In Tanzania’s green highlands, farmers are bringing the soil back to life. Instead of relying on costly chemicals, they are turning to compost, mulch, intercropping, and traditional knowledge. These simple yet powerful practices are restoring land, feeding families, and protecting nature.
At the heart of this change is Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT), working with the Healthy Soil Healthy Food (HSHF) initiative under AFSA. Since 2021, SAT has trained farmers in agroecology, creating a ripple effect where one farmer teaches another. It began with just 15 extension officers training 39 lead farmers across nine districts. Those farmers, in turn, shared their skills with more than 850 others—85% of whom are now practising agroecology, and more than half are women.
The impact is visible: soils are healthier, yields are increasing, and farmers are cutting costs while growing confidence and resilience in the face of climate change. Beyond the villages, SAT farmers are influencing national food policy through Tanzania’s Ecological Organic Agriculture Strategy.
Challenges remain—some farmers hesitate to abandon chemicals, funding is limited, and reaching remote areas is difficult. Yet the results are clear: agroecology is not just improving fields, it is restoring dignity and hope. As one farmer in Morogoro said, “We are no longer just growing crops. We are growing hope.”
