
Agroecology is increasingly promoted as a way to create just and sustainable farm- and food systems. Although there are multiple initiatives to scale up agroecology, current socio- political structures often hinder its potential to transform food systems. This study uses participatory approaches to create paintings that envision agroecological futures in the context of increased farmer-pastoralist collaborations in Tanzania, how they would function, and what political action is needed to support such futures. The visions are based on focus group discussions with agroecological farmers and pastoralists, and a multi-stakeholder workshop with farmer and pastoralist repre­ sentatives, innovative food system actors, and researchers. We find that the envisioned transformation of the food system would lead to positive effects on farmers’ and pastoralists’ income, autonomy, long-term planning, and producers’ and consumers’ health. We conclude that new policies and financial support systems are needed to enable the expansion of agroe­ cological farming and food systems, by increasing the availabil­ ity of organic markets, supporting domestic botanicals production, and by creating more inclusive and just food value chains.
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The role of farmer research networks’ (frn) principles in influencing farmers’ adoption of improved groundnut cultivars in Singida rural District of semi-arid central Tanzania
(ournal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 2023-05-05) Chilewa, Humphrey Shadrack; Martin, Respikius; Ntumva, Mabebe
Farmer Research Networks (FRN) is a participatory approach aimed at supporting the agroecological intensification of smallholder farming. FRN was envisaged in Latin America and Africa, however, little has been documented on how the application of FRN principles influences adoption of agricultural technologies. Guided by networking, innovation systems and Roger’s theories of diffusion of innovations, this research assessed how the application of three principles, that is, 1) farmer participation, 2) usefulness of on-farm research, and 3) collaboration amongst players in networks influenced the adoption of improved groundnuts. Cross sectional mixed research methods were used. Findings show that farmers participated in forming FRN groups, the production of Quality Declared Seeds and the provision of farmer-to-farmer extension services. On-farm research was instrumental for observational and experimental research whereby farmers were able to see, learn, and adopt the innovation. Players collaborate through joint research, learning, and sharing of knowledge and resources; farmers’ field days; and project meetings. It is concluded that farmers participated in conducting on-farm research and collaborated with different players in the network, indicating that FRN principles were applied to influence the adoption of improved groundnuts. The study recommends farmer participation in preliminary meetings and strengthening the linkage between farmers and more actors.