Tanzania
Changing lives through the local church
Overview
For decades, the people of Central Tanzania have faced challenges with hunger and food insecurity due to a lack of rainfall and ineffective farming methods. As the majority of families rely on agriculture for their source of income, many of them live in extreme poverty and survive on less than one dollar per day. Through Tearfund and local churches in Tanzania, you can help farming families grow more food to eat and sell so that they can generate more income, and begin their climb out of extreme poverty.
Quick Facts
Our Projects
In partnership with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and the Diocese of Central Tanganyika (DCT), through Tearfund you can help address the hunger crisis by providing training in agriculture and savings groups to thousands of farmers and their families in the Dodoma City District and the Chamwino District.
Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture
Problem
There is widespread hunger due to low crop output and extreme poverty. 49% of households eat only 1 meal a day, and 46% of households eat only 2 meals a day. There is massive food shortages 6 months of the year between harvests.
Challenges
Farmers lacked access to quality farming inputs such as seeds, and dry weather conditions made it hard to ensure crops were able to grow to their full potential. Additionally, families did not have any access to formal financial instructions nor was there sufficient economic infrastructure in the region to facilitate commercial activity.
Activities
In partnership with the local church, this program trained farmers in conservation agriculture techniques to preserve soil moisture and fertility, and increase crop yield. Inputs such as seeds and tools were provided to farmers as needed. Additionally, savings and loan groups were established to provide families with the ability to take out loans in order to start new income-generating activities such as buying more land or starting new businesses.
Project Details
- Location: Dodoma Region
- Timeframe: 2015 – 2020
- Total Budget: $924,576
Outcome
Over 3,907 families (approximately 23,442 individuals) have better access to nutritious food year-round to eat and to sell for income. Local churches who are facilitating the work will continue to influence and be lights in their communities. Communities are beginning to thrive.
Conservation Agriculture and Village Savings and Lending
Problem
Land is degraded due to increasing population pressure and traditional ways of farming. Together with climate change, the result is a decrease in water sources.
Challenges
Families have food from their own production for half of the year, but experience food shortages for the other half. Women and girls lack decision-making power and are overburdened with daily chores.
Activities
In partnership with the local church, this program is training farmers in conservation agriculture techniques to preserve soil moisture and fertility and increase crop yield. Additionally, savings and loan groups are being established to provide families with the ability to take out loans to start new income generating activities such as buying more land or starting new businesses.
Project Details
- Location: Dodoma City district and Chamwino district
- Timeframe: March 2021 – February 2025
- Total Budget: $800,000
Outcome
3,000 farmers will be able to grow more productive crops and increase their incomes. 4,000 savings and loans group members will have the tools and training they require to grow their income, save their wealth, and climb out of extreme poverty in a sustainable manner. Local churches who are facilitating the work will continue to influence and be lights in their communities. Communities will begin to thrive.
Stories of Transformation
A new family
As a young girl, Pendo’s stepmother never allowed her to attend school past grade 5, and she was married off to a man twice her age. Fleeing from her abusive marriage. With no where to go, she worked as a housemaid. But the pay barely covered the bus fare to and from work. Alone, Pendo felt trapped. Until that is she discovered a new family in her savings group.
Rediscovering the "lost crop"
Esther and Nelson struggled to feed their 5 children in the dry Dodoma region of Tanzania. They thought it was impossible to grow enough. But after they joined a farmer’s field school they learned about a crop that had long been forgotten. The lablab-bean. It thrived. Now Esther and Nelson are making sure that all there neighbours re-discover this wonderful crop.
Power for the Children
A recent father, William wanted to find a way to provide a better life for his wife and newborn son. With the help of a Savings Group, William was able to invest in a new innovation that made him the talk of the town. Read how William’s lucrative business is taking off below!
