Groundnuts (Arachis Hypogaea) in Tanzania

In Tanzania, where groundnut is one of the main annual crops, the production cost of groundnut is cheaper than of other annual crops like rice (Akpo, Muricho, et al., 2020; Bakari et al., 2021). The total production cost of groundnut ranges from 500,000 TZS/ha to 1,000,000 TZS/ha compared to rice, which ranges from 2,500,000 TZS/ha to 3,250,000 TZS/ha (Ndabila, 2018). Groundnut can be produced in all areas with an altitude below 1500m and having alluvial soils (Daudi et al., 2012). In Tanzania, groundnut is mainly produced in Dodoma, Tabora, Geita, Shinyanga, Songwe Mbeya, Katavi, Singida, Rukwa and Manyara regions (URT, 2021). Likewise, groundnut is largely produced in Kigoma, Mwanza, Mtwara, Simiyu and Kagera. Most of these regions are either semi-arid or arid and mostly challenged by drought, food insecurity and poverty.

Currently, the country needs to cope with increasing drought due to climate change, market shift, and other biotic and abiotic stresses (Zurich, 2014). In addressing these challenges for improving people’s livelihood, Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) in collaboration with other development partners released 17 improved groundnut varieties (Mwalongo et al., 2020). Six improved groundnut varieties were release between 1960s and 1990s (Daudi et al., 2012). The outcomes, however, were below expectations attaining maximum average productivity of 444 kg/ha during the period. Thereafter, 11 more improved varieties were released, and productivity increased to an average of 745 kg/ha. This is still less than the average productivity of Africa, which is 800kg/ha (FAO, 2020). Even though the new varieties were available, it was reported that about 81% of the groundnut producers still use old varieties, which are less resistant to drought and diseases, have low productivity between (0.5t/ha to 1t/ha) against the potential yield of between (1-2t/ha) and low market value (Mwakimata, 2017).

Limited use of improved varieties by farmers was reported as one of the major bottlenecks to realize high yield in the country (Daudi et al. 2018; Akpo et al. 2020). Use of improved varieties will make ever lasting effects on peoples’ health, financial power and human resource capacity of the country. Studies illustrate that the groundnut market is expanding in Tanzania due to a rapid population growth rate of 3.1 per year, multiple uses of groundnut and exports of about 20,000 tons per year (URT, 2020). All these factors combined raised an alarm of increasing awareness and use of improved groundnut varieties.

This variety catalogue underscores the important characteristics of all the released groundnut varieties since 1960s to date, an effort to enhance stakeholders’ awareness and groundnut utilization along the value chain in Tanzania.

Groundnuts (Arachis Hypogaea) Varieties Released in Tanzania

Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) in collaboration with Development Partners released 17 improved groundnut varieties (Mwalongo et al., 2020). Six improved groundnut varieties were release between 1960s and 1990s (Daudi et al., 2012). The description of the varieties have been provided in the document.

COMMON BEANS (Phaseolus Vulgaris) RESEARCH IN TANZANIA

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plays a paramount role in the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Tanzania; as a food security crop and source of income.  Both the cultivated area and bean production level has increased over the years since 1995. The upward trend can be attributable to research efforts by National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in collaboration with CIAT/PABRA which have resulted in identification and development of several improved bean varieties tolerant to environmental stresses. This has increased bean productivity from 0.5 MT/Ha in 1974 to 1.4 t/ha in 2021 (FAOSTAT, 2022).

However, bean production in the country is limited by several biotic and non-biotic constraints. Major constraints include, genetically low yielding varieties, diseases, insect pests and poor soil fertility, especially low soil nitrogen and phosphorus. In view of both the diversity of the constraints and the fact that common bean is largely a “resource -poor farmer’s crop”; development and dissemination of improved bean genotypes is the most viable option for promoting bean productivity in Tanzania.

Frequent droughts in most East and Central African countries have led to food shortages, malnutrition, social instability and reliance on food aid (IGAD, 2007). This scenario has underscored the need for improved crop varieties and associated technologies which assure farmers of a reasonable harvest in rapidly changing production environments.

Due to high demand for beans, partly as a result of rapid population growth, its demand has outstripped supply, with some countries in the region becoming net bean importers. The overall objective for the bean research Programme is to contribute to the attainment of sustainable food self-sufficient at household and national level, increase income generation, employment growth and enhanced earnings through the development and dissemination of appropriate and environmentally friendly technologies.

COMMON BEANS (Phaseolus Vulgaris) VARIETIES RELEASED IN TANZANIA

 The bean research program under the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has released high productive, multiple tolerant and nutrient dense common bean varieties. This catalogue gives a description of 41 released bean varieties among them six (6) are climbing types and 35 bush types. For each variety, the catalogue provides identification, morphological and agronomic characteristics, and recommended production areas.

The Better Life Book will bring hope by giving answers to our food and income needs. The book will help us as a community and as families to: Ÿ increase crop harvests without expensive inputs (like fertilizers and other chemicals), Ÿ protect and benefit from the natural resources such as wildlife, Ÿ build a foundation for community leaders to solve problems, Ÿ secure a better future for our families, and Ÿ leave fertile, productive land for our children's future.

The article is about Post Harvest Losses. 

The Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030 draws impetus from the organisation’s Vision 2050, which envisages “a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, middle- to high-income industrialised region, where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice, and freedom”.

This Decision Tool aims to help field-level extension staff make climate-smart decisions on which fertiliser application option best suits their farmers’ context. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate-smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems with their clients/farmers.

This Decision Tool aims to help field-level extension staff make climate-smart decisions on which pest and disease control options best suit their farmers’ context. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation; it is intended to assist extension staff in making climate-smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems with their clients/farmers.

This Decision Tool aims to help field-level extension staff make climate-smart decisions on which pest and disease control option best suits their farmers’ context. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate-smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems with their clients. Reference to technical guides relevant to the practices and technologies outlined are included at the end of the tool.

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) is a subsidiary implementing institution of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat. This MTOP for CCARDESA’s is based on the CCARDESA long-term Strategic Plan (2018 - 2028) and the Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) paradigm for Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) to align R&D organizations to sub-sector, sector and ultimately, national and regional development objectives.

CSA goes beyond innovative technologies and practices like drought-resistant varieties or soil and water conservation measures. To achieve the multiple objectives of productivity, food security, enhanced farmer resilience and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, CSA must adopt a systems perspective. A systems approach aims to view a problem as part of an entire system, rather than considering problems in isolation.