cases from tanzania - Sustainet

HEM: Soil and water conservation on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
Figure 12 The villagers have adopted a range of soil and water conservation methods
extensionists TSh 10,000 (about US$10) per month for the first two months and provided
them with a bicycle. After this, the extensionists received no cash payment, but were excused
from “kazi jumuia” (compulsory community work). (According to local by-laws, all villagers are
required to work one day a week on community activities such as road maintenance or school
building. The village government in this area is strong, so is able to enforce such rules.)
HEM also organized a study visit for village leaders and extension workers to nearby areas
where farmers were already practising soil and water conservation.
HEM technicians and the village’s extension worker then trained farmers in each village
how to implement the various technologies. They provided practical training on one of
the participants’ farms. Training covered topics such as marking out contours using a spirit
level, constructing fanya juu contour bunds, types of fodder grasses and trees, planting and
maintaining fruit trees, etc. Farmers could choose which courses they wanted to attend. Each
training course lasted 1–4 days. In 1996, the first year of the programme, 1140 farmers attended
such courses.
HEM and the village extension workers have conducted further courses since then. The village
secretary collects names of farmers who are interested in further training. The extension
workers train these farmers in small groups or on an individual basis. They can call in HEM
technicians if necessary to assist with the training.
HEM is in regular contact with the extension workers. It provides short courses for the
extensionists, and the extension workers write a report every month to HEM about their
activities. HEM obtains information on improved technologies, new crop varieties, etc. from
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