Social media, a tool to engage youth in agricultural development

Social media can be defined as web-based applications that enable end-users to interchange electronic content. There are different forms of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, YouTube, Instagram, Flickr, Storify, Slideshare, among several others. These tools have emerged in recent years as a powerful and widespread communication platform and are being used in a wide range of areas such as agricultural and rural development, environmental protection, education, public health, or disaster communication and management.

Youth in Training

Recognizing the prevalence of social media and its potential for socio-economic development, and in response to the increasing demand from the region for capacity building resource in this area, the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology Development (UN-APCICT/ESCAP) organized a “Regional Workshop on Social Media for Development” on 30 June – 2 July 2014 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, with the following key objectives:

• Facilitate regional dialogue among various stakeholders from the government, development organizations, civil society, academia and private sector on the potential and applications of social networks for development;

• Promote an exchange of perspectives, experiences, and lessons learned;

• Build capacities of government officials and ICT4D stakeholders on effective deployment of social media in development;

• Promote APCICT’s latest Academy Module on Social Media for Development as a learning resource for government officials and policymakers of countries in Asia and the Pacific.

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Beware from Dengue Fever

 

Dengue (pronounced DENgee) fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses. These viruses are related to the viruses that cause West Nile infection and yellow fever.

Each year, an estimated 100 million cases of dengue fever occur worldwide. Most of these are in tropical areas of the world, with the greatest risk occurring in:

• The Indian subcontinent
• Southeast Asia
• Southern China
• Taiwan
• The Pacific Islands
• The Caribbean (except Cuba and the Cayman Islands)
• Mexico
• Africa
• Central and South America (except Chile, Paraguay, and Argentina)

 

Most cases in the United States occur in people who contracted the infection while traveling abroad. But the risk is increasing for people living along the Texas-Mexico border and in other parts of the southern United States. In 2009, an outbreak of dengue fever was identified in Key West, Fla.

Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in their blood. It can’t be spread directly from one person to another person.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Symptoms, which usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days, may include

• Sudden, high fever
• Severe headaches
• Pain behind the eyes
• Severe joint and muscle pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Skin rash, which appears three to four days after the onset of fever
• Mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums, or easy bruising)

Sometimes symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the flu or another viral infection. Younger children and people who have never had the infection before tend to have milder cases than older children and adults. However, serious problems can develop. These include dengue hemorrhagic fever, a rare complication characterized by high fever, damage to lymph and blood vessels, bleeding from the nose and gums, enlargement of the liver, and failure of the circulatory system. The symptoms may progress to massive bleeding, shock, and death. This is called dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

People with weakened immune systems as well as those with a second or subsequent dengue infection are believed to be at greater risk for developing dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Diagnosing Dengue Fever

Doctors can diagnose dengue infection with a blood test to check for the virus or antibodies to it. If you become sick after traveling to a tropical area, let your doctor know. This will allow your doctor to evaluate the possibility that your symptoms were caused by a dengue infection.

Treatment for Dengue Fever

 

There is no specific medicine to treat dengue infection. If you think you may have dengue fever, you should use pain relievers with acetaminophen and avoid medicines with aspirin, which could worsen bleeding. You should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and see your doctor. If you start to feel worse in the first 24 hours after your fever goes down, you should get to a hospital immediately to be checked for complications.

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It needs New Vision in Agricultural Sector

In order to feed a population of 9 billion in 2050, the world will need a New Vision for Agriculture - delivering food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity through agriculture. This will require producing more food with fewer resources while reinvigorating rural economies. It can only be achieved through collaboration, investment and innovation among all stakeholders. This report outlines the concrete actions that can be taken to achieve such a vision, and the tools we can use to measure progress.

 A number of countries are now undertaking ambitious efforts to achieve the New Vision through a transformation of their agriculture sectors, engaging in public-private collaboration and market-based approaches. The report outlines six elements that are essential stepping stones toward success in a large-scale transformation effort. These are illustrated by examples from national initiatives underway in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

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The Food Security Challenge

The lack of food. Increasing agricultural productivity and access to food are the primary development goals of the 21st century. Demand for food has reached new heights, and predictions of future demand are; The food-insecure population in sub-Saharan Africa is also expected to increase by up to 32 percent by 2020, whereas food insecurity is projected to decline in Latin America and Asia.Overall, the world will need 70–100 percent more food by 2050, when the population increases to 9 billion.

discouraging. Although growth in global demand for cereals will slow in the coming 40 years, demand in sub-Saharan Africa will balloon by as much as 2.6 percent per year.

