Improving food security through soil fertility management for maize In lowland Tanzania

摘要

Lowland tropical maize (0-1000 masl) comprising 18% of maize production in eastern and southern Africa is often characterised by declining productivity. In the Muheza District of northeast Tanzania, farmers confirmed production of maize, the most important crop, has declined from over four to less than half a tonne per ha within living memory. The main reasons identified by farmers were declining soil fertility, increasing Striga asiatica and stem-borer infestation, as well as lack of access to improved seed. In a process involving key stakeholders, farmers selected options for on-farm testing. This included Striga and soil fertility management using leguminous green manure cover crops (Mucuna, Canavalia and sunhemp), as well as resistant maize varieties and stem-borer control. Results indicate that maize yields can be increased by more than 100% when grown after a green manure and that a local maize OPV TMV-1 was favoured by farmers. Training of village extension workers in Striga control with green manures using participatory approaches is resulting in widespread farmer testing within the District.