KIHO director Kateri Daniel Genes and the three EU Aid Volunteers went for a two-day trip to Moshi and Arusha to learn more about agricultural and income-generating initiatives. On Monday we visited a woman, Mama Anna Shoo just outside of Moshi, a place called Maili sita. Mama Anna is involved in mushroom production, solar-drying of vegetables, fruits and mushrooms as well as in wine production made out of rosella (hibiscus). Since ten years Mama Anna is engaged in the women initiative called “Shiri Tumaini Group”.
While some friends of Mama Anna gave up at the starting phase, because it was challenging, she has managed to continue and her involvement in small-scale food processing has empowered her thanks to this additional income-generating opportunity. The woman currently owns two solar driers, as she has purchased her second one last year. It is very obvious for KIHO that small-scale food processing is a major way forward to support community initiatives, and it is a tool to empower women in the rural setting. Therefore, KIHO hopes that Mama Anna will be one of the facilitators when women groups will be trained in how to make juice, jam and dry vegetables and fruits in Same District. Another important training session will also need to include how to package the product so that it is long-lasting and that minimal hygienic standards are observed.
Biomass pellets in Arusha The next day, we visited Mr. Francis Rwebogora, the managing director of TREE, a start-up company based in Arusha. Their main activities are cooking stoves that are heated with pellets made out of biomass as well as solar lights. According to Mr. Rwebogora, TREE is the leading producer of biomass pellets in Tanzania, although they have started their operations only since September 2012. Today, they have some 2,000-2,500 customers, mostly based in Mwanza at Lake Victoria. Their target group are urban dwellers, because the biomass pellets are a real alternative to the expensive and environment-unfriendly charcoal or kerosene.
We also visited their production hall and were impressed how maize cubs, rice husks and lots of other agricultural waste were transformed into pellets. TREE estimates that a typical Tanzanian family of some 7-8 people would use 50kg of pellets per month that would cost some TSH17,500 (€9 or $11), thus saving about 50% of the costs that would occur with the use of charcoal or kerosene. KIHO is very much eager to also promote such improved cooking stoves for three reasons: 1) conservation of environment because less trees are not cut down anymore, 2) women do not have to walk for hours in the search for firewood, and 3) women have the time to be engaged in income-generating opportunities like small-scale food-processing. One challenge in the rural communities will be to afford on a monthly basis these pellets, as the collection of firewood is for free (it only takes a lot of time). Therefore, KIHO wants to promote such stoves at the beginning mainly in Same town but also in rural areas when women initiatives get involved in jam-making or other income-generating opportunities where they can use such an oven to make money with a very minimized environmental hazard.
We also visited their production hall and were impressed how maize cubs, rice husks and lots of other agricultural waste were transformed into pellets. TREE estimates that a typical Tanzanian family of some 7-8 people would use 50kg of pellets per month that would cost some TSH17,500 (€9 or $11), thus saving about 50% of the costs that would occur with the use of charcoal or kerosene. KIHO is very much eager to also promote such improved cooking stoves for three reasons: 1) conservation of environment because less trees are not cut down anymore, 2) women do not have to walk for hours in the search for firewood, and 3) women have the time to be engaged in income-generating opportunities like small-scale food-processing. One challenge in the rural communities will be to afford on a monthly basis these pellets, as the collection of firewood is for free (it only takes a lot of time). Therefore, KIHO wants to promote such stoves at the beginning mainly in Same town but also in rural areas when women initiatives get involved in jam-making or other income-generating opportunities where they can use such an oven to make money with a very minimized environmental hazard.
Powerpoint presentation at Balton In the afternoon we visited Balton, an agro-industry company from the UK that has a branch in Arusha, where it is mostly focusing on agriculture. KIHO was interested in the solutions they offer to small-scale farmers, primarily the “African Farmer’s Kit” and the “1 Acre Package”. The need of fertilizers and pesticides and particularly the usage of hybrid seeds would make the smallholder farmers in the Pare Mountains dependent on this company. Therefore, KIHO didn’t identify their offers as practical for the communities we are working with. Much more interesting for KIHO was the use of drip water irrigation. Yet, Balton could only offer a very expensive system without being able to provide numbers of how much water can be saved by using such a modern technology.
Overall, KIHO was able to profit a lot from these two days in Moshi and Arusha and got some exposure to different opportunities in its work with the local communities in Same District. KIHO hopes that these networking opportunities were the start of some long-lasting partnerships.
Overall, KIHO was able to profit a lot from these two days in Moshi and Arusha and got some exposure to different opportunities in its work with the local communities in Same District. KIHO hopes that these networking opportunities were the start of some long-lasting partnerships.
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