Presented By: Evans Javasson, Sustainable Agriculture Trainer, Global Service Corp, and Joshua Machinga, Common Ground Program
Bio-Intensive Agriculture (BIA) is a kind of organic farming rooted in maintaining soil fertility/ living soil. BIA
is called Bio-Intensive because it maintains a natural biological balance between soil, nutrients and plants. It
employs crop rotation and intensive planting to maximize harvest levels while protecting the natural soil health
and the local environment.
In much of Tanzania, farmers don‘t have the money to use pesticides and fertilizers. However in wealthier areas
like the Arumeru district, which includes Arusha, farmers use chemicals heavily with few regulations or
precautions. Even in areas where farmers don‘t use chemicals there is a need for BIA training, as farmers are
struggling with nutrient-deficient soil.
Important aspects of BIA include:
Composting
Double-dug, raised beds
Intensive planting
Carbon and calorie farming
The use of open–pollinated seeds