By Ahmed Abdulla
Across Zanzibar’s farming communities, climate change is no longer an abstract threat, it's a daily reality. Farmers in Uzi, Bungi, and Unguja Ukuu are confronting unpredictable rains, rising heat, declining soil fertility, and prolonged dry spells. Yet amid these challenges, many have discovered a powerful and practical solution that is mixed farming.
Instead of depending on a single crop, farmers now combine multiple crops or crops and livestock on the same land. This shift has not only reshaped their fields but strengthened their resilience.
During a visit to Unguja Ukuu, Salama Juma Haji walks through her field, a patchwork of crops thriving side by side.
“We grow cassava, bananas, pineapples, aubergines, pumpkins, maize, even coconut trees,” she explains. “Each crop has its time. Even when the weather is harsh, I still harvest something.”
For Rahma Nassor, mixed farming has become a safety net that protects her livelihood from climate shocks.
“No matter how tough the season is, I never go home empty handed,” she says. “Some crops fail, but others survive. It keeps the family going.”
Many households now combine crop farming with small livestock like poultry and goats, widening income options and spreading risk across the year.
Environmental Value Rooted in Experience.
According to Roda Daniel Kadaso, Forest Agriculture Officer at Community Forests Pemba (CFP), the benefits of mixed farming go beyond harvests. She explains that planting different crops together helps the soil retain moisture, reduces heat stress, and encourages natural soil regeneration.
“Mixed farming restores fertility, builds food security across seasons, and increases household income through diverse harvests,” Roda notes.
Women at the Center of Change.
Women farmers are emerging as the strongest champions of this system. Salama proudly shares that her field earnings enabled her to construct her own house and join Mwangaza, a women’s savings group where she now accesses small loans to expand her farm.
Rahma, who serves as a TOT trainer in Uzi, sees mixed farming as a guaranteed buffer against total loss.
“If one crop fails, another one saves the day. It’s a hundred percent safety net,” she says.
Knowledge That Transforms
The ZANZ ADAPT project has played a key role by equipping farmers with hands on, climate smart farming skills. According to CFP, the project deliberately prioritizes women, ensuring they gain sustainable farming knowledge that protects the environment while increasing their income.
Challenges Still Hold Farmers Back.
Despite the progress, farmers continue to struggle with unreliable markets, unstable prices during peak harvest seasons, pests, irrigation shortages, and livestock destroying crops due to poor fencing.
The Sheha of Unguja Ukuu, Khamis Ibrahim Shomari, says he has already raised these concerns with district authorities. “We need long-term solutions so that farmers especially women can work without fear of constant losses,” he emphasizes.
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