The use of appropriate soil and water management practices formaximizing water use efficiency on smallholder farms usually results inimproved crop productivity. A number of regional, sub-regional and nationalresearch initiatives have been undertaken in the field of soil and watermanagement. The aim was to increase agricultural productivity throughmaintaining soil fertility and enhancing nutrient use efficiency. These technologieshave shown high potential to improve soil properties and hence increase maizeproductivity over three-(3) fold. These technologies, innovations andmanagement practices include: conservation tillage, ripping and use ofgreen/grain legumes (Figure 1). Among the legume species used in the project werepigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) (Figure3) and Dolichos lablab (Figure 1 and2). The two legumes act as cover crops and improve soil fertility. There areseveral drought-tolerant varieties that have shown potential for high yieldseven in drought-prone areas. In developing these technologies, the main aim wasto resolve major maize production constraints through dissemination ofavailable soil and water management technologies using improved stress-tolerantvarieties for improved maize productivity and yield stability in drought-proneagro-ecologies in Eastern and Central Africa.

The end users of the improved soil and water management technologiesand drought tolerant maize varieties are the small scale farmers in the droughtprone areas of Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. In order to enhance the knowledgeof stakeholders on various soil and water management technologies anddrought-tolerant varieties; a TOT training was done to enable participants totrain other people in their respective locations. For example, in Tanzania theparticipants were drawn from nine (9) localities in three districts of theArusha region. These trainers were the ones who later supervised the 259demonstrations conducted in different localities.

In addition to the training, demonstrations and field days wereused for raising awareness among many more people on the importance of thetechnologies. Appropriate communication and knowledge sharing products such asleaflets, booklets, posters and documentaries were prepared and disseminatedduring field days and the National Agricultural Show (NANE NANE); to allow asmany people as possible to learn about the improved technologies.

Field demonstrations and field days are more effective sincefarmers usually believe in what they have seen. Besides; farmers usually copyand practice what has been proven to be successful. However, training isessential to make sure that technologies are rightly adopted.

Based on the lessons learnt, the key factors for successfulpromotion and adoption of the technology/innovation mainly include: (i)availability of extension services, (ii) participation of farmers in fielddemonstration and (iii) accessibility of the knowledge and technologies for thetarget users. The essential partners/stakeholders to be involved in the futurescaling up and scaling out of the technologies will include extension staff,researchers, seed companies and community-based organizations.

A baseline survey was conducted to document primary information onmaize production constraints and to establish the current status of key SWMindicators in the project area. Findings from the survey revealed that maize isthe most important food crop in the area, and more than 54% of the productionis consumed at household level. Over 28% of households reported problems ofsoil compaction in their fields, while over 36% of the households reported thatthey have problems of low soil fertility. Slightly over half (59.8%) of thefarmers reported soil erosion as a problem in their fields; and less than 15%of farmers in the study areas used improved maize varieties. These findingsfurther demonstrate the importance of the technology packages in theintervention areas.

Available information has shown that soil and water managementtechnologies plus drought tolerant maize varieties have been reviewed,validated and documented. Workshops that involved different stakeholders(farmers, extension officers, NGOs, CBOs and researchers) were conducted andinformation was shared and exchanged between the stakeholders. It was duringthese workshops that appropriate SWM technologies and drought tolerantvarieties for scaling up were selected for different locations. Farmers andfarmers’ groups were selected to participate in the scaling up process usingparticipatory methodologies. In Ethiopia three (3) sites and 138 farmers wereselected, while in Kenya 58 sites and nine (9) farmers’ groups were selected.In Tanzania 270 farmers in nine (9) sites were involved in the scaling upprocess.

At least 1,500 farmers have been reached and exposed to soil andwater management technologies and drought tolerant maize varieties, throughtraining, demonstrations, leaflets and posters. It’s anticipated that at least5,000 farmers in each of the participating countries will be reached in thenear future.

