Community actors coming together to address climate change in Tanzania
Mbeya Region is a region with good climate conditions that guarantee food security. However, the rise of deforestation and environmental degradation puts it under serious threat. In March 2024, Pax Romana, with the help of its partners (Donor, Rikolto Mbeya, Simusolar, and Minor Seminary of Mbalizi), managed to set up a demonstration plot be used to train small-scale farmers to adapt to climate change, build their resilience against climate vulnerabilities, and showcase new farming techniques.
The use of a demonstration plot aims to
- showcase the advantages of the new technology (solar-powered drip irrigation) and guide farmers on the cultivation techniques.
- Improve the climate change mitigation capacities of households through the use of biotechnology and new farming techniques.
- Increase food availability for at least the households from the target communities by introducing climate-smart farming.
- Improve livelihood strategies of vulnerable communities through the introduction of climate-adaptive measures.
- bridge the gap in terms of extension services around the project location.
The project also contributed to responding to the call of Pope Francis in the Encyclical Laudato Si and to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals: SDGs 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 13, 15.
CAPACITY BUILDING IN HORTICULTURE
The training focused on supporting farmers on basic Agricultural Practices for the horticultural species that are suitable to their lands (vegetable crops resilient to diseases and droughts) such as frost-Tomatoes, Sukuma wiki – Collards greens, Chinese cabbage, Onion, Carrot, mulching techniques and their importance in the context of global warming, measuring soil PH, spacing between seedlings (case for tomatoes), identifying fertilizers and treating crop diseases, harvesting, post-harvest handling, crop rotation, and sustainable practices.
It was also an opportunity to create awareness of the negative impacts of deforestation and environmental degradation on their livelihoods. Beneficiaries were taught some climate change mitigation and adaptation techniques.
COMMISSIONING OF THE DEMO SITE AT MBALIZI MINOR SEMINARY
The commissioning of our demo plot at Saint Mary’s Mbalizi Minor Seminary Mbeya Tanzania was done on 25th October 2024 by His Excellency Archbishop of Mbeya Mgr. Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga. He is in full support of this project and is happy with the impacts that the project makes in the lives of the communities.