The lack of nutrients. The lack of food is not the only problem. Almost one billion people were undernourished in 2010, and the lack of nutritious food has serious, long-term consequences for physical and mental health. More than one in seven of the world’s people do not receive enough protein and carbohydrates in their daily diets. These people constitute 16 percent of the developing country population.

The rising prices. Even with projected reductions in food insecurity, price spikes could keep staple food out of the reach of poor people. The 2008 price spikes led to starvation in many countries, hitting the net food importers—typically the poorest countries—the hardest. Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda experienced maize prices that were twice as high as in the previous year. In Kenya and Mozambique, prices rose by 50–85 percent, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Sharp and unexpected price spikes can provoke riots and political instability, aggravating an already precarious food situation. FAO recently predicted that the total costs of food imports would reach a near-record level in 2010, roughly US$ 1 trillion.

The changing climate. Climate change has made the challenges of food security and rising prices even more stark. Continued release of greenhouse gases increases the likelihood of unpredictable weather and temperatures. The severe 2010 droughts and fires in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan raised wheat prices substantially, leading to grain embargos in multiple countries. Russia’s wheat exports fell by 13 million metric tons in one year.^e Pakistan’s floods are another warning of the serious climate changes facing developing countries. The loss of soil nutrients that can accompany climatic extremes makes agricultural land less productive and adds to food insecurity. This prospect is ominous, considering the consistent drop in cereal yields over the last decade.

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A role Model in Agriculture from Masasi District, Tanzania

Athmani Mochiwa, District Agriculture Extension Officer, has been working for 20 years in Masasi District, Tanzania, working to help farmers adopt new practices and technologies.  He sees his role as being the link between the farmers and the research institutes. “I’ve been involved in each and every step of the Pathways process—from the beginning to now. As an agriculture expert, my role was to advise CARE on some of the seeds to introduce and which technologies and practices to improve. I also worked to create some awareness among the villages about what the project is about.” He currently supervises a staff of 22 paraprofessionals (extension officers) and 5 ward extension officers to whom he provides active support.

Mochiwa sees Pathways as an extension of the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach, which allows farmers to see for themselves the differences between traditional and new production techniques or seed varieties. Through the farmer field school demonstration plots, adoption of new technologies happens more quickly. The critical addition of the “business” element to the Pathways Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) approach takes the farmers first through the process of searching for a market before production.  “If you can assure farmers of a market, then you can be sure they will produce.  And with tools like the cost-benefit analysis sheet, they can improve their negotiation skills. They know the value of what they produce.”

They are particularly important for Pathways’ group members. Even when they are in mixed training groups, women put themselves behind the men. He notes, “They’re very good at doing the work and implementing, but if you ask them a question—they will wait for the men to respond. The women have to be encouraged to speak up and really feel part of the group work. In the homes, they are doing all the work, but they are not appreciated, and they are not organized. They are working as much as men, harder than men—but they need to know it’s not just for them to carry all this normal loads. Sometimes the men don’t allow their wives to join the groups. The men also need to be trained.”  The promising news, he says, is that there really is demand for this type of discussion.

“Yesterday, I went back to the village (where we tested various exercises with the community), and they asked me, ‘How did you know this would be so beneficial to us! How did you know we really needed this? When are you going to do more? We want the whole community to hear this.’ Those who attended were saying that it was really important, and that already the men wanted to change. So I told them that the paraprofessionals were going to train them on more and more, and that we were going to continue to work with them on these issues.”

The paraprofessionals left the training with documents in hand, energized to start implementing these exercises immediately. Mochiwa is confident that they will take this forward.

But the most important thing, Mochiwa emphasizes, is to provide continuous supervision and support: “If we don’t do that, the feedback and supervision, it’s like playing guitar to a goat—there will be no reaction.  After every training, we need to be in the field, and following up the work-plan that we do together. And the paraprofessionals need these interactions, so that they can share their experiences and learn from each other.”

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Why Tanzanian farmers don’t sell what they produce?

