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Sequential sowings were carried out at Dodoma, Tanzania, to examine the eect of changing climatic parameters on the growth and yield of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea). Rainfall during the crop life cycle varied from 163 to 611 mm, mean photoperiod from 11.82 to 12.09 h d 71 and mean temperature from 22.6 to 24.4 8C. In 1994, the highest pod yields were achieved at the earliest sowing date, with a maximum of 2.87 and 1.42 t ha 71 for the red-and cream-seeded landraces, representing pod harvest indices of 0.56 and 0.34 respectively. A 30-d delay in sowing caused 460% reduction in pod yield, and a further 30-d delay resulted in no pods at all. Similarly, in 1995 successive delays in sowing caused dramatic yield declines, and the maximum yield was much lower, at 0.44 t ha 71 . In 1996 there was no signi®cant dierence in pod yields between the two early sowing dates for the red-seeded landrace and yields were again lower than in 1994 with a maximum of 1.02 t ha 71 . Dierences in dry matter production between sowings and years were attributed mainly to dierences in the amount and distribution of rainfall and to declining temperatures towards the end of the season; however, partitioning to pods was remarkably consistent across sowings.

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A survey study was conducted to assess the level of awareness and application of existing agro-ecological practices by small holder farmers in Mvomero and Masasi districts in Tanzania. The selection of farmers to interview and the villages in the respective districts was based on their long history of producing cassava and maize. A structured questionnaire was used to identify the type of agro-ecological practices, agricultural information sources accessed by farmers, training on agro-ecological practices, type of crops grown in the study areas and kind of livestock kept. Results indicated that the most applied agro-ecological practices were diversification (80.5%), the use of farmer saved seeds (78.2%) followed by intercropping (72.9%) and lastly, agro-forestry (3.2%). The highest percentage of farmers (30.4%) reported to receive information on ecological organic agriculture from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (SAT, SWISS AID), 27.5% were using own farming experience, 21% reported to receive the information from government extension officers, 13% from friends or neighbours, 4.3% from government institutions (SUA, Agricultural Training Institutes) and 3.6% received information from agricultural input suppliers. Generally, 50% of farmers had received training on agroecological practices indicating the level of awareness. Lack of knowledge among farmers was one of the key factors that hamper the wide application of agroecological practices. There was a need for farmer’s capacity building through training to enhance wider application of agroecological practices hence progressive agricultural production increase.

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In many areas in Tanzania, pests management for tomato involves weekly pesticide sprays. The practice poses a threat to the environment and health of consumers. In this study the effect of pesticide spray regimes and use of mulch we re evaluated on ‘Tanya VF’ and ‘Tengeru 97’ tomato varieties. Field experiment consisting of a 2×2×4 factorial arrangement in a split-split plot design with three replication s was conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro (6 o 05’S, 35 o 37’E and 525m above sea level). Treatment factors comprised two varieties (main plot factor), mulching/number of mulching (subplot factor) and three fungicide spray regimes (sub subplot factor). Results showed that the spray regimes: farmers’ practice (FP), Integrated Pests Management (IPM) based on pests scouting, sprays based on manufacturers’ recommendation (MR); produced significantly more fruits per plant and higher fruit weight compared to the control. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between FP, IPM and MR on fruit yield para meters. The results further revealed that use of mulch significantly led to higher fruit number per plant (p = 0 .020). Although average fruit weight was similar (p < 0.05), other marketable fruit yield parameters were statistically different between mulched and non-mulched plots ( p = 0.007). ‘Tanya VF’ had consistently higher yields compared to ‘Tengeru 97’. Fungicide sprays were statistically different to the control with respect to blossom end rot (p = 0.002), fruit rot (p < 0.001) and percentage of non-marketable yield (p = 0.001). Mulching significantly reduced American bollworm and blossom end rot (p = 0.012, p = 0 .003, respectively). The major contributor to tomato fruit loss was Blossom End Rot (BER) and Fruit Rot for ‘Tengeru 97’ and ‘Tanya VF’, respectively. It is evident, therefore, that: a proper combination of tomato cultural management practices can significantly reduce the use of pesticides, and improve tomato fruit quality and marketable yield which would increase profit margin accrued by farmers.