Prioritising soil health for improved yields among Tanzania’s smallholders

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Tanzania’s population is projected to reach 80 million by 2034 – a 30 percent increase from the 61.7 million recorded in the 2022 census. With a growing population, Tanzania’s smallholder farmers – who produce most of our food – are under increasing pressure to grow more with fewer resources. However, farmers grapple with a silent but critical issue: soil degradation. Season after season, despite applying increasing amounts of fertiliser, many farmers are still experiencing average to low productivity. The problem lies beneath the surface – soils that have become acidic and depleted of organic nutrients.

According to the World Bank, about 50 percent of Tanzania’s soil is degraded. Monoculture, climate change, and the excessive and improper use of chemical fertilisers have led to nutrient depletion, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss.

Healthy soils are vital for agricultural productivity. They retain moisture, provide essential nutrients, and support plant growth. The future of Tanzania’s food security depends on improving soil health. At One Acre Fund, where I work, we have seen first-hand how critical it is to help farmers adopt practices that restore soil vitality. Tanzanian farmers can increase productivity and create more sustainable farming systems by integrating soil health management practices such as soil testing, liming, composting, and manuring.

Listed below are opportunities for improving soil health:

Scaling up soil testing and tailored interventions

One of the major challenges Tanzanian farmers face is the lack of knowledge about their soil’s nutrient status. Without soil testing, many farmers apply fertilisers inefficiently, leading to waste and a higher cost of production. Over time, fertiliser overuse or misuse can also degrade soil health, accelerating nutrient depletion and making fields less productive.

Soil testing is a key solution. It helps identify specific nutrient deficiencies, allowing farmers to tailor their fertiliser applications and other inputs to their soil’s needs. This approach ensures that farmers are optimising their inputs and preserving soil fertility for the long term.

Recognising the importance of soil testing, the Tanzanian government, in collaboration with One Acre Fund, has actively promoted soil testing services. Farmers have successfully adopted customised fertilisation strategies in districts like Wanging’ombe and Kilolo, where One Acre Fund has conducted extensive soil testing, leading to better soil management. Despite these efforts, farmers in other regions still lack access to soil testing services. Expanding access is critical, and efforts are underway, such as providing agricultural extension workers with soil scanners, motorcycles, and tablets to better serve rural communities. In the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the government plans to scale up these services further.

Promoting organic inputs and lime usage

While fertilisers have boosted agricultural productivity, relying solely on chemical fertilisers can lead to imbalanced soil health. Farmers need to adopt a more holistic approach, incorporating organic inputs such as compost and manure, which provide immediate nutrient availability and long-term soil enrichment. These organic materials improve soil structure, enhance water retention, and support microbial activity—factors that are crucial given Tanzania’s increasingly erratic rainfall patterns.

Soil acidity is another major issue in many regions of Tanzania. Acidic soils reduce the availability of nutrients, hindering plant growth and reducing yields. Lime application is an effective solution for neutralising this problem, making essential nutrients more accessible to crops. When combined with compost and manure, lime helps create a balanced, nutrient-rich environment that promotes healthier and more productive soils.

In collaboration with the Tanzanian government, One Acre Fund has initiated campaigns to raise awareness about the benefits of these practices. For example, in Kondoa District Council, we distributed over 20 metric tons of lime free of charge as part of an awareness campaign linked to our soil testing efforts. These initiatives are helping farmers improve soil management, but much more needs to be done to ensure the widespread adoption of sustainable practices.

Encouraging sustainable agricultural practices

Farmers must adopt practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, and conservation agriculture to address soil degradation effectively. Crop rotation helps maintain soil fertility by alternating crops with different nutrient needs while intercropping reduces erosion by providing continuous soil cover. Conservation agriculture—characterised by minimal tillage, permanent soil cover, and diverse crop rotations—promotes soil health by reducing erosion and improving soil structure.

Agroforestry, the practice of planting trees among crops, offers additional benefits by improving soil fertility, enhancing biodiversity, and providing crop shade. Organic farming practices, including the use of natural fertilisers and biological pest control, further promote soil health while minimising environmental harm. Farmers can reduce soil degradation, improve productivity, and ensure environmental sustainability by adopting these sustainable practices.

