Innovation Laboratory for Small Scale Irrigation (ILSSI) in Tanzania: For Irrigated forages in Kilosa, Mvomero and Babati District

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1 Project: Innovation Laboratory for Small Scale Irrigation (ILSSI) in Tanzania: For Irrigated forages in Kilosa, Mvomero and Babati District REPORT OF FEED ASSESSMENT FOR RUDEWA VILLAGE KILOSA District. By Lukuyu, B. 1, Mwilawa, A.J. 2, Ngunga, D. 3 and Mangesho, W. 4 ILRI, Kampala 1, TALIRI, Mabuki 2 ILRI, Morogoro 3 and TALIRI, Tanga 4 INTRODUCTION Rudewa is one of the village found in Rudewa ward, Kilosa district. The Village is found in the main road entrance to the District Council main office about 20 km from Dumila junction in Morogoro to Dodoma highway. The village is dominated by mixed farmers (65%) and few crop farmers (35%). The major farming system include maizerice based and agropastoralism. The inhabitants include Kagulu and Nguu. The Village borders other Pastoral villages of Mbwande extending to Twatwatwa on the east and south borders the Sisal estate. The feed assessment study was conducted using FEAST tool as a pre-requisite to providing target intervention in line with the project hypothesis that improving fodder resource base using irrigated fodder among smallscale livestock farmers, both male and females will improve their income and nutritional status. The specific objective of the study were to characterize the livestock production system in the study area, identification of feed resources and feeding practices and Identification of constraints and opportunities for irrigated fodder in the study sites. METHODOLOGY: Site location The study was conducted in Rudewa Mbuyuni ward at Rudewa village, Kilosa District. The village is located at GPS ( ; ) with an average size of 2500 ha. The village is in Kilosa district which is found in Morogoro region. The district encompasses 14,245 square kilometers of which 536, 590 ha is suitable for agriculture, 483,390 ha is under natural pasture, 323, 000 ha Mikumi National Park 80, 150 ha forest and 14,420 ha urban areas, water and swamps. Small-scale farmers in Rudewa are using the available water resources including rivers and shallow groundwater wells for dry season vegetable irrigation as well as growing rice. The study site is connected with a 1

2 good number of tarred roads, though feeder roads are not tolerable during the rainy season cutting communications with remote areas. However, roads to the study site are passable throughout the year. Village/ farmer sampling procedure and tools used The village was selected as one of potential village that for many years farmers have been practicing some dry season irrigation in vegetable garden and rice fields. The practice was found to have potential if could be extended to irrigated fodder that could be able to provide available feed resources during feed shortage. A semi-structured interviews was conducted using focused group discussion (FGD) with well designed checklist and individual interviews using structured questionnaire. for at least nine. The individual interviews included at least nine farmers identified among the members participated in FGD. The farmers for individual interviews included three farmers from three identified farmer category of small, medium and large. Purposeful sampling was employed in selecting farmers. The criteria used in selecting farmers included; ffarmers practicing small scale irrigation and those interested in small scale irrigation and farmers with some dairy animals. Selection considered equal or reasonable representation of male, female and youth. A total of 21 (12 men and 9 women) farmers, were identified to participate in the FGD and Individual interviews. Actual Interviews and field visits Field work was designed such that a research team started with courtesy call at District Council office where the DED office and the staff at District level were briefed on the project objectives and purpose. Thereafter field work followed with participation of extension staff from District Livestock Officer to livestock field officer at the study site. This was critical for smooth running of the activities and technology intervention and future dissemination and up scaling. The FGD was held on 7 th and 8 th July, 2015 but subsequent field visits were made thereafter. Observation tool using Transect Walk along and across the village was employed. Data Analysis and Challenges Data collected from the interviews were entered in the computer and analyzed using FEAST 1.05 template, which has been designated to deliver outputs. Also field observation tool results have been reported to triangulate the information. RESULTS 2

3 Following the data analysis FGD and Individual interviews using feast tool the results are presented. Household characteristics All households in Rudewa reported to have access to land and the status of ownership is shown in figure 1. Majority of farmers (60%) were in category of small farmers with least than 2 hectares followed by medium farmer (25%) and lastly with large farmer (15%). This implies that limited land may be available for expansion of agricultural activities. Figure 1: The status of household s ownership by category in Rudewa village Most households have an average of 6 people per households and have access to three (3) acres for cropping in a year. Land owned by households is commonly inherited while only few households have bought (Table 1). The status of land available for cultivation and fodder establishment is presented in Table 2. The village has shortage of cropping land and hence fallowing is not practiced at all. Land is commonly leased for rice and maize cultivation under irrigation. Land was reported not enough for forage mainly because of the fear of pastoral communities who practice extensive grazing from the nearbouring villages of Mbwade and Parakuyo-Twatwatwa who have been in conflict for many years. The village has never practiced fodder production. But when farmers were asked their willingness to start practicing irrigated fodder they will be willing. And it was noted that land for pasture production meant for cut and carry could be available. 3

