Tanzania FEWture

Delivering expert on-farm knowledge and forging international research alliances

Tanzania FEWture Leaders: Dr. Tomer Malchi; Dr. Paul Turner; Dr. Eliezer Mwakalapa

Tanzania, located in East Africa, offers a wide array of ecosystems, from the iconic Serengeti plains and Mount Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean coastline. Its rapidly growing population centers, such as Dar es Salaam and Arusha, are vital hubs for industry and commerce, while agriculture plays a significant role in the country's economy. However, Tanzania faces pressing socio-environmental challenges, including the need to manage its rich biodiversity, address water resource management, foster agricultural led economic growth, and promote sustainable development in both urban and rural areas.

Tanzania has a population of 61 million people, of whom 67% live in rural communities. In terms of the FEW nexus, about 40% of the rural communities suffer malnourishment and about one third of children under the age of five suffer from stunting. While there has been incredible progress in the past decade, there are still millions of people in rural communities who are disconnected from the national electrical grid and do not have access to clean water. Local farmers face numerous challenges such as limited access to markets, inadequate information on best practices, and inefficient data management systems. 

Our research-to-action projects are designed to evaluate the implementation of off-grid technologies in Tanzania, and work together with local researchers to build capacity for monitoring and validating these technologies. We also provide extensive agricultural training for Tanzanian farmers across regions, crop types, and environmental challenges. 

Meet our 2024 Summer Interns from Mbeya University of Science and Technology!