Most people think of farming and forests as separate things. You either grow crops or you nurture trees. But in many parts of the world, farmers have known for generations that the two belong together.
Agroforestry is exactly that: the intentional integration of trees with crops and sometimes livestock on the same piece of land. It is ancient wisdom, backed by modern science. And it is practical solutions for some of the biggest challenges facing smallholder farmers today.
Why it matters
For farmers in places like Butiama, Tanzania, and Mulanje, Malawi, agroforestry may represent the perfect solution for several challenges they face daily.
Soil fertility is declining and rainfall is becoming less predictable. Fertilizer is expensive and often out of reach. Meanwhile, the forests that communities once relied on for firewood, timber, and wild game are shrinking. Agroforestry addresses all of these problems at once.
When trees are integrated into crop fields, their roots pull water from deep underground and help recharge groundwater. Their leaves and small branches fall to the ground, decomposing into rich organic matter that feeds the soil. Some trees, like Gliricidia sepium, Faidherbia, and Tephrosia, fix nitrogen in the soil which fertilizes the land for free. Their shade keeps the topsoil cool and moist, reducing evaporation during dry spells. And when planted as windbreaks, they stop the soil from drying out.
All of that together means healthier soil, better water retention, and more reliable crop yields.
Trees on a farm can also supply firewood for cooking, reducing the need for families to collect fuelwood from nearby forests. They provide fruit, improving nutrition and offering a source of income. Some trees also serve as living fences or fodder for livestock.
In short, trees turn a farm into something more resilient and productive. They diversify what a family can grow, eat, and sell.
In Tanzania, two farmers, similar story
Ezira Kadienyi, a farmer from Kigori village in Butiama, remembers when his farm was struggling. Soil fertility was declining, crop yields were low, and it felt like he was fighting a losing battle.
Then he received training in agroforestry and started planting trees within his crop fields. Over time, he noticed the change: the soil became healthier, moisture lasted longer after rains, and his maize and beans performed better even during dry spells.
“Today,” he says, “my maize and bean yields have improved, and the trees provide additional benefits such as fuelwood, shade, and future income opportunities. Agroforestry has helped me make better use of my land while protecting it for future generations.”
In Nyanza village, Mapesa Ilenge tells a similar story. “Today, our life has completely changed,” he says. “Thanks to the trees from our farm, we harvest firewood and make charcoal directly from our woodlots, alongside plenty of fresh fruits. Moreover, trees have brought our soil back to life.”
A practical system
Agroforestry works because it is designed around the realities of smallholder farming. The specific trees and techniques are chosen based on local conditions, household needs, and landscape priorities.
In Mulanje District, Malawi, where land holdings are small, farmers need to make maximum use of every square meter. WeForest supported the establishment of 27 community nurseries across 25 villages to produce tree seedlings making sure farmers have access to quality trees like Gliricidia sepium, a tree whose leaves can be pruned, ground, and applied to crops as natural fertilizer.
Iness Mukhuwo from Chemaliro village tried this method. Unable to afford expensive inorganic fertilizer, she applied ground leaves mixed with chicken manure to her maize field. The result? She harvested eight bags of maize in 2025, and hopes for an even bigger harvest as her current crop looks even healthier.
Beyond the farm: Restoring landscapes
Agroforestry does more than help individual farmers, it also helps restore the wider landscape.
By providing fuelwood and timber on farms, it reduces pressure on surrounding forests. When farmers can harvest what they need from their own land, they have less reason to cut trees in protected areas. The trees on farms also reduce soil erosion, improve water infiltration, and help reconnect fragmented habitats.
This is why WeForest promotes agroforestry as a core part of our landscape restoration work. We believe that regenerating and planting trees is not just the solution to restoring forests, but to restoring the surrounding agricultural landscapes as well.
The stories in Tanzania and Malawi remind us that sometimes the most powerful solutions are also the simplest: when trees and crops grow together, everyone benefits.
WeForest supports agroforestry across Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, Brazil and Argentina working with communities to integrate trees into farming systems and restore landscapes for the long term.