Indeed, agriculture is an important sector for Tanzania contributing up to 26 per cent of GDP. Typically, farmers produce to feed their families but they also expect to gain revenues by selling their output. When farmers make more income from the sale of their produce this leads to more development in the rural areas which ultimately impacts positively on the overall economy. This is what has been surmised from the success stories of predominantly agricultural countries, such as Malaysia and Vietnam.

In Tanzania, this kind of impact has not yet been felt - at least not on a tangible scale.  Agricultural commercialization remains marginal in the country as shown by the following statistics from 2011:

- 26 per cent of all farmers did not sell any of their crop production and so were not connected to markets.
- Only 25 per cent of farmers sold more than half of their production.
- More than two thirds of maize farmers did not sell any of their harvest and only 25 per cent of total maize production is marketed.
- Uganda and Kenya have similar statistics. On the other hand, Vietnam moved from 48 per cent of crop production being marketed in 1993 to 87 per cent in 2008.

The livestock sector is even less commercialized than the crop sector. As many as 52 per cent of livestock owners did not get any cash income out of their animals in 2011. Less than 10 per cent of the overall country livestock value is marketed.

The low rate of commercialization may be explained by many factors such as remoteness, low production, low farm-gate prices, high marketing margins, lack of information, or simply farmers’ unwillingness to participate in the market. Indeed, less than a third of Tanzanian villages have a daily or weekly market where farmers get to sell their produce. For the typical farmer, the closest market is 18 kilometers away from the village center and more often than not there is seldom any road and/or public transportation service to reach that market. Farm-gate prices received by farmers are a small share of the wholesale price of crops which averages around 60 per cent and 45 per cent for maize and paddy respectively in 2011.

The lack in agricultural commercialization raises the following questions:
- Should the government invest more in infrastructure such as roads, village markets, etc., to improve farmers’ connectivity?
- Should there be price controls to ensure farmers receive a minimum price from their produce?
- Should taxes on agricultural produce be reduced or abolished altogether?
- Can farmers be directly linked to supermarkets, agribusiness firms and processors bypassing marketing middlemen?
- Should the emergence and development of contract farming with large farms be encouraged?
- Will the SACGOT initiative help smallholder farmers increase production and get more cash income out of their produce?
- How can the mobile revolution help improve agricultural commercialization?

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GARLIC CULTIVATION AND HEALTH BENEFITS

Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onions, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo With a history of human use of over 7,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Allium sativum is a bulbous plant.It grows up to 1.2 m (4 ft) in height. It produces hermaphrodite flowers. Pollination occurs by bees and other insects.

Varieties

Within the species, Allium sativum, there are also two main subspecies or varieties.

• Allium sativum called Ophioscorodon, or hard necked garlic, includes porcelain garlics, rocambole garlic, and purple stripe garlics. It is sometimes considered to be a separate species, Allium ophioscorodon.

• Allium sativum or soft-necked garlic, includes artichoke garlic, silverskin garlic, and creole garlic.

Bulb garlic is available in many forms, including fresh, frozen, dried, fermented black garlic and shelf made products (in tubes or jars). In addition, see Culinary uses for other edible parts of the garlic plant.

Cultivation

Garlic is easy to grow and can be grown year-round in mild climates. While sexual propagation of garlic is indeed possible, nearly all of the garlic in cultivation is propagated asexually, by planting individual cloves in the ground.In cold climates, cloves are planted in the autumn, about six weeks before the soil freezes, and harvested in late spring. The cloves must be planted at sufficient depth to prevent freeze/thaw which causes mold or white rot. Garlic plants are usually very hardy, and are not attacked by many pests or diseases. Garlic plants are said to repel rabbits and moles.Two of the major pathogens that attack garlic are nematodes and white rot disease, which remain in the soil indefinitely after the ground has become infected. Garlic also can suffer from pink root, a typically nonfatal disease that stunts the roots and turns them pink or red.

Garlic plants can be grown closely together, leaving enough space for the bulbs to mature, and are easily grown in containers of sufficient depth. Garlic does well in loose, dry, well drained soils in sunny locations. When selecting garlic for planting, it is important to pick large heads from which to separate cloves. Large cloves, along with proper spacing in the planting bed, will also improve head size. Garlic plants prefer to grow in a soil with a high organic material content, but are capable of growing in a wide range of soil conditions and PH levels.

