Potatoes are a major crop grown in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Despite being a primary source of income for many smallholder farmers, their production has faced numerous challenges due to climate change, leading to higher production costs. These challenges include delayed or shortened rainfall seasons, pests, and diseases, leading to higher production costs.

In 2021, CRAFT partnered with the ISOWELU cooperative to promote climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies among smallholder farmers. The cooperative has more than 400 active members (smallholder farmers). The project facilitated training programs for farmers through the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach, equipping them with knowledge of climate-smart practices and technologies. Farmers learned various practices, including farm preparation, and the use of improved seeds, fertilizers, and agrochemicals, which have been successfully adopted by most farmers now applying them to their farms.

Smallholder farmers have undergone training on climate-smart agricultural practices and technology. However, despite this, they face challenges in adopting these practices on their farms due to a lack of capital to invest in potato farming. This includes using quality improved seeds, applying fertilizers, pest management, and other practices. The unpredictable seasons have made it difficult for farmers to rely on the crop calendar. Additionally, they face difficulties in accessing inputs, particularly seed potatoes, which often arrive late. Shortages in the supply of improved seeds and higher prices for fertilizers are some of the challenges that link to the major setback of higher costs in investing in climate-smart agriculture interventions.