4 Table 1. Characteristics of Households in Rudewa Mbuyuni villages Parameter Range Average Household size (Person) Ranges 2 to16 6 Land size (acres) per Hhds Ranges 1 to 20 3 Inheritance of land Inherit, buy inheritance Table 2: Status of land available for cultivation and fodder establishment Variable Status of land Increasing/Decreasing Land is used by more than 1 crop Land fallowed Responses Decreasing Yes No Cost (Tzs) to lease/acre 80, Uses of land for: Subsistence 75 Cash crops 25 Fodder - Enough Land for forage No Land available for cut and carry Yes Shortage land for cultivation Yes Characteristics of household Incomes Major source of income in Rudewa were Agriculture (40%) through sales of maize, paddy and vegetables. Figure 1 presents the contribution of livelihood activities to households income. Maize and paddy production provides significant incomes to the households leave alone the food consumed at household daily. Also farmer do earn income through giving out labour is sisal farms or work for somebody else. Usually after harvest business people come within the village to buy crop harvest and they bargain at very low price which does not favour the livestock keepers. The income from livestock sales is not much (23%) and occurs when animals are sold. 4

5 Figure 1. Contribution of livelihood activities to households income in Rudewa Crops and cropping system Rainfall pattern Rainfall pattern varies over the year in the village. During the FGD farmers were able score (scores 0 no rainfall - 5 heavy rainfall) throughout the year. The months of March to May are characterized with heavy rainfall while July to October have very little and no rainfall at all. Also in February is known to have prolonged dry period Table 2. This tallies well with calendar for cropping season than occur in the different years (Table 3). Table 2. Pattern of Rainfall from January to December in Rudewa according to FGD Rainfall pattern in a year (Jan to December ) Village Rudewa/Mbuyuni scoring

6 Table 3. Calendar for cropping seasons that occur in the year (January to December) Village and Season Rudewa/Mbuyuni Short Rains Wet season Dry Season Seasons in a year on months Types of crops grown Majority of farmers in Rudewa village grow maize followed by paddy. The two crops are mainly for food but they are also source of cash. On average maize is grown by 1.25 and 1.00 ha households. Other dominant crops grown though in small areas are cowpeas sunflower and various vegetables (Figure 2). Similar trend follows for average area per households of dominant arable crops (Figure 4). Figure 2. Major types of crops grown in Rudewa village. 6

7 Figure 3. Average area (ha) per households of dominat arable crops Water Availability and Irrigation On average about 95% reported that the village have access to water all year around. Water for livestock is ample and is mainly from Wami river which flows throughout the year across the village. It was noted that the water is available for irigation and about 40 households have access to irrigation. Irrigation available is from riverside where farmers do pump and or diverge to crop fields during Irrigation. The crops that benefits from irrigation are mainly rice, vegetables and to some cases maize Table 3. 7

8 Table 3. Availability of water and irrigation opportunity in the village Parameter Remarks Water livestock Yes % HhdAccess to Water 95 Type of water source & Seasonality Rivers Wami-all year Distance to Water (km) < 0.1 Available for Irrigation Yes % HHds access to Irrigation 40 Irrigation available & Crop benefit Riverside/pumps Rice, vegetables, maize Riverside/Diversion Rice, vegetables, maize Collection field beds Mainly Rice Availability of Water for livestock (including Fodder production) 4-highly available Fodder crops grown All farmers in Rudewa Mbuyuni reported that they have never grown fodder but some (15%) argued that they have seen some established fodder to some smallholder dairy farmers in Kilosa town. During field visits some natural elephant grass were seen extensively alongside riversides of Wami. It was noted that majority (98 %) were willing to participate in irrigated fodder. However, it was apparent that education and capacity building was most needed to sensitize, impart knowledge and skills on irrigated fodder. Livestock and Livestock System Livestock holdings Rudewa village is mainly dominated by crop cultivators. Most farmers were historically working in the nearby old Sisal Estates. On average livestock holdings kept per households (HHds) was 2.4 Tropical Livestock Units (TLU) of improved dairy cattle. On average very low livestock holdings per households of other dominant species (TLU) on goats, local dairy cattle, poultry raised under village condition and fattening and draught cattle (Figure 3). Improved dairy cows were used for milk production to acquire cash but also very little amount for home consumption. Most of the farmers got the improved dairy cows through Heifer Project in Tanzania the last five years. On 8

