Knowledge sharing approaches for promotion of integrated water management in semi-arid areas of North-eastern Tanzania

One of the main challenges researchers in natural resources management is to turn knowledge into action to achieve tangible results and outcomes to improve livelihoods of the smallholder farmers. This paper is presenting a case that enhanced knowledge sharing to ensure that research findings are well communicated to key stakeholders in order to achieve improved livelihoods and influence decision-making and utilisation of improved technologies. This case is used to demonstrate the outcomes of communicating research findings on integrated water management and turn them into action by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of north-eastern Tanzania. A communication strategy was developed and implemented to enhance information and knowledge sharing. Different methods were used to share information and knowledge to provide opportunity for feedback to researchers and farming community. These methods include farmers’ workshops, exchange visits, farmer field schools, demonstrations, farmer field days, audio visual and river basin game. The implementation of the communication strategy involved active participation of the District Council, a nexus of development at local level, to ensure continuity after the end of the project. It was learnt that adoption of integrated water management innovations depends on the combination of different information sharing tools and methods. Interactive folklore methods complemented with audio- visual and printed media become more effective and foster experiential learning.

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