This booklet was written to share research results with farmers and practitioners in Tanzania. It gives a summary of the empirical material collected during two months of field work in Kahe ward (Kilimanjaro Region), and includes maps, tables and photos. It describes the history of irrigation in Kahe, as well as current irrigation and farming practices and the challenges experience by different groups in the area. 

Most importantly, we found that:

• Using wells and pumps, farmers are less dependent on unreliable rain or limited river water
• Farmers with a well harvest more maize, and are more likely to grow high value crops
• The biggest challenge for farmers is the cost of agricultural inputs and fuel
• Insufficient agricultural extension work means that farmers do not get the necessary support in dealing with pest and diseases
• Not all farmers can benefit equally: those who are rich benefit more than those who are poor, because: 1) They can afford the agricultural inputs and labourers needed for high value crops such as onions and tomatoes. 2) They do not have to use middlemen and can take their crop to markets with better prices. 3) They often do not grow maize, and can plant early in order to sell their crops at higher prices.

Kitabu hiki kimeandikwa ili kusambaza matokeo ya utafiti kwa wakulima na watendaji wa hapa Tanzania. Kitabu kinatoa muhtasari wa taarifa za utafiti zilizokusanywa katika miezi miwili ya ukusanyaji taarifa katika kata ya Kahe (Mkoa wa Kilimanjaro), pamoja na ramani, majedwali na picha. Kitabu kinaelezea historia ya umwagiliaji ya Kahe, ikiwa ni pamoja na umwagiliaji unaoendelea kufanyika sasa, shughuli za kilimo pamoja na changamoto zinazoyakabili makundi mbalimbali katika eneo hilo.     

Mambom uhimu tuliyoyagundua ni:

• Kwa kutumia visima na pampu, wakulima wanapunguza kutegemea mvua isiyoaminika au maji kidogo ya mto
• Wakulima wenye visima wanavuna mahindi mengi zaidi na wanaweza kulima mazao yenye thamani kubwa.
• Changamoto kubwa kwa wakulima ni gharama za pembejeo za kilimo na mafuta
• Upungufu wa maafisa kilimo unasababisha wakulima kutopata msaada muhimu katika kukabiliana na wadudu waharibifu na magonjwa.
• Wakulima hawanufaiki kwa usawa: wakulima matajiri wananufaika zaidi kuliko wakulima masikini, kwa sababu: 1) Wanaweza kumudu gharama za pembejeo na nguvukazi inayohitajikakwa ajili ya uzalishaji wa mazao yenye thamani kubwa kama vitunguu na nyanya. 2) Hawahitaji kutumia madalali na wanaweza kupeleka mazao yao kwenye masoko yenye bei nzuri. 3) Mara nyingi hawalimi mahindi, na wanaweza kupanda mapema ili waweze kuuza mazao yao kwa bei za juu.