In the vibrant agricultural landscapes of Tanzania’s Mara Region, farmers across the districts of Bunda, Butiama, and Tarime are witnessing firsthand how sustainable innovation can transform their fields. Supported by the UPSCALE and led by the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) Ukiriguru, this region has become a living laboratory for the community-led adoption of Push-Pull Technology (PPT).
Together with partners from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), a team of researchers and local facilitators organized an intensive farmer assessment in April this year in order to evaluate how different cropping systems, including Push-Pull, perform in real-world conditions, and to listen closely to the voices of those who matter most: the farmers themselves.
What Is Push-Pull Technology?
Push-Pull is an ecologically based pest management strategy that uses companion planting to both repel and trap pests. Farmers intercrop maize with Desmodium, a “push” plant that repels stemborers and FAW, and plant Napier grass or Brachiaria on the field borders to “pull” pests away. The result: less pest damage, better soil health, and more forage for livestock.
The Trial: From Mother to Baby Plots
Across Bunda, Butiama, and Tarime districts, farmers engaged in a structured assessment of different PPT setups:
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Push-Pull Intensification: Maize + Desmodium + food crops (Green gram or Kale)
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Push-Pull Control: Maize + Desmodium + Brachiaria
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Intensification Only: Maize + food crops (Green gram or Kale)
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Monocrop Control: Maize alone
Each district implemented one “mother plot” and four “baby plots” to observe performance during the vegetative and flowering stages.
Farmers Lead the Evaluation
A total of 30 farmers, 10 from each district, together with agricultural extension officers, took part in a hands-on evaluation of the trials. Farmers were invited to observe, compare, and rank each plot based on criteria such as crop health, pest suppression, soil moisture retention, and intercrop benefits.
Across all districts, farmers consistently ranked Push-Pull Control as the most effective and user-friendly approach. It provided clear benefits in pest control and weed suppression, without adding complexity. While Push-Pull Intensification (with food crops like green gram or kale) didn’t offer additional pest control, farmers valued the extra food and nutritional benefits, especially important in small-scale systems. Monocropping consistently received the lowest ranking, reinforcing the value of integrated approaches to farming.
The community-based Push-Pull trials in the Mara Region are not just about farming techniques—they are about empowering farmers to shape solutions that work for them. By involving farmers directly in the assessment and tailoring strategies to local needs, UPSCALE is laying the groundwork for sustainable, scalable adoption across Tanzania.
With continued support and strong partnerships, farmers in Mara and beyond are poised to take the lead in building more resilient and productive agroecosystems—one field at a time.
