Maghesho Focus Group Discussions

We are presently conducting a mid-term monitoring exercise of our Food Security Program. Focus group discussions held with women and men of Maghesho reveal that the period of the "lean season", i.e. months spent searching for food, has disappeared completely. Farmers have increased their food production and diversified their income-generating activities through our training and support for the practice of Conservation Agriculture, chicken rearing, dairy goat husbandry and vegetable gardening. Working together in groups -- farmer field schools -- has led to interesting changes in individuals' lives. Women in particular talked about their increased confidence in speaking out both at home and at community meetings.

Back to UMATU's Building Site!

After allowing a couple of weeks for the foundation to settle, work is once again underway at the site. By the time our 40 visitors who made all this possible arrive in mid-July, the walls will be going up and they'll be welcome to pitch in and help our fundis (builders) if they are up to the task after their grueling climb up Kilimanjaro. Here's a photo of Shabani, our master fundi, who is making all this construction look easy.

Impact of Farmer Field Schools

We are currently investigating results of CPAR's "farmer field school" approach in Karatu rural communities, and are very encouraged by the number of households that have increased their food production through the application of conservation agriculture methods. There has also been a huge impact on gender relations -- revolutionizing the relationship between wives and husbands at home, and among women and men in the communities -- through increased communication, self-confidence and respect!