Livestock husbandry and adoption of agroforestry practices in Morogoro rural district

Abstract

A study to determine the role of livestock husbandry in adoption of agroforestry (AF) practices in Morogoro Rural District was conducted in Turiani Division. The study involved identification of the prevailing AF systems in the study area and assessment of the relationship between livestock type and adoption of AF practices. The source of related innovations disseminated was also explored in the present study. The study employed a cross sectional research design, which allows collection of information at one point in time. A structured questionnaire was the main instrument used in collecting field data, which were analysed using SPSS computer software. The study revealed that the main AF system practised in Turiani was the homegarden involving the interaction of trees, livestock and agricultural crops in space and time. The results also showed a significant (P<0.001) association between livestock type and adoption of AF practices. The role of livestock husbandry in adoption of AF practices was observed in dairy cattle farming employing zero grazing. A significant (P<0.001) association was observed between dairy cattle keeping and adoption of AF practices. The need for fodder in the zero grazing system practised by dairy cattle keepers was found to be a basic factor which facilitated the contribution of livestock in promotion of multipurpose trees in the study area. As a whole, the achievements in the adoption of dairy cattle keeping and AF innovations in Turiani Division is a result of dissemination strategies by different researchers from Sokoine University of Agriculture. Adoption of zero grazing in livestock husbandry especially in areas of land scarcity is among the recommendations given in this paper.