Enhancing climate resilience of smallholder farmers through conservation agriculture in the southern highlands of Tanzania

Abstract

Conservation Agriculture (CA) offers a promising pathway for enhancing climate resilience and productivity among smallholder farmers in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. This study assessed how farmers in Mbeya region and surrounding areas use CA practices to adapt to climate change and variability between 2015 and 2024. Temperature and rainfall data were analyzed alongside on-station and on-farm CA trials. Results showed a warming trend (0.040 °C/year for maximum and 0.026 °C/year for minimum temperatures) and variable rainfall patterns (903.9–1518.7 mm annually). In 2021, the maize yields under planting basins (8.5 t/ha) outperformed no-till (6.2 t/ha) and conventional ox-ploughing (6.0 t/ha). CA practices reduced production costs and increased profit margins for maize (USD 526.9 vs. 176.6) and beans (USD 917.4 vs. 376.3). Despite increased adoption of minimum tillage and residue retention, barriers included residue burning, crop-livestock competition, and limited access to inputs. Findings underscore CA’s role in sustainable intensification and call for policy support, tailored extension, and institutional coordination to scale CA for climate-smart intervention in farming systems.