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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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- The Agroforesty Community is a collaborative network dedicated to advancing sustainable land-use practices that integrate trees, crops, and livestock. It serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, research dissemination, and practical innovations in Agroforestry. By fostering connections among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and local communities, the Agroforestry Community promotes environmental conservation, enhanced agricultural productivity, and resilient livelihoods.
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Recent Submissions
Design and implementation of a farmer's digital information system for sustainable agriculture among smallholder farmers in Tanzania
(Faculté des Sciences de la Société de l’Université de Genève/ Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2025) Gilbert Exaud Mushi
Sustainable agriculture among smallholder farmers has the potential to ensure food security and
alleviate extreme poverty in a rapidly growing population and the face of global climate change.
Additionally, smallholder farmers contribute 70% of the world's food and employ more than one
billion people, the majority of whom live in rural and semi-urban areas. However, this group of
farmers faces various challenges in adopting sustainable agriculture. We conducted a literature
review and a survey of key agricultural stakeholders in Tanzania to identify common challenges
of smallholder farmers. It was revealed that smallholder farmers lack access to essential
services, including subsidies, credit, insurance, government services, markets, and farming
information.
In this thesis, we aim to design and implement a digital framework for smallholder farmers to
access all essential services (subsidies, credit, insurance, government services, market,
warehouse services, logistics services, quality farm inputs, and farming information) under one
roof. Indeed, digital technology can play a significant role in digitizing the agricultural value chains
(AVCs) of small-scale farmers in countries of the Global South. The use of advanced digital
technologies in agriculture, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT),
blockchain, robotics, and big data, has enabled sustainable farming through increased
production and income, as well as enhanced environmental conservation. However, these
technologies are not accessible to smallholder farmers (the majority of whom reside in countries
in the global South) as they require high investment capital, expertise, and well-established
infrastructure. Although various digital services are available for smallholder farmers, the existing
services often lack sustainability in the agricultural context and fail to meet their needs.
We employed the Design Science Research (DSR) method to design and provide a proof of
concept of a digital platform that brings together all key agricultural stakeholders, enabling
farmers to access all essential services throughout the complete farming cycle. Moreover, we
conducted a literature review using the PRISMA guidelines to establish the state-of-the-art
technology in agriculture and the use of ICT-based services by smallholder farmers in Tanzania.
A survey method was employed as part of the DSR to collect stakeholders’ opinions on the
proposed digital artifact solution. The study follows the theories of Information and
Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D), which posits that technological
advancements should have a positive impact on people’s lives by developing solutions that work
well within the local context, rather than simply copying and pasting technology from other
contexts, such as from developed to developing countries.
As a research contribution, we identified common challenges of smallholder farmers, designed
and provided a proof of concept of a Farmers' Digital Information System (FDIS) that integrates
services from different stakeholders, including farmers, agro-dealers, warehouses, logistics
companies, subsidies, advisory services, market, credit, insurance, and government(permit)
services. We expect our findings will help governments, the private sector, and policymakers to
adopt and implement FDIS. This will make the agriculture sector more dynamic and help
smallholder farmers participate in sustainable agriculture.
Soil survey amd land evaluation of a part of the university farm - Morogoro for rainfed agriculture
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1984) Mpepo,Haston Longwani James
Lack of a systematic and detailed soil survey and land evaluation report for guiding the utilization of the farm necessitated this study.About 1, 097 ha comprising the Northern part of trie farm
was covered. It is possible to grow maize, sorghum, soyabeans, fieldbeans, ground-
nuts and rice. J
Study on tillage systems and their impacts on land degradation for eastern agro-ecological zone in Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2011) Mohamedi,Saidi Jambuya
Soil tillage had been identified as a major cause of land degradation and soil erosion
in Tanzania resulting in soil infertility and low crop yields. A study was conducted
at Mkambalani village, in Mkambalani ward, Mikese division in Morogoro Rural
District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania. The study aimed to assess tillage systems and
their impacts on land degradation for eastern agro-ecological zone. Five (5) tillage
systems were selected for the study. The selected systems were No Tillage (NT),
Strip Tillage (ST), Basin Tillage (BT), Tied Ridges (TR) and Conventional Tillage
(CT). A plot of size 20 m long with width of 1.8 m was established for each tillage
system selected and replicated in three times in the slope of 6° farm. The plots
planted with maize crop variety TMV1. At the down slope end of each plot the
modified Gerlanch troughs were installed to trap water flow and sediment. The
study arranged in CRBD design to help in data analysis. Variables measured
including, daily sediment for the rainy days, water runoff, daily rainfall, plant
growth and yield and soil physical and chemical properties. The results shows that
NT treatments produced high amount of runoff on average in most of rainfall events
due presence of few cover in the first year of farming while TR treatment were the
least. Significant differences were observed between the NT treatments and CT, TR
and BT. It means that in first year of practising NT due to bare soil there was no soil
protection from rainfall and water flow hence more water runoff. CT was found to
be the biggest collector of sediment than other tillage treatments. Significant
changes were observed among CT, NT and TR in collection of sediment. CT
treatment produced sediment loss of 23.2ton/ha/season, while the TR produced the
least amount of 14.4ton/ha/season. This reflects the extent of the productive soils
lost in each year due to tillage. There were no significant differences in crop growth
and yield were observed and also in soil physical and chemical properties in the first
year of the experiment. Under natural rainfall conditions rainfall amount, intensity
and distribution differs greatly and all affect soil properties and crop development,
hence the one year trial is not enough to draw appropriate conclusion.
