Tanzania

Youth and Women Agricultural Training

Partners

Agricultural Institute of Canada
TSAEE Project Canadian Coordinating Committee (TPCCC)
Tanzania Society of Agricultural Education and Extension (TSAEE)

Contacts

Canada Coordination Team Leader – Brita Ball
Tanzania Coordinator – Beny Mwenda, MATIU Agricultural College

Highlights

• A continuing project with expansion into two new districts – Magu and Ukerewe, all within the Lake Zone of north-western Tanzania.
• Through exposure to successful enterprises accomplished by their peers, and training in business development, record and financial management, marketing, guidance on specific production practices, and value-added food processing, local women and youth increase their skills to maintain viable rural agro-businesses and contribute to household and community food security.
• Soil erosion, overgrazing, improper usage of agricultural chemicals, and other environmental concerns are addressed, while water harvesting, storage, and small, traditional irrigation practices are supported.
• TSAEE as an organization, is promoted in the western zone to recruit new members, locate and revitalize past members, and provide opportunities for members to gain skills through participation in community programs.

Geographic Focus Area: North-western Tanzania

In the Mwanza Region of north-western Tanzania, almost 30% of the population is between the ages of 15 and 30. Formal employment prospects are low and there are few opportunities for women and youth to obtain wage paying jobs. Youth are leaving the rural areas in search of jobs, often facing even bleaker employment prospects in the urban areas, and at the same time, rural areas are losing their present workers and investment in the future. Encouraging women and youth to obtain skills in agriculturally-based micro-enterprises is the focus of the TSAEE-TPCCC-AIC project with its aims to reduce rural poverty, create better employment options in rural areas, and contribute to household and community food security.

For several years, TSAEE has expressed interest and is now demonstrating the human resource capacity to expand beyond the present Ukiriguru programming area. An expansion of the project into two new districts, Magu and Ukerewe, will help facilitate regional exchanges, identify best practices, and involve more TSAEE members in professional development opportunities in working with women and youth.

In the previous project, participants selected four goals they wanted to achieve by the end. They wanted to have businesses that would allow them to: own livestock, own transport, i.e. a bicycle, have a developed farm, and build a modern house with burnt brick and iron sheet roofing. All of the participants achieved some of their goals – a few achieved all – and the results are sustainable. Groups are motivated and able to continue on their own with only minimal support from TSAEE.

In the project locale, soil erosion, overgrazing, and improper use of agricultural chemicals are key environmental concerns. Through training and practicing good land and animal husbandry techniques, TSAEE participants are contributing to an environmentally sustainable future. One particular area of concern is the erratic rainfall patterns in this area, which seem to be becoming more extreme in recent years. Harvests, and community well being, are vulnerable to weather conditions, and drought is a very serious issue. In this phase, training on water harvesting, storage and small, traditional irrigation practices will be provided to participants.

Involvement with TSAEE has been quite appealing to women, both within the organization where they have been able to hold positions of leadership and influence, and as training participants with inclusion in all activities and frequent special attention and opportunities.

In line with the national government’s commitment to fight HIV/AIDS, and its approach of integration within all development activities, HIV/AIDS sensitivity and awareness training have been, and will continue to be part of TSAEE’s programs with women and youth.

Through professional exchanges, and regular communications, Canadian partners have contributed their special agricultural extension skills to the project by facilitating workshops, contributing to the development of instructional materials, and on-going professional collaboration with their Tanzanian counterparts.

Complete project results are presented in the Final Report for the AIC International Twinning Partnership Program, pages 46 to 57.

AIC’s International Twinning Partnership Program (ITPP) provides opportunities for Canadian Member Organizations to work cooperatively and share expertise with developing country partner organizations through long-term partnerships. The ITPP promotes technological and scientific innovations in agricultural practices that are environmentally viable and sustainable, and develops increased awareness and understanding of international development among AIC Member Organizations. This Program is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).