The technology has a positive impact on soil fertility improvementespecially in areas with depleted soils and can increase maize productivitythrough use of drought tolerant maize varieties. The technology in effect, deliversmultiple benefits and has the potential to enhance food and income security indrought prone areas. In order to ensure that more people are reached, appropriatestrategies are required to disseminate the technology in the target andneighboring countries. There is need for coordination of research efforts inthe region to ensure sharing of technologies across borders. Coupled with thisis the need to establish knowledge and information sharing platforms forsustained scaling up/out of the technology as well as training of trainers andfrontline extension agents to support dissemination of the information aboutthe technology.

During scaling up of SWM technologiesand DT maize varieties, special effort was made to hear from and listen togroups that are frequently marginalized. Efforts were geared towards ensuringthat both women and men are actively engaged in all activities and were allowedto voice their concerns, needs and priorities. Technologies that were selectedwere gender responsive since due consideration was accorded to the gendersensitiveness of the interventions. Appropriate gender participation targets shouldbe set with partners and deliberate efforts made to invest in female capacitybuilding within local partner institutions during further scaling up of thetechnologies. The plan is to involve at least 50% of women in major activitiessuch as capacity building; demonstrations and awareness and sensitization campaigns.

Fridah M. Mgonja;

Principal Agricultural Research Officer, Selian AgriculturalResearch Institute (SARI);

P.O. Box 6024;

Arusha, Tanzania.

Mob: +255 754-694240 / 756 145412

Email: fmgonja08@yahoo.com

Tuaeli E. Mmbaga;

Principal Agricultural Research Officer, Selian AgriculturalResearch Institute (SARI);

P. O. Box 6024;

Arusha, Tanzania.

Email: tmmbaga@yahoo.com

Helen Bradburn;

Programme Officer, Women in Agricultural Development andEnvironmental

Conservation (WADEC);

Arusha, Tanzania.

Email : wadec@habari.co.tz ; helenbiseko@yahoo.com

Hottensiah Mwangi;

Agronomist/ weed scientist, KALRO-Kabete

P.O. Box 14733 00800;

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel: +254-4444144; +254-725746681

Mob: + 254 725746681

Fax: +254 204444144

Email : wambuihm@yahoo.com

Joseph Keriko;

Professor, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT);

P. O. Box 62000;

Nairobi, Kenya.

Mob: 254 722 915026

Email : kerikojm@yahoo.co.uk

Habtamu Admassu;

Agronomist, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR);

Melkassa Agricultural Research Center;

P.O. Box 436;

Nazreth/Adama, Ethiopia.

Tel: +251221112186

Mob: +251911919898

Fax: +251221114623

Email: habtamu.admassu@gmail.com; h_Admassu2004@yahoo.com

Appropriate policy support for technology, particularly the use ofdrought tolerant maize varieties released in one country to be used acrossborders, will be of significant importance in the near future. Currently thereare no participatory platforms to share information on the performance oftechnology transferred between target groups and technical persons. Feedback isusually obtained during monitoring and evaluation. However, such platforms areimportant for sustainability purposes, and therefore their establishment shouldbe encouraged.

About 108 stakeholders involving farmers and extension staff weretrained in Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. The training was aimed at trainingtrainers (TOTs) who will eventually train others at the grassroots level.

Bumb, B.L., and C.A. Baanante. 1996. The Role of Fertilizers inSustaining Food Security and Protecting the Environment: Trends to 2020. Paperprepared for IFPRI’s 2020 Vision for Food, Agricultural and the Environment.Washington, D.C.: IFPRI.

Haisey and Mwangi, W. 1996. Low Use of Fertilizers and LowProductivity in Sub-Saharan Africa. NRG Paper 96-05. Mexico, D.F.: CIMMYT

United Republic of Tanzania. 2003. The 2002 Population and HousingCensus. General Report. Tanzania National Website:http://www.Tanzania.go.tz/census/tables.htm (Accessed 23/06/2010)

United Republic of Tanzania [URT]. United Republic of, Ministry ofAgriculture and Food Security. 2006. Development of conservation and notillage-based systems for sustainable use of the natural resource base. Projectproposal in support of Soil Fertility Initiative. 41 p.

Shetto, R. and Owenya, M., eds. 2007. Conservation agriculture aspracticed in Tanzania,

Three case studies. FAO, Rome.