Training Programs for Smallholder Farmers at Ward Agricultural Resource Centres in Tanzania: Status and the Remaining Gaps

Globally, Agricultural Resource Centres (ARCs) have been complementing the existing institutions in training smallholder farmers. Although the Government of Tanzania established Agricultural Resource Centres (ARCs) with the goal of bridging the gap in agricultural extension services for smallholder farmers, there is limited research on the effectiveness of these centres in delivering training programs. This study seeks to address that gap. The study employed a descriptive research design; a structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, while focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) were for gathering in-depth qualitative information. The findings revealed that training programs offered at WARCs focused mainly on crop production and relied heavily on private stakeholder support to offer training to smallholder farmers. The study concluded based on training areas that crops receive more priority in WARC training programs over entrepreneurship, livestock, record keeping, and fishery. With these findings, it is evident that the WARCs are not functioning as outlined in the government guidelines for their establishment. The guidelines specify that training should be comprehensive and address various aspects of improving the living standards of smallholder farmers in their specific contexts. Despite this, WARCs continue to play a vital role in providing training. To enhance their sustainability and effectiveness, WARC supervisors need to mobilize resources by fostering partnerships and securing funding from key agricultural stakeholders.