The Potentials of Agroforestry Systems in East Africa: A Case of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania

Abstract

The optimization of crop yields and environmental services need a proper selection and adoption of sustainable farming systems. Agroforestry is a farming system which involves the integration of trees and crops in the same plot. It is a climate-smart environmental conservation system that aims at increasing crop yields as well as environmental services. The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) of Tanzania, which cover Usambara and Uluguru Mountains, have a significant potential for agroforestry. They are characterized by potential biophysical resources such as fluvial, vertisol and xerosols soils with the annual rainfall exceeding 1200mm per year. We reviewed over 40 peer reviewed publications to assess the ecological significance of the agroforestry system in the EAM with clear focus on Usambara and Uluguru Mountains and found that the agroforestry system has been in practice on a small scale for a couple of years. The agroforestry has significantly increased crop yields by 50% in few areas where it is practised and has protected the environment by improving soil fertility, enabling the carbon sequestration and protecting water resources. As a result, this study recommends further researches on the same to reveal its potential in improving the conditions of small-scale farmers in East and Sub-Saharan Africa.