9 average very few other livestock holdings per households dominant species were reported. The few holdings of indigenous goats are kept mainly as a source of cash and occasionally as source of food. Some holdings reported to have local type of cattle which are mainly used as source of cash and to a limited extent provide milk at households. Some few holdings had fattening and draught cattle kept mainly for sale and transportation of goods such as crop harvest from the fields to residential places for storage. Figure 4. Average livestock holdings per households dominant species (TLU) Livestock specie and uses Rudewa village has few farmers who own improved dairy cows and were dominant than the local cattle present. The village is dominated by mainly crop cultivators. It is only recently farmers are increasing seeing the benefits among smallholder dairy farmers and more of them are getting interested to acquiring improved dairy cows. Generally farmers mentioned the overall uses of specific livestock specie in the village (Table 4). Farmers showed that the primary use was almost similar among farmers with varying knowledge and skills in utilization 9

10 Table 4. Type of livestock species and their uses in Rudewa village Specie % Hhds Own Breed Used for Cattle Improved -Local -Fattening/Draught Milk, manure, income source Saving account, manure, cash, meat Meat, transportation Goats 5 -local Petty cash, meat, manure Poultry 62 -Indigenous Petty cash, meat, manure 3 -Commercial Cash, meat, Pigs 3 -Indigenous Petty cash, meat, manure Livestock major Diseases Farmers reported the major livestock diseases as East Coast Fever (ECF), Foot and mouth diseases (FMD), Anaplasmosis, CBPP, Lumpy skin and Foot rot. Poultry was reported to be affected mainly by New Castle and Diarhoea. Livestock and Livestock products Livestock products commonly sold is milk. Also households and neighbours enjoy the availability of manure. Livestock are occasionally sold as live animals from residential households especially improved dairy cows. Also the few local cattle are really sold at the nearby cattle market at Mkata junction. The livestock prices usually vary depending on the season. Live animals usually receive low prices during severe dry season because animals are usually in poor condition and livestock keepers are in need of cash to buy food. On average prices for mature cattle regardless of sex ranges between Tshs. 90,000/= to 600,000/= for local cattle while for a good dairy animals goes up to Tshs. 800,000/=. Also the prices for Small ruminants Goats and sheep ranges between Tshs 25,000/= to Tshs 80,000/=. Milk also is sold on individual basis and on household agreement on weekly basis. The prices range between Tshs. 600/= to 1000/=. The prices may vary depending on season where in dry season usually milk production is low, the demand is high that implies prices are high. On the other hand prices for Chicken ranges between Tshs 10,000/= to Tshs 20,000/= 10

11 Feeds and Feeding systems Shortage of quality feeds is one of the major factor limiting productivity of livestock in Rudewa apart from animal diseases, shortage of improved animal breeds and poor management. Native pastures and crop residues are the main roughages fed with limited supplementation of maize brans, sunflower seed cakes, and herbaceous legumes of beans and cowpeas. Also in few cases some smallholder dairy provide mineral blocks and concentrate mix. All dairy animals are kept by smallholder farmers are kept under zero grazing only few of them take animals out to grazing. Those other farmers keeping local animals usually take animals to graze in the nearby Sisal Estate farms (Table 5). Few farmers had dairy cows in health condition. Both native pastures and crop residues cannot supply ruminant livestock with adequate requirements for maintenance and production if not well supplemented to balance the requirements for energy and protein. Other feeds purchased in over a period of 12 months were maize (57%); sunflower (30%); sugar canes (10%) and commercial rations (3%).. Table 5. Identified major feed types and sources in Rudewa-Mbuyuni Village/Major feed type Source Processing Natural pastures Cut and carry none /chop Crop residues maize; rice; sugarcanes graze on crop fields; carry none Supplements maize/rice brans purchased from milling machines none Feed availability and seasonality All dairy cows kept by smallholder were indoor fed. Grazing were limited to few households with local herd who were not interviewed. Wet seasons had plenty of natural pastures covering the moths of March to June. On overall green fodder was present throughout the year despite of challenges. The dry season which was characterized by feed shortage was during July to December (Figure 4). Among the farmers usually supplementation were mainly targeted to milking animals and were not well supplemented in terms of energy, protein and vitamins. Also very weak animals were also supplemented. Farmers in this area were not practicing an form of forage conservation neither processing. The major reason was lack of awareness, knowledge and skills. 11

12 Figure 4. Annual feed availability in Rudewa village Nutrients contribution to the diets From the Feast assessment nutrient contribution from the feeds used among stallholder dairy farmers in Rudewa village was obtained (Table 6). Collected natural pastures had high contribution of DM, ME and CP in the diets, thus implies significant dairy animals were likely to get sufficient ME (84%) and CP (79%) when animals are given to the required amount and when they are of good quality. Normally during wet season natural pastures are of high quantity and quality. It is therefore of importance to note that when crop residues are available also having some contribution though not much. Supplemental purchased feeds are essential particularly when the major contributor in the diets (native pastures) is inadequate; therefore purchased feed should balance for the insufficient ME needed for energy and CP required for production relative to animal requirements. Since livestock keepers in Rudewa did had no knowledge on cultivated fodder, hence there was no contribution of cultivated fodder in the diets. 12

