Farmer viability, decreasing net incomes and the associated lack of economic resilience is becoming increasingly significant throughout the small-scale grower base in Africa. This poses a direct threat to long term sustainability.

The objective of this initiative was to identify and implement a grower livelihood program which would contribute positively to farmers net income while strengthening understanding of financial and business literacy at a household level.

A cross section of farmers, who are by proxy contracted to Premium Active Tanzania were selected from Primary Societies in the Chunya growing region. Surveys to establish basic ‘living income’ data were conducted, and the selected farmers were trained using specific field tools from the Gender Action Learning System (GALS). Growers participated in focus group discussions which were guided by “living income” surveys and using the Challenge Action Tree (CAT) tool, a production challenge was identified.

One root cause was identified as a poor GAP practice (late topping), resulting in a loss of potential yield and therefore income. The time of topping is traditionally delayed in Tanzania beyond full bud emergence (CORESTA Guide No. 7) Stage 55/59 as opposed to Stage 50/51. The advantages of ‘bud-topping’ are well documented and have a significant impact on final yield and quality.

The implementation of a bud-topping program was identified as a simple, cost-effective method of improving farmer returns.

The study was laid out as a randomized complete block design involving three blocks (regions) and two treatments (bud topped and grower standard topping practices). There were a total of ten replications per region comprising 30 growers. Data collection involved leaf length x width measurements from ten plants per replication; 3 weeks after topping and 6 weeks after topping and yield data was collected at the end of the season.

Initial results are promising. Bud-topping trials will continue for three years to determine conclusively positive response. Once farmers are shown the positive impact, rollout of bud-topping practice will be included in Farmer Training Seminars and handbooks and coupled with improved financial management contributing towards an economically viable grower base.