The Changing Farming Environment in Tanzania: The Case of Selected Villages in Kilimanjaro

Abstract

This study examines the changing farming environment among the small-holder farmers in Tanzania under the ongoing world-wide economic reform measures. Various economic reform measures being implemented have far-reaching effects on farming behaviour. Small farmers have increasingly done away with the production of the traditional export crops and instead have shifted to the product of quick-selling crops such as vegetables and paddy. It was observed that most farmers are facing serious economic hardships. To cope with this difficult situation, they have turned to the use of easily available supply of manure, seeds and chemicals. There is also environmental degradation due to land-clearing for fuel, farming and building materials. Liberalization of agricultural marketing has also had serious repercussions. Farmers are unable to obtain credit for farm inputs. This is partly due to the marketing cooperatives' failure to compete with other buyers. Already cooperatives have lost market share for food crops to private traders/dealers. Farmers specializing in paddy production under controlled irrigation practices have better prospect than others. Their income has increased. This situation has attracted civil servants to go back for farming.