Influence of shapes of the Ngoro on depression storage and crop performance.
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1999) Mogasa Pili Mogasa
A field experiment was conducted in the 1995/1996 growing season on a slope of 30%
on the foothill of the Uluguru Mountains in Morogoro, Tanzania. The aim of the
experiment was to evaluate the influence of various Shapes of the ngoro cultivation
system on (i) soil moisture storage (ii) depression storage and (iii) maize growth
parameters and yield. Three Shapes of the ngoro pits namely: Shape 1 (Rectangular
with the longest side across the slope), Shape 2 (Rectangular with the longest side along
the slope) and Shape 3 (Square) were compared with flat cultivation, a common
practice in the study area.
The various ngoro Shapes stored at least 1.36 times more soil moisture than flat
cultivation (significant at the 5% level). The position of the ridge on the four sides of
the pit had no significant effect on soil moisture storage (P < 0.05). Ngoro cultivation
showed significantly higher amounts of soil organic matter (41% to 53%) than flat
cultivation which had the lowest (about 6% organic matter, P < 0.05). Top soil (0 - 10
cm) had 15% organic matter (o.m.) compared to 7% and 6% o.m. at a depth of 10- 20
cm and 20-30 cm, respectively. Bulk density was significantly lower in the ngoro
compared with flat cultivation (P < 0.05). Shapel had significantly (about 27%) lower
depression storage compared to Shapes 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). Ngoro cultivation produced
about 66% more grain than flat cultivation. This yield difference was significant (P <
0.05). The position of the ridge on the slope had no significant effect on maize growth
and grain yield (p < 0.05). Therefore, if the aim is to improve maize performance in the
study area any Shape of the ngoro can be employed as found out from this study.
Soil and land evaluation of a section of Kilombero valley.
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1981) Mmtkonga, Abdul- Ali Mohamed Samll
A section of Kilombero Sugar Company about 400 hactares in size was chosen for this projeit.
A detailed study with objectives of performing soil, survey and land evaluation was carried out.
Twenty one pits distributed over the different units were excavated,described for their external and internal features.Samples from the horizons taken and analysed for their physical and chemical
charact eri sties.The soils were classified using the Soil Taxonomy of the USDA, while the FAO frame-work was used for land evaluation.Inceptisols were found to be the most dominant in the
study area, while Entisols are prominent in areas within active river action. Ultisols occupy areas where the soils are formed in situ and Mollisols appear only in small patches.In the study area, six mapping units have been identified.They are the well drained Ml imani in the west and Mtoni in the
south, the moderately well drained Msolwa and Msolwa—Bwawani complex in central areas and the imperfectly well drained Bwawani and Nyarubungu in very low lying, eastern parts of the study area. land evaluation of the study area has revealed that Ml -imarKi is highly suitable for sugarcane, some parts of Msolwa and Mtoni as moderately suitable, -while MsoiV)a»Bwaw^ni, and Bwawani. .are^eu^gimally suitable for sugarcane growing.NyarubunguWUS found to be currently
not suitable for the growing of sugarcane.Wetness limitation is noted to influence parts of Msolwa, Bwawani and Nyarubungu, while soil fertility limitationi^luenoes Msolwa^-Bwawani, Msolwa and
Nyarubungu.Soil Physical limitation mainly duo to texture has also been found to influence Mtoni section.Drainage, flood control, selection and application of fertilizer and irrigation have been recommended ae some of the agricultural practices and measures for increased sugarcane production. Rice has been suggested as an alternative crop for Myarubungu v/here sugaroane growing 1b currently not suitable.