National Experience on Agroforestry Research in Tanzania "A case of Agroforestry Research Programme"

Abstract

Agroforestry research has a recent history in the Ministry of Agriculture. Initial work was in the Resource Efficient Farming Methods Research Programme. Recently the National Agricultural and Livestock Research Masterplan has placed agroforestry research on high priority as a special programme. The adoptive nature of research by scientists has to far generate mostly site-specific technologies with very few experiments on farm. The goal of developing interdisciplinary teams has not been achieved. However it is expected that the zonal farming systems research teams in collaboration with agroforestry research scientists will address issues relating to and involving the farmers at all stages of the approach. In such a way aspects of sustainability may be addressed. Although the programme is active several reasons, which might hinder its development, have been identified including limited funding, poor technical knowledge on agroforestry research linkage with other institutions, and poor policy support systems. Based on this situation a suggestion to strengthen agroforestry research approach is given to promote sustainable agriculture.