There are different types or subspecies of garlic, most notably hardneck garlic and softneck garlic. The latitude where the garlic is grown affects the choice of type as garlic can be day-length sensitive. Hardneck garlic is generally grown in cooler climates; softneck garlic is generally grown closer to the equator.

Garlic scapes are removed to focus all the garlic's energy into bulb growth. The scapes can be eaten raw or cooked.

Harvesting

When to harvest garlic depends on the type. Garlic varieties are divided into early, midseason and late, but what that means depends not only on your climate zone but also on your climate in the growing year. Heat speeds them up, cold slows them down, and although the harvest window is wide if you plan to eat the garlic fresh, it's narrow if you want to ensure maximum storage life.

The bulbs are ready when most of the lower leaves have browned. The upper ones will still be green. If you've ever grown onions, it's easy to assume garlic is the same and you should wait until all the leaves have fallen over. Bad idea. By the time all the leaves are dead the bulbs will have split; they won't have the leaf sheathes they need to form wrappers and it's likely fungus disease will have found a way in.

"Lift the bulbs" is usually used to describe moving things like daffodils, but it's also a good way to think about harvesting garlic. Those heads are more delicate than they seem and any cut or bruise will shorten storage life.

Try to choose an overcast day when the soil is dry. Loosen the soil with a digging fork, inserting it well away from the heads, then lift them out of the row and place them in a flat carrier.

Storing Garlic

How to store garlic? The at-home ideal for storing garlic is between 55 and 70 degrees, with moderate humidity and good air circulation, in the light but out of the sun. We keep our garlic stored in baskets in the cold closet ( the inner cold room insulated). Those less fortunate in the storage department can punt as necessary with good results as long as they avoid the refrigerator (excess cold leads to sprouting) and plastic bags (no air = high humidity = rot).

GARLIC HEALTH BENEFITS

Antibacterial and Antiviral

Garlic is most well-known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. They help control bacterial, viral, fungal, yeast and worm infections. Fresh garlic is thought to play a role in preventing food poisoning by killing bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella enteritidis, etc.

To treat skin infections

The chemical ajoene found in garlic may help treat fungal skin infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot.

Blood thinning

The anti-clotting properties of ajoene found in garlic help in preventing the formation of blood clots in the body. Hence, it may also increase the risk of bleeding after surgery.

Reduce blood pressure

Angiotensin II is a protein that helps our blood vessels contract thereby increasing the blood pressure. Allicin in garlic blocks the activity of angiotensin II and helps in reducing blood pressure. The polysulphides present in garlic are converted into a gas called hydrogen sulphide by the red blood cells. Hydrogen sulphide dilates our blood vessels and helps control blood pressure.

Protect heart

Garlic protects our heart against cardiovascular problems like heart attacks and atherosclerosis. This cardio-protective property can be attributed to various factors. With age, the arteries tend to lose their ability to stretch. Garlic may help reduce this and may also protect the heart from the damaging effects of free oxygen radicals. The sulphur-containing compounds of garlic also prevent our blood vessels from becoming blocked and slow the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The anti-clotting properties of ajoene help prevent clots from forming inside the blood vessels.

Reduce cholesterol

Garlic has the ability to moderately lower our blood triglycerides and total cholesterol and reduce arterial plaque formation.

Combat allergies

Garlic is known to have anti-inflammatory property. It can help the body fight against allergies. The anti-arthritic property of garlic is due to diallyl sulphide and thiacremonone. Garlic has been show to improve allergic airway inflammation (allergic rhinitis). Raw garlic juice may be used to immediately stop the itching due to rashes and bug bites.

Remedy for respiratory problems

Daily use of garlic might reduce the frequency and number of colds. Its antibacterial properties help in treating throat irritations. Garlic may also reduce the severity of upper respiratory tract infections. Its benefits in disorders of the lungs like asthma, difficulty of breathing, etc. make it a priceless medicine. Its ability to promote expectoration makes it irreplaceable in chronic bronchitis.

Diabetes

Garlic increases insulin release and regulates blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Effective against warts and corns

Applying fat dissolving garlic extracts to corns on the feet and warts on the hands is thought to improve these conditions.

