How soil testing is helping smallholders in Tanzania improve soil health

So, what do One Acre Fund farmers think about the training and testing they receive?  We asked two farmers in Tanzania, Huluma Mhapa from Muhaji village in Wanging’ombe district and Jenita Madete of Mpululu village from Wanging’ombe District, to share their soil test training experiences with us. 

What did you know about healthy soils before the training? 

Huluma Mhapa

"My field officer used to train us about retaining crop residues in the field after harvesting because these residues help increase moisture in the field over time. I also used to know that manure improves soil health, but I never applied manure on my farm because I used to sell manure to earn money. Back then, I did not know the value of applying manure in the field."

Jenitha Madete

"In the past, I did not know about soil health. Since I was born, I have been farming with my parents, and we did nothing to improve or add nutrients to the soil. When I enrolled with One Acre Fund in 2021, I learned from my field officer that testing the soil on my farm would help me know what specifically to do to improve nutrients and harvest more. After that training, I started leaving crop residues in the field. Crops on our farm did not usually do well, so, I thought that by testing my soil, I would be able to know precisely what is lacking in my soil, and what to do to improve it to get better yields. "
 

What have you learned about the importance of good soil?

Huluma Mhapa
"My field officer used to train us about retaining crop residues in the field after harvesting because these residues help increase moisture in the field over time. I also used to know that manure improves soil health, but I never applied manure on my farm because I used to sell manure to earn money. Back then, I did not know the value of applying manure in the field. "

Jenitha Madete

"In the past, I had no knowledge of soil health. Since I was born, I have been farming with my parents, and we did nothing to improve or add nutrients to the soil. When I enrolled with One Acre Fund in 2021, I learned from my field officer that testing the soil on my farm would help me know what specifically to do to improve nutrients and harvest more. After that training, I started leaving crop residues in the field. Crops on our farm did not usually do well, so, I thought that by testing my soil, I would be able to know precisely what is lacking in my soil, and what to do to improve it to get better yields."

What have you learned about collecting soil samples and how to use them to help your soil?

Jenitha Madete
"The process of collecting soil samples for me felt easy and effective because we got to test the soil around the whole field. We were trained on collecting samples following a zig-zag method to ensure that you get samples from at least every corner of the field.  Although a few farmers that I interacted with found the process hard, I did not have any challenges."

Huluma Mhapa
"I was trained to collect soil samples in the field, which was good because I could get samples from all corners of my field. My farm has different soils; some parts are more sandy, and some are much less sandy but just drier. Therefore, the process made it possible for all types of soils in my field to get tested at once and help me understand what to do. After three to four years, if I hear that soil testing is happening, I will get my soil tested again so that I am constantly updated on what I am supposed to do to continue improving the soil health of my field. "