Clever Farmer in Tanzania

With support from Biovision, a practical guide for smallholder families is published in Tanzania. The name of the magazine: Clever Farmer.

Initial situation: Bridging science and practice

The Mkulima Mbunifu (Clever Farmer) magazine is written in Swahili and is published bimonthly in five regions of Tanzania (Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Singida, and Manyara). This guide for smallholder families facilitates continuous and targeted knowledge and experience exchange between practical farming and science.

Through the website, SMS, or WhatsApp, readers can submit questions and feedback. This efficient feedback system and the close collaboration with local stakeholders ensure that the magazine truly addresses the needs of smallholder families. 

Goals: Spreading agroecological knowledge

75,000 farmers use Clever Farmer to learn about sustainable farming practices, and around 25,000 of them actively implement these methods.

At a glance

Project name:

Clever farmer
Beneficiaries:
Tanzania

Project budget in CHF :

649588
Participants:
Agricultural advisors to the government
Employees of the local administration
Gardeners on the outskirts of the city
Gärtnerinnen und Gärtner am Stadtrand
Landwirtschaftsberatende der Regierung
Mitarbeitende der Lokalverwaltung
Smallholder farmers
Project Officer:
Project phase:
2023-2026
Partner organizations:

Biovision Africa Trust, BvAT

Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania, SAT

The project addresses the following SDGs from UN Agenda 2030:
Region

Impact to date: Effective dissemination of knowledge

Each year, Clever Farmer publishes six issues with a total circulation of 15,000 copies. This means the magazine reaches an average of 75,000 people per issue (five readers per copy). According to a 2022 survey, 96% of readers apply agroecological practices. Younger farmers primarily access the Clever Farmer website and Facebook page. By the end of 2022, the Facebook page had around 10,000 followers, and the website had been visited by approximately 30,000 people. 

Next steps: Strengthening agroecological communication

The magazine will continue to spread agroecological knowledge. Joint communication plans are being developed with district officials to promote agroecology and further strengthen the knowledge of agricultural advisors. The goal remains for Clever Farmer to become the magazine for smallholder farmers in Tanzania. 

Donate now

With your support, you make a significant contribution to fighting hunger and poverty, building confidence and strengthening self-determined living. The ZEWO seal of approval guarantees a conscientious and cost-conscious use of your donations.

CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF custom amount

To support this project or get further information, please contact

Sharon Nehrenheim
Head of Communication & Fundraising, Member of the Executive Committee
+41 44 512 58 13

More about this or similar projects

About us, Agriculture

Why we need to fundamentally rethink our food system

In his lecture at the Nobel Talks series, Biovision’s Foundation Board President Hans Rudolf Herren explains why agroecology is a key lever for creating a fair and sustainable food system and what actions need to be taken politically and socially.
Markets, Politics

Making agroecology visible: A Biovision approach

Biovision is committed to improving the political framework conditions for agroecology. A key lever: the visibility of enterprises that successfully implement agroecology. These enterprises demonstrate that economic success and social commitment can go hand in hand, providing compelling evidence in favour of sustainable agricultural policies. In the video, we use the example of an award ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda, to demonstrate exactly how we shine the spotlight on these enterprises.
Politics

“Agroecology is key to restoring fertile soils” 

Globally, soil quality is deteriorating at an alarming rate—millions of people are affected, and vast areas of agricultural land are being lost. Charlotte Pavageau from Biovision’s Policy & Advocacy team explains why strong political frameworks are essential, what needs to change, and how agroecology is already making an impact.
Agriculture

From Zurich to Ethiopia

Accompany our reporter on his journey from his desk to the project area in Ethiopia: See for yourself how reforestation and clever techniques have brought lasting change to this once arid country.