544
Kamara et al. (2002) reveal that large quantities of agricultural commodities
produced by farmers rot away unmarketed, while the smallholder farmers do
not have the technology for timely consumption. Equally notable is the inability of most smallholder farmers to get linked to the supermarket chains as they
cannot meet the high quality and safety demands as well as delivery schedules
that international value chains require, preventing them to compete in such
markets (Kamara et al. 2002). In addition, inadequate and poor conditions of
the market facilities, lack of reliable electricity and transportation systems,
including road and rail, are serious impediments to the smallholder farmers.
4.2 Opportunities for Enhancing Smallholder Farming
Tanzania has a potential for attaining sustainable agricultural development and
improving smallholders farming and income generation. Such opportunities include:
• Existence of land-related policies and laws that govern access and use rights.
Such laws include Land Act of 1999 (URT 1999a); Village Land Act of 1999
(URT 1999b); The National Irrigation Policy of 2010 (URT 2010a); National
Water Policy of 2002 (URT 2002); and The Water Resources Management Act,
Supplement No. 11 of 2009 (URT 2009) to mention a few. Farmers should be
made aware of the existing policies and laws governing land access and rights.
More specifically, they should be made aware of their land tenure rights. Land
tenure is an important part of social, political and economic structures. It is multidimensional, bringing into play social, technical, economic, institutional, legal
and political aspects that are often ignored but must be taken into account. Land
tenure relationships are well-defined and are enforceable in a formal court of law
or through customary structures in a community.
• Existence of microcredit schemes (e.g. Savings and Credit Cooperative
Organization Society [SACCOS]). Smallholder farmers should be made aware
of the possibility of accessing loans to enable them to buy pumps and agricultural inputs. This could be in a form of hire purchase programme, which is used
by many people who are willing to buy the pump but cannot raise the required
amount at once. Having such an arrangement in place would make it possible for
many people in the rural area to own a pump. And if there could be a loan facility
where one would pay with the income from the farm after the harvest, this would
improve their methods of farming, crop quality and increase acreage.
• Availability of reliable rainfall in many parts of the country. Implementation of
rainwater harvesting as an alternative water supply solution for agricultural production could ensure availability of water for smallholder farmers and reduce on
the dependence on surface water. Several of these rainwater harvesting technologies have been tested and are available for implementation in smallholder farming area. Also, effective use of groundwater, rather than the present overdependence
on water surface water sources, needs to be considered.
J. J. Kashaigili
Kamara et al. (2002) reveal that large quantities of agricultural commodities
produced by farmers rot away unmarketed, while the smallholder farmers do
not have the technology for timely consumption. Equally notable is the inability of most smallholder farmers to get linked to the supermarket chains as they
cannot meet the high quality and safety demands as well as delivery schedules
that international value chains require, preventing them to compete in such
markets (Kamara et al. 2002). In addition, inadequate and poor conditions of
the market facilities, lack of reliable electricity and transportation systems,
including road and rail, are serious impediments to the smallholder farmers.
4.2 Opportunities for Enhancing Smallholder Farming
Tanzania has a potential for attaining sustainable agricultural development and
improving smallholders farming and income generation. Such opportunities include:
• Existence of land-related policies and laws that govern access and use rights.
Such laws include Land Act of 1999 (URT 1999a); Village Land Act of 1999
(URT 1999b); The National Irrigation Policy of 2010 (URT 2010a); National
Water Policy of 2002 (URT 2002); and The Water Resources Management Act,
Supplement No. 11 of 2009 (URT 2009) to mention a few. Farmers should be
made aware of the existing policies and laws governing land access and rights.
More specifically, they should be made aware of their land tenure rights. Land
tenure is an important part of social, political and economic structures. It is multidimensional, bringing into play social, technical, economic, institutional, legal
and political aspects that are often ignored but must be taken into account. Land
tenure relationships are well-defined and are enforceable in a formal court of law
or through customary structures in a community.
• Existence of microcredit schemes (e.g. Savings and Credit Cooperative
Organization Society [SACCOS]). Smallholder farmers should be made aware
of the possibility of accessing loans to enable them to buy pumps and agricultural inputs. This could be in a form of hire purchase programme, which is used
by many people who are willing to buy the pump but cannot raise the required
amount at once. Having such an arrangement in place would make it possible for
many people in the rural area to own a pump. And if there could be a loan facility
where one would pay with the income from the farm after the harvest, this would
improve their methods of farming, crop quality and increase acreage.
• Availability of reliable rainfall in many parts of the country. Implementation of
rainwater harvesting as an alternative water supply solution for agricultural production could ensure availability of water for smallholder farmers and reduce on
the dependence on surface water. Several of these rainwater harvesting technologies have been tested and are available for implementation in smallholder farming area. Also, effective use of groundwater, rather than the present overdependence
on water surface water sources, needs to be considered.
J. J. Kashaigili