Cancer prevention

Daily intake of garlic has been found to lower risk of most types of cancer. This anti-cancer property is due to allyl sulphides found in garlic. PhIP, a type of heterocyclic amine (HCA), has been associated with increased incidence of breast cancer among women. According to studies, diallyl sulphide found in garlic inhibits the transformation of PhIP into carcinogens.

Improve iron metabolism

Ferroportin is a protein which helps in iron absorption and release. Diallyl sulphides in garlic increase production of ferroportin and help improve iron metabolism.

Stir up passions

Garlic’s aphrodisiac property is due to its ability to increase the circulation.

Toothaches

Simply put some crushed garlic clove directly on the affected tooth can help relieve toothaches due to its antibacterial and analgesic properties. But be aware that it can be irritating to the gum.

Reduce weight

Many researchers believe that obesity is a state of long-term low-grade inflammation. According to recent research, garlic may help to regulate the formation of fat cells in our body. Pre-adipocytes are converted into fat cells (adipocytes) through inflammatory system activity. The anti-inflammatory property of 1, 2-DT (1, 2-vinyldithiin) found in garlic may help inhibit this conversion. This may help prevent weight gain.

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EGGPLANT GROWING

A classic eggplant is deep purple and pear-shaped, but when you grow your own, you can try a cornucopia of other colors and shapes, from elongated lavender and white 'Fairy Tale' to snow white 'Snowy' to round violet-blushed 'Rosa Bianca'. But to succeed with eggplants, you'll need to supply them with steadily warm growing conditions for at least three months. Eggplants growing in cold soil or exposed to chilly weather will sulk and are more prone to insect and disease problems.

Planting: Give eggplants a head start on the growing season by starting them indoors, 6 to 9 weeks before the average last frost. Soak seeds overnight to encourage germination; sow them ¼ inch deep in a loose, fine medium, such as vermiculite. Use bottom heat to maintain a soil temperature of 80° to 90°F for the 8 to 10 days required for sprouting. Transplant seedlings to individual pots once they reach 3 inches. When outside nighttime air temperatures are above 50°F, gradually expose them to the outdoors to harden them off. Keep transplanting your seedlings into larger pots as you wait for both outdoor air and soil to warm up to at least 70°F.
OKRA
Okra, native to Africa and a beautiful relative of hibiscus, was brought to North America in the 1600s. This tropical plant quickly became popular in the Deep South both as a side dish and as a thickening for gumbo and stews. It can, however, thrive in any climate where corn will grow. Depending on the cultivar, the large-flowered, fast-growing plants reach 2 to 6 feet tall. Varieties with colorful stems and leaves, such as 'Burgundy', make attractive garden borders.

Planting
Okra needs full sun. It will grow in ordinary garden soil but does best in fertile loam, particularly where a nitrogen-fixing crop, such as early peas, grew previously.

In the South, plant the first crop in the early spring and a second crop in June. In short-season areas, start plants indoors 6 weeks before setting them out (3 to 4 weeks after the last frost date). Sow two seeds per peat pot and clip off the weaker seedling.

When seeding okra directly in the ground, wait until after the soil has warmed and the air temperature is at least 60°F. Use fresh seed, and soak it overnight or nick each seed coat with a file to encourage germination. Sow seed 1/2 inch deep in light soil and 1 inch deep in heavy soil; spacing is 3 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. Thin seedlings to 18 to 24 inches apart, always leaving the strongest of the young plants.

Growing guidelines
When okra is 4 inches tall, mulch to keep out weeds and conserve moisture. Water during dry spells. Every 3 to 4 weeks, side-dress with compost or feed with compost tea. Read about making compost tea. In areas with long, hot summers, cut the plants back almost to ground level in midsummer and fertilize to produce a second crop.

Problems
Okra seldom succumbs to pests or diseases. Hand pick any stinkbugs that appear; these light green, shield-shaped bugs cause misshapen pods. To control corn earworms, cabbage loopers, aphids, or flea beetles, go to the Top Ten Garden Insect Pests. Fusarium wilt, a soilborne disease, is sometimes a problem in hot regions. If the disease causes leaves to yellow and wilt, pull and destroy affected plants. Crop rotation is the best preventive measure.

