Agriculture and Climate Change (Commonwealth Union) _ Healthy soils provide essential ecosystem services such as increased productivity and biodiversity conservation. They also serve as significant carbon reservoirs, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change and enhance resilience to extreme weather events.
However, despite their importance, soils are fragile and non-renewable resources that require careful management to prevent degradation for future generations.
In Tanzania, where 70 percent of agriculture is driven by smallholder farmers, soil fertility depletion, erosion, soil acidity, and high salinity levels pose threats to national food security. These challenges are worsened by inappropriate farming practices exacerbated by climate change and land use changes. Additionally, smallholder farmers often lack the knowledge, technology, and funding to improve soil conditions and minimize environmental impact.
The ClimaSoilHealth project, a collaboration between NIBIO and TARI, aims to enhance institutional capacity for sustainable soil management. By doing so, the project seeks to directly contribute to increased agricultural productivity and nutrition while mitigating the impact of climate change.
The project agreement between the two institutions was signed on February 14th at Klimahuset in Oslo, in the presence of Tanzanian President Ms. Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture Hon. Hussein Mohamed Bashe, and Norwegian Minister of International Development, Ms. Anne Beathe Tvinnereim.
During the ceremony, Minister Bashe emphasized the importance of translating political discussions into tangible impacts on the lives of the poor. He also highlighted the need for more technology, capital, and financing to empower farmers, as well as fair trade practices that value farmers’ contributions.
ClimaSoilHealth aims to improve institutional capacity for sustainable soil health restoration in Tanzania, thereby strengthening adaptation and mitigation to climate change and increasing food security. The project seeks to enhance the country’s ability to withstand climate change effects and contribute to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Dr. Udaya Sekhar Nagothu, project coordinator from NIBIO, capacity development is a key challenge, with issues such as weak coordination, conflicting interests, lack of innovative models, and insufficient funds hindering progress. The project will involve collaboration with local government authorities, NGOs, and farmers training centers to train lead farmers on sustainable soil management, fostering farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange.
Overall, the project aims to improve agricultural productivity, enhance livelihoods for smallholders, and reduce negative environmental impacts. The partnership between TARI and NIBIO is crucial for fostering long-term research and innovation in soil health management.
