Enhancing Maize Productivity among Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania through Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Abstract

Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) present a viable solution to the environmental challenges associated with conventional farming while enhancing maize productivity and improving soil health. Key practices include organic farming, crop rotation, cover cropping,
integrated pest management, conservation tillage, and the use of high-yielding maize varieties. These practices promote soil organic matter, nutrient cycling, biodiversity, and agroecosystem resilience, ultimately leading to increased maize yields. This study utilised data from the 2019/2020 National Sample Census of Agriculture (NSCA), conducted by Tanzania's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), to examine the impact of SAP adoption among smallholder maize farmers. The analysis employed the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique to estimate the causal effects of SAP adoption on maize productivity. The findings reveal a statistically significant positive impact of SAPs on yields, with a notable difference in technical efficiency between adopters and nonadopters. The results highlight the  critical role of SAPs in promoting food security, increasing farm incomes, and enhancing resilience within smallholder farming systems. To scale up SAP adoption, the study recommends improving smallholder farmers' access to extension services, quality agricultural inputs, and financial support. Thus, advancing sustainable agriculture, policymakers and development partners can contribute to the long-term prosperity of smallholder farmers and to broader agricultural sustainability efforts in Tanzania and Sub-Saharan Africa.