Microfinance initiatives have been implemented in various regions to support smallholder farmers' income stability. In Tanzania's highlands, these programmes aim to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce poverty. We employed a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to analyse data from 100 randomly selected households across two villages implementing different microfinance models. Microfinance significantly boosted farmers' income stability in Village A by an average of 25% compared to Village B, where the impact was less pronounced (10%). The qualitative findings revealed that Village A's farmers adopted more innovative agricultural practices with financial support. The study underscores the differential impacts of microfinance on smallholder farmers' income stability in Tanzania's highlands and highlights the importance of tailored interventions for optimal results. Policy-makers should consider adopting a multi-faceted approach to microfinance, incorporating elements that encourage innovation and sustainable practices among smallholder farmers. Microfinance, Smallholder Farmers, Income Stability, Highlands, Tanzania
Simiyu et al. (2011) studied this question.