The rural landscape is home to 65% of Tanzania’s population, who heavily rely on agriculture as their main source of food and income. Agriculture employs 65% of the workforce and contributes 128% of food security. However, as the Household Budget Survey 2017/18 shows, some parts of rural areas are faced with extreme poverty, with a 31.3% poverty incidence and 9.7% extreme food poverty, compared to 15.8% and 4.4% in urban areas, respectively. This editorial uses a desk review of the literature and secondary data to synthesize the findings from the special issue in exploring the nexus of agricultural transformation, food security, and climate change. Smallholder-dominated agriculture, characterized by low productivity and rain-fed systems, struggles with climate variability, land tenure issues, and limited mechanization. Transformation towards market-oriented and climate-smart farming is critical. However, it is hindered by resource constraints and post-harvest losses among other things. Food insecurity, exacerbated by climate shocks, manifests in many different ways, including malnutrition and low dietary diversity, with 35% of under-five children stunted. Climate change threatens yields and pastoral livelihoods, potentially reducing economic growth. This editorial paper advocates integrated strategies, such as promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA), irrigation, commercialization, and youth engagement, to enhance resilience and sustainability. Private sector involvement and mind-set shifts among farmers are essential for inclusive rural development, ensuring food security and climate adaptation in the evolving agricultural landscape.
Hosea Mpogole (Wed,) studied this question.