cases from tanzania - Sustainet
cases from tanzania - Sustainet
cases from tanzania - Sustainet
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
scaling up<br />
HEM: Soil and water conservation on the slopes of Kilimanjaro<br />
Many areas in Tanzania are subject to soil erosion, and would benefit <strong>from</strong> soil and water<br />
conservation on a wide scale. HEM is concentrating its efforts on the northern part of the<br />
country, on the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro – in particular on 11 further villages nearby. Farmers<br />
in some of these villages have already started copying techniques they have seen in the HEMsupported<br />
area. HEM is seeking funding to support the scaling up to these new villages.<br />
HEM’s close collaboration with the government has been an important factor in its success<br />
in the original eight villages. It aims to continue this collaboration in the new villages. It is<br />
also exploring the possibility of government funding for this work.<br />
The success of by-laws in the initial eight villages is an interesting model to pursue. HEM<br />
discusses this experience with village governments in the new areas. The governments in<br />
several other villages have invited HEM to train them on soil and water conservation during<br />
monthly village assemblies. After this training, some farmers have decided to adopt conservation<br />
measures. The village governments are waiting to see the results before introducing<br />
a new by-law.<br />
The “Uhuru Torch”, a government programme to highlight successful development interventions,<br />
has visited HEM several times. This generates publicity in newspapers and on radio<br />
and TV. It also attracts the attention of local and regional politicians.<br />
Many other organizations are working in other rural areas in Tanzania: they include NGOs,<br />
churches, schools, community organizations and government institutions. HEM tries to<br />
increase their awareness of soil and water conservation approaches. Sometimes HEM approaches<br />
these organizations, and sometimes they come to HEM. HEM also runs training<br />
courses on request for staff of other organizations, and exchanges experiences with other<br />
organizations.<br />
HEM produces training manuals and easy-to-understand printed information materials in<br />
Swahili and English for distribution to farmers in the eight focus villages and other villages in<br />
the three districts, as well as to other NGOs and educational institutions working on similar<br />
issues elsewhere in Tanzania. This helps spread the techniques and approaches developed<br />
by HEM in the eight villages.<br />
HEM technicians visit primary schools and secondary schools in the area. They teach the<br />
schoolchildren about soil and water conservation and other techniques that HEM promotes,<br />
and work closely with the agriculture teachers. The children put into practice what they have<br />
learned on plots in the school’s compound. HEM also arranges training for the teachers to<br />
familiarize them with problems and techniques of sustainable agriculture.<br />
The district government is very interested in the approach and the results of HEM’s work<br />
in the eight villages. District officials responsible for natural resources and agriculture are<br />
frequent visitors, and the District Commissioner has paid several visits. National-level officials,<br />
including the Minister of the Environment, have also come to the area.<br />
As a result of these visits, as well as contacts with various other NGOs, research organizations<br />
and development projects focusing on natural resources conservation, the government<br />
established environment committees in 2004–5 in every village throughout the country.<br />
These committees are responsible for the conservation of natural resources in their area.<br />
63