Tanzania Mtumba program 1600-2013
Update: September 15, 2008
Excerpts from a report for the period from May 1, 2005 to April 30, 2008
Reference:
CBO = Community Based Organization
SACCO = Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization
Objective: Strengthening the capacity of the three CBOs' SACCO branches to effectively and efficiently deliver services to the community by incorporating reliable systems and management practices that ensure institutional efficiency, recognition and influence.
- One SACCO has established and implements standard interest policies and user fees (for example, 2% on agricultural loans and fees for water users in one village). It continues to collect user fees and loan repayments in accordance with its policy. Loan repayment is currently at 61%.
- SACCOs’ leaders lack fund-raising and advocacy skills to increase capital. They rely too much on the program to raise their capital.
Since 2005, membership has grown from 328 to 414 active members (a 79% increase).
- Rains were fairly good in 2007 and people were able to harvest enough food crops and oil crops for both domestic use and to provide income through sales. Major food crops produced in 2007, such as millet, sorghum and sweet potatoes, are drought-resistant and do not grow well in heavy-rain seasons, thus the crop yield for these items was only 40% of the expected yields because of the exceptional rains. Cash crops such as sesame and sunflower were obtained at the average of from six to eight 80-kg bags per acre compared to the two to three 80-kg bags per acre in 2006.
- In the 2008 season, many SACCOs members cultivated between three and five acres. Given this year’s moderate rains, which favor oilseed production, the projected yields are expected to be up to 10 80-kg bags per acre.
Objective: To broaden the options and skills available to rural communities for supporting viable enterprises capable of ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods.
- Comprehensive skills training of an initial group of 30 horticultural farmers in one area through nine village-based workshops covering production, processing and marketing of horticultural crops, specifically onions, tomatoes, carrots, French beans, spices, Chinese cabbages and pepper. Using these inputs and techniques, 30% of the 60 farmers interviewed during the final evaluation reported increases in production, acreage and incomes.
- Due to the lack of relevant baseline data, it is challenging to track cumulative gains in incomes.
- The solar drying techniques were perceived to be expensive and were not taken up by farmers.
- The quality of returned seeds has proven to be of lesser quality than the original seeds. It was thus decided that members repay in Tanzanian Shillings. Other remaining challenges include perishability of goods and market access.
- It was determined that the planned shallow wells would not supply adequate water. Water resource officials provided technical advice on solutions; the decision was made to construct instead a borehole with a raised tank for irrigated horticulture. Drilling for the borehole with storage tank was successfully executed, with sufficient water yields for irrigation and household use as was determined by experts. Water yield was found to be 4,000 liters per hour. One community contributed resources such as sand and stones and labor. Community members dug trenches and provided security for the working machineries and fittings. The infrastructure benefits an estimated 2,250 people.
- 225 SACCOS members have gained new skills in production and processing of oilseeds from training sessions in 2006 and 2007. Local government extension services were called on to provide technical support and training facilitation. A 10-acre demonstration plot and an oil extraction press at MRWTC (Mtumba Rural Women’s Training Center) is used for training and income-generation. 50% of the 60 farmers interviewed received and apply knowledge gained at the training. There is increased interest in sunflower as an oilseed crop in one community; prior to the project, there were few stands of sunflower. Now approximately 10% of the wards’ farmers grow sunflower. Greater follow-up and practical refresher training with farmers is needed to ensure that the skills are applied.
Objective: To enhance the participation of MRWTC and marginalized groups in understanding the government policies that influence their lives and livelihoods while using participatory processes to effect positive policy changes where necessary.
- Facilitators from the Institution of Rural Development Planning conducted a three-day seminar in 2007 for 30 participants involving SACCOS leaders, SACCOS members, village leaders, representation of children from three primary schools, head teachers and representatives of disabled persons. Objectives of the training included: awareness raising and advocacy; identification of key community people who should advocate; advocacy timing and location. Additionally, issues needing to be advocated were prioritized by seminar participants and a coordinator and committee were selected which will run and monitor advocacy issues at the ward level. An advocacy movement was initiated at the ward. Targeted issues include:
- Education on children’s rights
- Disabled persons’ rights
- Violence against women
- Health issues
- Increased government transparency in development-fund allocation and increased support to village development projects
- A six-month community awareness campaign was established.
- Community members participated in election education campaigns in 2006 with almost equal participation by men and women.
Findings of an April 2008 evaluation:
On strengthening the capacity of the CBOs
- One SACCO has been registered and membership and savings have significantly increased;
- Clear and elaborate loan procedures (which have even resulted in study visits from other wards to learn about best practices in SACCOS development);
- Almost all the planned trainings were conducted, but with less impact than anticipated – fewer training days and limited follow-up;
- Clear and elaborate organizational structure, though poor feedback on decisions made;
- Key program assets and facilities such as SACCOS offices, irrigation structure and facilities, and inputs (seeds and implements) were in place;
- Weak and incomplete management structure and tools, particularly strategic plans.
On broadening enterprise options and skills
- Very short trainings were conducted with limited improvement of skills;
- Few beneficiaries have adopted the new irrigation scheme to date;
- Slight expansion of land under cultivation of oil crops attributed to introduction of sunflower as a new oil crop and,
- Too much dependence by beneficiaries on support from MRWTC.