As the largest country in East Africa, Tanzania occupies an area of approximately 945,234 square km and is made up of the mainland and three coastal islands (Devisscher, 2010). Indeed, the nation possesses a multitude of diverse ecosystems that support not only the local population but also the overall economy (Devisscher, 2010). For many LEDCs, in the modern world agricultural practices are a key activity not only to sustain life, but also to contribute to and maintain a healthy economy. In particular, there is significant dependence on this sector within Tanzania. It is considered the backbone of the nation's economy (Nyoni, 2007), providing employment to over 70% of its population (Sarris et al, 2006). In particular, this sector is characterized by small farmers, with an average size of cultivated areas ranging from 1 to 3 hectares (Sarris et al, 2006). Planting of crops such as maize, wheat, beans and cassava covers more than 85% of the cultivated area (Sarris et al, 2006). Despite the positive economic gains, such widespread agricultural activity has serious consequences, particularly in the degradation and destruction of the environment. In fact, one of the most pressing issues related to agricultural practices is deforestation. Globally, over 30% of forests are believed to have been destroyed, with most of the destruction occurring in the last 45 years (OSSREA, 2013). In Africa, forest regions are believed to have been cleared at a rate 29 times faster than replanting activities during the 1980s (OSSREA, 2013). In Tanzania alone, a country where over 1/3 of its surface area is covered by forest, it is estimated that 1% of its forests are destroyed each year (FAO, 2013). Of particular concern is the ongoing destination of where you want to succeed. In the case of Tanzania and the Eastern Arc Mountains region, it was shown that individuals were stimulated by direct annual cash payments compared to group payments (Kaczan et al, 2013). Similarly, payments in the form of fertilizers have proven to be extremely attractive to local farmers (Kaczan et al, 2013). Such a payment could lead to improved productivity of agroforestry and other sites, reducing the long-term continued fragmentation and destruction of forests, as well as the complete conversion of land to open-field crops (Kaczan et al, 2013). This in turn would help maintain forest biodiversity levels, as well as prevent soil depletion by supplementing them with nutrients. Such a policy has greater feasibility as it provides financial incentives and addresses several key issues within a single policy.
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