Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

TARI in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), and a non-governmental organization for Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) have launched the second phase of the agroecological project "Enabling a Resilient and Prosperous Community through Participatory Ecological Practices in Semi-arid Region of Central Tanzania " (Rescomm II) on April 17, 2024, in Kongwa district, Lengaji village.

This project is funded by Biovision and is implemented in eight villages of Kongwa district (Sagara A, Sagara B, Moleti, Lengaji, Laikala A, Laikala B, Ng'humbi and Mlali) and three villages in Mpwapwa district.

During the launch, the Director of Research and Innovation from TARI, Dr. George Sonda representing the Director General of TARI explained the activities that TARI will implement in the project through its Centre -TARI Makutupora. These activities include providing education on how to deal with the effects of environmental degradation to increase the productivity of agricultural production.

TARI will focus more on building the capacity of farmers on how to control soil erosion in the fields by using terraces (Fanya Juu/Chin). In addition to that, TARI will provide education on how to harvest rainwater in the field by using tied ridges and chololo pits to deal with the challenge of moisture in the field

Apart from training, TARI will oversee the installation of terraces in the affected areas and at risk areas of soil erosion, and the installation of tied ridges to increase productivity in crop production.