Enabling a resilient and prosperous community through participatory agroecological practices in the semi-arid region of central Tanzania (ResComm II )
The project is being implemented in eight villages of Kongwa District (Sagara A, Sagara B, Moleti, Lengaji, Laikala A, Laikala B, Ng'humbi, and Mlali) and four villages in Mpwapwa District (Kisokwe, Chunyu, Darajani, and Ng'hambi).
Objective of the project
To enhance food and nutritional security, restore degraded landscapes, and improve rural livelihoods in Tanzania’s semi-arid regions by promoting participatory agroecological practices, increasing livestock productivity, strengthening market access, and ensuring gender and social inclusion for resilient and sustainable farming communities.
Challenges being addressed
The project addresses critical challenges faced by rural communities in central Tanzania:
- Soil degradation and water scarcity, driven by unsustainable land use practices such as overgrazing and deforestation.
- Climate risks, including prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events, threaten crop and livestock productivity.
- Poor soil fertility and land degradation, reducing the long-term agricultural potential.
- Limited access to agroecological knowledge and resources, constraining the adoption of sustainable practices.
- Low livestock productivity due to insufficient feed, poor-quality breeds, and limited husbandry knowledge.
- Gender and youth marginalization, with women and young people having limited access to productive resources and decision-making.
- Weak market access and value chains, which hinder smallholder farmers from earning fair and sustainable incomes.
Expected outcomes
- Increased adoption of agroecological practices by smallholder farmers.
- Improved soil health, water retention, and reduced land degradation.
- Strengthened community capacity for participatory land use planning and sustainable natural resource management.
- Enhanced food security, nutritional diversity, and household resilience.
- Improved livestock productivity through better breeds, feeding practices, and animal health.
- Strengthened value chains and better market access through collective marketing.
- Institutional support for agroecological scaling through advocacy and policy engagement.
- Greater inclusion and empowerment of women and youth in agricultural innovation, decision-making, and income-generating activities.