13 Table 6. Nutrients contribution of the various diets eaten by dairy cow Components of the diet Percentage (%) contribution in the diet DM ME CP Crop Residues Animals grazed Natural pastures and collected Purchased feeds Labour requirements and costs Like other agricultural villages land preparation (digging) and weeding are generally ranked by women and men as their two most onerous activities. The principal causes of labour constraints arising in agriculture are threefold: the reliance on hand power; the reduction in the productivity of the labour force; and the reduction in labour available in the household to undertake farm work. In Rudewa, land preparation and ploughing, weeding of rice field and bird scaring were the most costly farm operations they were charging between Tshs. 75,000/= to Tshs /= per acre. The observed labour costs provide us with better understanding of forage interventions that we should consider labour costs. Table 7: Labour Requirement and cost for different activity in different village Labour most required Cost (Tshs/acres) Weeding & Bird scaring Highly costly Land Preparation and ploughing 90, Rice seeding 48, Maize sowing 12, Rice weeding/acre X 2 80, maize weeding/acre 20, bird scaring 60, Rice tilller cutting 60, Rice harvesting 80, Maize harvesting/bag unprocessed 3, Transport rice from the field/0.25 acre 20, Transport maize from the field/bag 3,

14 Source of credits for crops and livestock During the FGD, farmers reported to have the following sources for credits VICOBA, FINCA, SACCOS and from District local government (Table 8). All the sources reported to operate all year around depending on the mode of operational. Most of them were operating formally (75%) with clear and known regulations. However, most of them had strict regulations and high interest rates such that only about 5% of the households were access to the credits offered. However, for the last 2 years only 13% of the households aspired to getting credits. This implies that not many households are willing to asking for the credits as they fear that they may fail to pay back the loans. All the creditors are willing to work with farmers and of all gender categories. Table 8. Identified main Sources of credits for livestock and cropping Source of credit VICOBA FINCA SACCOS Local agreement Remarks all yr all yr all yr all yr Shares (%) Formal 75 Informal 25 Conditions for credit % HHds access 5 % FGD aspire in last 2yrs 13 Easiness to access 4 Agriculture and Livestock inputs services Rudewa village is located where both agricultural inputs for both crops and livestock are available in nearby town Kimamba or at Kilosa town. The inputs also are brought by private supplies during markets days magulio. The inputs include crop pesticises, improved seeds, veterinary drugs and acaricides. Despite of the availability of inputs 14

15 farmers argued that they are sold at very high prices hence failure to purchase when needed. The village has recently received village extension staff and hence extension services are likely to improve. Major problems and possible solution Farmer listed some of the major problems that were facing. Also were asked to provide some possible solution that they may provide given opportunity. Table 9 presents five major constraints, their ranking and some of the possible solution from farmer s perspective. During FGD farmers poor breeds of cattle ranked number one as the major problem. It was followed by lack of knowledge/skills as number 2. It was noted that feed shortage also ranked number 4 and farmers showed concern and occasionally animals are lost without harvesting. Farmers gave some of possible solution for each major constraints. Table 9. Identified major problems and possible solution in Rudewa Identifies Major Constraints Rank Possible solution Livestock Diseases 3 Improve animal husbandry Feed shortage 4 Establishment of improved pasture Livestock Theft 5 Community security Poor breeds of cattle 1 Use of A.I; purchase better bulls Lack of Knowledge/Skills 2 Request Training; Areas for Possible Intervention Feeding packages formulation using available feed resources Harvesting and conservation of feed resources available farmer empowerment in terms of knowledge and skills Sensitize to Irrigated fodder production such as the more adaptable Napier e.g Ouma. Irrigated fodder use recommended forages (fodder and legumes) species in specific agro-ecological zones Lowland areas Rudewa/Mbuyuni & Mkindo. Medium high altitude Mawemairo & Gichemeda Lessons learnt during FGD and field visits Farmers are willing to use portion of their land for irrigated fodder 15

16 Farmers would like to first test the technologies on a small scale. Farmers are willing to interventions that will address the identified issues/constraints. Support for simple water lifting devices may be helpful to fasten the intervention Linking farmers to credit institutions whenever possible may enhance adoption of technologies. Conclusion and Recommendations Together with the summary will be prepared after feedback meeting with farmers input. Acknowledgements ILRI -ILSSI for financial and technical support TALIRI for logistics and collaboration, Respective Districts Councils in Kilosa, Mvomero and Babati for interest and cooperation, Farmers and other interested stakeholders willingness to participate 16