A new Zanzibar agroforestry initiative is bringing together farmers, trainers, and regenerative agriculture specialists to test how syntropic agroforestry can strengthen biodiversity, soil health, and long-term rural livelihoods in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
From 25 to 27 March APOPO HeroTREEs and the Practical Permaculture Institute Zanzibar (PPIZ) launched a new collaboration focused on practical field testing and demonstration activities under APOPO’s Syntropic Agroforestry Innovation Accelerator (SAIA) initiative. The partnership began with a three-day syntropic agroforestry training, facilitated by Hannes Thaler from Forests4Farming, with support from the APOPO HeroTREEs team.
The training introduced 22 PPIZ staff members, selected farmers, and students to the principles, design, establishment, and management of syntropic agroforestry systems. This was also the official start of a one-year onsite testing project running from 25 March, 2026, to 1 May, 2027.
Testing Agroforestry in Zanzibar’s Island Farming Context
The collaboration is designed to move beyond theory and training by testing how syntropic agroforestry systems perform in Zanzibar’s unique island environment, where spices, fruits, and mixed farming systems play a major role in local agriculture and livelihoods.
”I knew about agroforestry but this one was very different as it provides beyond product diversity but most important maintenance of soil health,” said PPIZ Founder Dr. Mwatima Juma who is also Chair of the Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement. “Zanzibar farm size is shrinking due to an increase in population and a need for housing. A small syntropic area will provide for household needs for both food, like banana and cassava, vegetables like pigeon peas and pumpkin, cash crops such as coconut and soursop plus firewood during pruning of forest trees.
After one year of testing, I believe our partner smallholder farmers will be able to make sense of the design.”
As part of the project, APOPO and PPIZ established an initial demonstration plot and plan to create four additional demonstration sites alongside four pioneer farmer plots. The initiative will also expand activities into four villages within PPIZ’s target area, aiming to reach at least 80 farmers through training and demonstration activities.
The project looks to generate practical evidence on whether syntropic agroforestry can improve the following in Zanzibar’s specific conditions:
- Soil fertility
- Yield
- Income
- Biodiversity
- Farm resilience, with focus on water retention
- Market opportunities for agroforestry-based products
Generating Practical Data for Future Scaling
Another key goal of the initiative is to generate practical field data that can support future scaling and fundraising efforts. As part of the collaboration, APOPO will conduct a feasibility study examining farmer willingness, stakeholder interest, and market opportunities for agroforestry-based products in Zanzibar. Depending on available data, the project will also include a FarmTree impact software to forecast potential impacts on income, crop yields, biodiversity, climate resilience, and climate mitigation.
The project also contributes to APOPO HeroTREEs’ broader work in climate action, biodiversity protection, regenerative farming, and sustainable rural livelihoods.
Building a Community of Practice
The Practical Permaculture Institute Zanzibar, a respected local organization and shortlisted candidate for the Lush Prize, will coordinate farmer engagement, local logistics, and field follow-up activities throughout the project period.
Under the collaboration, PPIZ becomes an active Community of Practice member within the wider syntropic agroforestry network, allowing the organization to share lessons learned and practical experience with other practitioners and institutions working in regenerative agriculture.
Follow-up support will continue throughout the project period, including regular site visits, technical backstopping, and the introduction of an Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri)-based monitoring system to support farmer registration, training tracking, coaching, and implementation monitoring.
A second farmer training event is planned for November 2026, while pioneer farmers are expected to establish their own agroforestry plots by March 2027. In total, nine syntropic agroforestry plots are expected to be established during this one-year testing phase.
If the onsite testing phase produces positive results, APOPO may support PPIZ in progressing into a longer-term implementation phase aimed at expanding syntropic agroforestry to reach hundreds of farmers across Zanzibar.