A Review of options for speeding the adoption of climate smart varieties: what works and what does not work: Experiences from Tanzania

Abstract

Given the efforts invested on addressing climate change adaptation particularly in agriculture, the adoption of climate smart varieties has not met the expectations. A number of crop varieties developed targeting drought prone areas largely remained un-adopted hence unknown to the majority of farmers or lack traits deemed special for adaptation to climate change in target areas. Variety adoption rate is highly dependent on its adaptation to particular environmental conditions including suitability to tolerate drought, salinity and acidity and ability to meet different livelihood needs such food, fodder and cash. Poor adoption emanates from lack of awareness and the volatility of the farming environment coupled with poor integration of seed business into private public partnership. Rapid adoption of climate smart varieties in Tanzania would require better policy intervention with a well-organized extension system and modifications in variety testing procedures, including the current guidelines for variety release. In this work the authors discuss some approaches that can be used to enhance the adoption of climate smart varieties in Tanzania and cite a few specific cases based on experience from Tanzania.