Protecting the climate, empowering women: Sustainable Agriculture in Tanzania

Background information

In the Usangu Basin in Tanzania's Mbarali District, deforestation is contributing to desertification in the semi-arid area and threatening river water supplies. This in turn has far-reaching implications for the natural ecology and hydropower supply of the region. Increasing population pressure in the region and the attractiveness of rice and groundnuts as cash crops have led to intensification of agricultural production by smallholder farmers. The use of agricultural chemicals leads to soil contamination. This pollution of the environment further worsens living conditions. Most of the agriculture practiced depends on rainfall. Drought, exacerbated by deforestation, creates food insecurity and health problems, especially for women and children. 

Project goals

• Sensitize stakeholders to gain government and community approval and secure land contributions.
• Identification of 8 women's groups (80 women in total) as project owners of 2 nurseries, each with an associated borehole well and 8 demonstration plots for arboriculture, and 3 each of neem and moringa demonstration plots. Indirect beneficiaries are the women's families (about 640).

Target group

• 180 women and their families, 40 youth
• 40 multipliers from parishes and politics
• Approx. 10,000 indirect beneficiaries through well construction and educational work by multipliers

Activities

• Training-of-trainers training for stakeholders, the Massai and Sukuma communities.
• Establishment of the nurseries and demonstration plots.
• Drilling irrigation wells, including tank and solar pump.
• Raise community awareness through trained key personnel to increase demand for seedlings and tree products. Thus increased awareness of agroecology and the importance of tree planting.
• Study tours for key organic agribusiness leaders to increase demand for organic farming inputs in the region.

Project progress

Last year, two wells were drilled in a semi-arid area with limited infrastructure in Mabadaga and Luhanga. The wells were equipped with solar pumps and water tanks and now provide fresh water to 3500 people. Seminars could be held with 167 women from pastoralist communities on the establishment of tree nurseries and reforestation in ecologically degraded areas: The total of three seminars were about environmental protection, tree farming and sustainable agriculture. The first demonstration plots and tree nurseries were cultivated and planted. Also, 39 church leaders and pastors, including women and youth leaders in Chimala could be trained on tree nurseries and tree planting for reforestation of the target area and agro-ecological practices. Land was prepared for two nurseries and two demonstration plots each in Mabadaga and Matebete villages. Seeds were also purchased. A local project coordinator - Tobias Theobard - was recruited. Together with a local Mission 21 staff member, he completed training on sustainable agriculture, arboriculture, and youth involvement in sustainable agriculture in order to adequately support the project.