Maize is an important crop in Tanzania, and accounts for over 45 percent of the total cultivated area and 75 percent of all cereal production. Between 2000 and 2010 the area of land under maize cultivation in Tanzania increased by 54 %. However, maize yields remain low – at an average of about 1.2 t/ha for the period 2000 and 2010.
Direct beneficiaries reached through SIMLESA support : 102,856
Innovation Platforms: 10
Farmers reached: 9843
Researchers trained 651
Adoption target: 130,708
Thematic Area | Tanzania |
Area under dedicated for maize (millions) | 3.0 |
Production per ha (tonnes) | 1.2 |
Baseline reports | 1 |
SIMLESA Tanzania covered 5 districts namely Karatu, Mbulu, Kilosa, Mvomero and Gairo. During phase 2 the work was extended to spill over districts namely Arumeru, Babati, Morogoro rural, and Hai. The sites were carefully selected to provide a contrast in agro-ecological conditions as well as the intensity of integration between crop and livestock production. The intensity of crop-livestock integration was important as it defines nutrient availability especially where farmers cannot afford mineral fertilisers, but also provides important case studies on the competition for crop residue uses between soil cover and animal feed. The sites ranged from very low altitude of 400 m.a.s.l to as high as 2000 m.a.s.l.