Abstract:
The present study was conducted in Maswa District, Shinyanga Region during
September to December 2006 with objective of evaluating the contribution of
agroforestry to household food security and income generation. The method
involved all the three divisions in the district with two wards per each division, two
villages per each ward and ten households from each village randomly selected.
Three NGOs, ten farmer groups and ten businessmen were also involved. Data
collection was done through reconnaissance survey, questionnaire administration
and field survey. Results indicated that 34%, 28%, 15%, 14% and 6% of household
food supply in the district actually come from agroforestry, agriculture, livestock,
business and employment respectively, although apparently expressed dependence
of 98%, 30%, 23% and 13% for agriculture, employment, livestock and
agroforestry respectively. The results also indicated that only 31% and 30% of
agroforestry and non-agroforestry households were food secure. Of the household
income 38%, 24%, 18%, 13%, 3%, 2% and 2% actually come from employment,
agroforestry, business and agriculture respectively, though expressed dependence
of 46%, 22%, 18% and 86% for employment, agroforestry, business and
agriculture respectively. Of the agroforestry systems, three technologies of mixed
intercropping, integrated tree-pasture (ngitili) and tree-bee interaction were
undertaken with the integrated tree-pasture technology being the most widely
adopted. Land scarcity, component competition and lack of knowledge indicated to
be the main factors that affected agroforestry adoption and contribution to
household food security and income. Reinforcement of available local institutions,
ii
knowledge provision on component arrangement and market availability for
agroforestry products appeared as the main interventions required to improve
agroforestry technologies performance. Based on results and discussion, it has been
recommended that, indigenous knowledge be emphasized for protecting trees, need
to have clear land tenure, extension staffs recruitment and rain water harvesting on
Ngitili be given attention to ensure water and pastures availability.