It is crucial to prioritise soil health interventions to reverse the trend of soil degradation and unlock the full potential of Tanzania’s farmlands. Sensitising farmers to the importance of soil testing—and ensuring they understand how it can help them apply the right inputs at the right time—is a critical first step.

Aligning the efforts and resources of stakeholders across the agricultural sector will help scale up access to soil testing, ensure the responsible use of inputs, and build resilient farming systems. Through awareness, collaboration, and sustainable practices—we can secure fertile, productive soils that will support farmers and nourish communities for generations to come.

Nelson Musikula is a Government Relations Senior Associate at One Acre FundContinue Reading

Intra-EAC trade growth points to progress in integration

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As the East African Community (EAC) celebrates its 25th anniversary, we commemorate a remarkable milestone in our collective journey toward economic prosperity, regional unity, and fostering an interconnected community that benefits all East Africans.

Over the past 25 years, the EAC has achieved significant milestones in regional integration. Intra-EAC exports have grown from 17 percent of total exports in 2017 to 21 percent in 2023.

This growth reflects a surge in monetary terms, with intra-EAC exports increasing from $2.4 billion in 2017 to $6.3 billion in 2023. These achievements underscore the resilience and diversification of the region’s economies, even amidst global economic challenges.

Among the key accomplishments, the Customs Union Protocol (2005) established a unified market by removing internal tariffs and introducing the EAC Simplified Trade Regime, significantly benefiting small-scale traders, particularly women and youth entrepreneurs.

The East African Customs Management Act, the Single Customs Territory (SCT), and One-Stop Border Posts have promoted the seamless movement of goods and people across the region. The introduction of the Common External Tariff (CET) in 2022, with a four-band structure, has strengthened regional value chains and protected local industries.

The Common Market Protocol (2010) enabled the free movement of goods, services, workers, capital, and people. It also guarantees the right of residence and establishment, spurring intra-EAC trade and investment. Several companies, including Equity Bank, Bidco, CRDB Bank, and KCB Bank, have expanded regionally.

Furthermore, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda have eased travel within the region by allowing the use of IDs alongside East African passports. Trade in services has also grown significantly, with the EAC bloc emerging as a net exporter of services, reaching $17.1 billion in exports in 2022, compared to $12.3 billion in imports globally.

Initiatives such as the EAC One Network Area for Telecommunications and the Single Tourist Visa have reduced roaming charges and simplified visa requirements. Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for professional qualifications have enhanced labour mobility for engineers, architects, accountants, and veterinarians. Abolishing pupil pass requirements and mutual recognition of academic certificates has further facilitated student mobility and cultural exchange.

Through the Monetary Union (2013), EAC Partner States are working to harmonise monetary and fiscal policies, standardise financial and reporting systems, and establish an East African Central Bank.

Despite these successes, unlocking the full economic potential of the EAC requires addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities in integration, trade, and investment. Improving infrastructure, harmonising policies, fostering public-private collaboration, and embracing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are key priorities. This approach will enhance competitiveness, attract investments, and promote inclusive growth, positioning the EAC as a leading African economic bloc.

To further boost intra-EAC exports to 60 percent, the private sector urges Partner States to fully implement the SCT and CET, finalise the Standardisation, Accreditation, and Conformity Assessment (SACA) and Metrology Bills, and ratify the Double Taxation Agreement. Additionally, the amendment of the Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB) Act and investments in modernising roads, railways, and ports along the Northern and Central Corridors are essential to reduce logistics costs and enhance trade.

Liberalising air transport under the Yamoussoukro Decision, expanding mutual recognition of qualifications, and supporting initiatives like “East Africa Build East Africa” can further enhance trade and investment. Integrating regional value chains, empowering SMEs, and promoting digitalisation and e-commerce will create jobs and foster economic resilience. The AfCFTA offers an opportunity to access broader markets, with a trade potential of $1.9 billion for the EAC.

As the EAC marks this historic milestone, the East African Business Council (EABC) remains committed to collaborating with governments and stakeholders to advance regional integration. Together, we can drive innovation, foster unity, and position East Africa as a global economic powerhouse.

The progress achieved thus far is a testament to our collective efforts, but much work remains to unlock the EAC’s full potential. Let us continue to work toward a brighter and more prosperous future for the region.

Adrian Njau is the acting Executive Director of the East African Business Council (EABC)Continue Reading