Demonstration farms are reshaping farming and livestock practices in Sikonge District, offering a practical pathway to higher productivity while easing pressure on surrounding forests under the Miombo Forest Participatory Management Project.
The initiative promotes improved techniques such as the use of certified seeds, timely planting and soil fertility management.
For farmers and pastoralists in Ipole village, these methods are translating into better yields and more reliable pasture, reducing the need to expand farms into forested land.
On April 21, 2026, experts from civil society organisations working with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) visited the area alongside officials from the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) to assess progress and exchange insights. The team was led by project coordinator Dr Zainabu Bungwa.
In Ipole, demonstration plots managed by local groups Uwani, Ulelema and Kiwanu are drawing attention for their structured management and visible gains in both crop and livestock production.
The visiting team inspected fields of maize, groundnuts and beans, as well as a cassava seed multiplication site managed by the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute.
Nearby pasture plots developed with support from the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute are helping address long-standing challenges of feed scarcity.
Researchers say the model is not only improving productivity but also changing how communities manage land.
Soil-enriching crops such as gliricidia, beans and pigeon peas are being integrated into farming systems, gradually restoring soil health and stabilising yields.
Livestock extension services are also expanding. In Ipole Ward, training sessions are equipping pastoralists with skills to improve herd productivity and pasture management, widening the reach of modern livestock practices.
According to experts from the International Institute for Environment and Development, the next step lies in strengthening farmer groups to improve access to markets and build more resilient value chains for crops and pasture products.
Development practitioners observing the project note that its community-based approach linking conservation with livelihoods offers a replicable model beyond Tanzania.
Representatives from the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction in Uganda point to its potential to inform similar interventions across the region.
The project is being implemented in Tabora and Katavi regions, covering Sikonge, Urambo, Kaliua and Mlele districts.
Its broader goal is to align forest conservation with economic opportunities, ensuring that communities benefit while natural ecosystems are preserved.
