43 Fakih paper

Effectiveness of Organic Fertilizer in Increasing Production - The

Experience of Farmer Field Schools in Zanzibar

 Asha, Fakih, Mwatima Juma & Suleiman Mohamed

ASSP & ASDP-L, Zanzibar, Tanzania

2 – 4 May, 2012, Lusaka, ZAMBIA

The 2nd African Organic Conference

“Mainstreaming organic agriculture in the African

development agenda”

INTRODUCTION

Zanzibar forms part of the United Republic of Tanzania. It consists of two main islands, Unguja and Pemba. The Islands has a total area of 2,654 km2. Population - 1,286,097 with 60% live in rural areas.

Agriculture in Zanzibar Economy: About 70% of inhabitants depend direct or indirect on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Contributes about 30 % of the GDP and 59 %

of the national food security.

• The sector is mainly dominated by small-scale subsistence farming with farmers cultivating areas of less than two acres.

• Common crops include: rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, plantains, yams, cocoyam and vegetables.

• Livestock include: cattle, goats and poultry.

Introduction continue……………………

ZanzibarUnguja Pemba

MAIN PROBLEMSPoor production and productivity: Recurrent droughts. Lack of improved planting materials. Inadequete use of fertilisers. Limited knowledge of improved production technologies. Weak support services (research, extension and credit). Higher levels of post-harvest losses.

FARMER FIELD SCHOOL APPROACH

• FFS is a season long training whereby farmers learn by doing all managent husbandry practices step by step.

• Farmers learn through their experience using their fields as clssroom (field observation and experimentation).

• ASSP/ASDP-L adopted FFS approach on 2007 as a means of technologies transfer.

•To date there are about 900 groups of various enterprise.

FFS IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS• Site selection • PRA/PDA exercise.• Problem identification and prioritization.• Group formation.• Establishment of study plot.• Seasonal training according to enterprise.• Establishment of PAR according to the needs.• Communication skills and group dynamics exercises. • Routine data collection and observation (AESA).

ACHIEVEMENTS• Increase in production.• Cost of production decreased.• Awareness of using local available resources.

• Diversification of enterprises.• Effective utilization of land.• Promotion of organic farming. • Improvement of house hold food security.

Crop Production

NONAME OF VILLAGE ENTERPRISE VARIETIES

FARMERS PRACTICE (kg/acre)

IMPROVED PRACTICE (kg/acre)

1. KIUNGONI CASSAVA MWARI 2294 5549.4

2. JADIDA CASSAVA SEPIDEH 5400 15490

3. CHONGA BANANA MTWIKE 9,500 74,000

4. PUJINI BANANA MTWIKE 3,575 58,213

5. MAKOMBENI BANANA MTWIKE 4,320 28,420

CHALLENGES• Lack of irrigation infrastructure for farmers.

• Inadequate agro processing facilities and equipment.

• Shortage of animal manure due to high demand.

• Unreliable market.

CONCLUSIONS• There is opportunity to improve organic agriculture practices by encouraging use of organic manure.

• PAR experience helps farmers to discover the variation of yield through comparing farmer practices and improved practices with organic manure.

• Organic manure is a source of fertilizer which is cheap and accessible to farmers and provides a sustainable solution for maintenance of soil fertility.

• Participatory guarantee system should be encourage through FFS to ensure access of organic market.

Farmers doing AESA

Increased production - Banana

Fertility trial – Using goat manure

Increased production - Cassava

Fertility trial – sweet potatoes

Poultry enterprise as a source of manure

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

AHSANTENI KWA

KUNISIKILIZA