Sh16bn Baridi Sokoni Project to Boost Agroecological Farming, Markets for 4,000 Smallholder Farmers

By Our Correspondent

Sixteen billion shillings are expected to be spent over a period of four years to implement the Baridi Sokoni Project, which is being carried out in 60 villages, six districts, and four regions.

The project is implemented by the Network of Smallholder Producers in Tanzania (MVIWATA) through funding from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), and is supervised by the African Development Bank (AfDB). It is expected to reach 4,000 farmers practicing agroecological farming of spices and vegetables.

This was stated over the weekend by the Baridi Sokoni Project Secretary, Asela Kavishe, while speaking to journalists who visited Kibogwa Ward, Matombo Division, in rural Morogoro.

He said the project began in March last year, involving Morogoro Region in the districts of Mvomero and Morogoro Rural, Njombe Region in Wanging’ombe District, Kilimanjaro Region in Same District, and North Unguja in North A and B districts.

Kavishe said the project focuses on spice crops including cloves, chili peppers, cinnamon, and ginger, while vegetable crops include tomatoes, peas, beans, and garlic.

“The main objective of the project is to improve production and marketing systems for agroecological agriculture, which takes into account the health of the environment, soil, plants, and consumers, while also addressing climate change,” he said.

The coordinator added that they also provide training through farmer field schools for smallholder farmers within networks and groups, a practice that enhances efficiency in agroecological farming.

Kavishe said the project has enabled farmers to learn proper planting methods, land preparation, ecological pest and disease control, and post-harvest handling.

He said farmers have purchased improved spice and garlic seedlings and planted them using proper methods.

“We purchased six tons of garlic and distributed them to 403 farmers, enabling Mvomero District to have more than 700 farmers engaged in this type of farming.”

He added that tomato seeds were distributed to 507 farmers, which is expected to raise their incomes in the near future.

He further said the project aims to ensure that farmers of these crops have access to large and reliable markets due to production that follows agroecological systems.

Kavishe said the project helps reduce production costs for farmers by providing training on the use of farm-available inputs and enabling farmers to prepare their own nurseries.

“We have established 12 nurseries for cinnamon and cloves with 17,500 seedlings, and our expectation is that after the long rains, farmers will be able to plant them. This ensures reliable access to quality spice seedlings, thus abandoning the practice of collecting inferior seedlings,” he said.

The coordinator said the establishment of nurseries has two benefits for farmers: planting on their own farms and selling seedlings to other farmers. As a result, they expect farm acreage to increase in the near future.

On the other hand, Kavishe said the project, which is being implemented at a cost of over 16 billion shillings in two phases, plans to build seven warehouses in the participating villages.

They have also strengthened VICOBA and SACCOS groups, which will enable farmers to access loans and invest in agriculture.

He added that through the Baridi Sokoni Project’s Revolving Fund, they have purchased 8.1 tons of cloves worth 151.6 million shillings from 73 farmers.

He said this collective marketing system has increased productivity and returns for spice farmers.

“Indeed, through this project we aim to improve production systems, increase incomes, strengthen financial infrastructure, and ensure reliable markets,” he said.

The coordinator also said that MVIWATA, through the Baridi Sokoni Project, plans to build a spice-processing factory in the Kiroka area of rural Morogoro.

The Chairman of MVIWATA and Board Member of the Eastern and Southern African Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF), Apolo Chamwela, said that what Baridi Sokoni is doing can be productive if the government creates a conducive environment for buyers to reach farmers.

He added that if the government establishes such a favorable environment, the migration of young people to urban areas will clearly decrease.

Speaking about the project, some farmers said it is bringing changes to agriculture.

Theodor Mkude from Pinde Village, Pinde Ward in Mvomero District, Morogoro Region, said agroecological farming has begun to bring economic changes to his family.

Mwanamisi Rashidi from Kibogwa Village, Kibogwa Ward in rural Morogoro said the project has made her love farming because it focuses on key issues such as land preparation, planting methods, and access to markets.