Farmers’ Perceptions on Different Forage Types in Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Farmers’ Perceptions on Different Forage Types in Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Feed and forages take the bulk of inputs required in livestock production. Inadequate forages in quality and quantity in sub-Saharan Africa is responsible for low livestock productivity. Addressing livestock feed requirements presents quick wins in livestock productivity compared to breeding and health. In a Climate Smart Dairy project implemented in Tanzania, we demontrated several forage options to farmers including, two cultivars of Pennisetum purpureum, two Urochloa hybrids, Chrloris gayana and Tripsacum andersonii (control). Where applicable, the grasses were intercropped with either one of the following forage legume, Desmodium intortum, Lablab purpureus or Stylosanthes guiyanensis. Fourteen forage treaments were obtained in the end, replicated thrice in each of three sites. Locations were Kichiwa ward in Njombe district, Igowole ward in Mufindi district and Lufingo ward in Rungwe district of southern highlands in Tanzania. In each ward, farmers were guided in generating and scoring criteria of importance to them, which later they subjected to the treatments in respective sites. On plot by plot basis, individual farmers, scored (1–9) treatments against the criteria. We pooled the scores together to generate weighted scores. The higher the weigheted score, the higher the preference. Clear differences emerged across the sites. In the three sites, all treatments scored higher than the control. High farmers’ preference suggests the forages stand good chances of adoption, when the seeds/planting materials are available. The results would be valuable to frontline livestock extension agents in the areas and other similar agricultural context.