Harvesting
About 50 to 60 days after planting, edible pods will start to appear. They are tough when mature, so harvest daily with a sharp knife when they are no more than finger sized and when stems are still tender and easy to cut. Pick frequently and the plants will keep producing until killed by frost. Be sure to remove and compost any mature pods you might have missed earlier.

Many people find their skins are sensitive to the pods' prickly spines, so wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting, or plant a spineless variety such as 'Clemson Spineless'

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Practioners Waste Management Request

Despite initiatives by the Tanzanian government to control the problem of solid waste, the problem stays a threat to the coastal population, marine and coastal environment. Both financial and technical interventions are required for provision of appropriate technologies, institutional capacity building and strengthening and human resources development.

The challenge is, with increased urbanisation (current population is estimated at 4.10m people, with solid waste generation amounting to 3100 Tonnes/ Day while the amount being properly collected and disposed off is 1200 Tonnes/ Day (39%). Makoba (2008, p. 14) points out a current population growth rate of 4.9% per annum for the city of Dar es Salaam. This means there is an increased population and undoubtedly increased rate of solid-waste generation and the DCC is bound to come up with effective strategies for managing the solid wastes, if the solutions are to be sustainable. 

 

Moreover, the recently closed dumpsite at Mtoni along the seashore largely impacts the coastal ecosystem in the sense that leachate spills off into the ocean, bioaccumulation through heavy metal impacts into the ocean and its ecosystem particularly fish which people consume and insufficient sunlight that impacts the marine biodiversity. The impacts are many include dirtying the ocean water towards inner-ocean by the solid waste and by leachate dripping-offfrom decomposing waste and scavengers; all these changing the coastal ecosystem.

 

The goal of this study was to improve solid waste management and reduce pollution in order to protect human health as well as to enhance the quality of the coastal and marine environment in Dar es Salaam. The focus was on privatization and refuse collection charges.

 

Findings showed that the collection of solid waste in Dar es Salaam has been hampered partly by poor infrastructure and equipment, management arrangements which have not adequately coordinated the interventions of the different actors before and after decentralization of the collection service, inefficient collection and management of the refuse collection charges, designing fault with solid waste collection point, lack of a proper landfill, among others.

 

Recommendations emphasise on awareness campaigning at all levels of the system, to educate residents on the necessity of cost sharing for services and threats associated with improper disposal of solid waste. Others are promoting political will across all leadership levels, adopting a two level contractors’ structure and increasing the solid waste contracts to 5 years, redesign the primary waste collection points and the Dar es Salaam City Council to put in place strategies for obtaining an engineered landfill site since this is a guarantee for final disposal of solid waste in a secure manner by minimizing the impacts on the environment.

 

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Economic Development and Environment

Tanzania’s rich natural resources constitute a major wealth asset which is fundamental for growth and economic development. Although natural resources are fundamental to the economy and the livelihoods of the rural population, their value and potential is frequently underestimated. This underestimation is partly based on missing markets in the case of public goods, imperfect competition in the case of distorting government interventions as well as pricing of natural resources below market value. Widespread market- and policy failures lead to sub-optimal economic decision making and loss of income to the country. As long as these weaknesses are not addressed, a substantial base of economic growth will be slowly eroded and poverty reduction objectives are unlikely to be achieved. All the main economic sectors - agriculture, mining, tourism, wildlife, forestry and fisheries –are based on natural resources. In all sectors there are important links between management
of the environment and natural resources, sustained growth and poverty reduction:
Agriculture has been described as “the back-bone” of the Tanzanian economy and accounts for about 45% of GDP, 60% of export earnings and 80% of the population’s livelihoods.
Increased productivity within the agricultural sector is key to achieving the 6-8 % annual
growth rate targeted in the MKUKUTA. The growth in the agricultural sector is targeted to increase from 5 % in 2003 to 10 % in 2010 – a target which may prove very difficult to
achieve. Modernizations and expansion of agriculture call for careful consideration of the
adverse affects that intensified irrigation, pesticides, fertilizers and changed crops may have on the environment (e.g. water pollution, reduced water flows, deforestation, land
Degradation) (URT, 2004c).

The MKUKUTA includes several measures to mitigate potential negative environmental
Impacts from increased agricultural growth. A failure to implement these and similar
Measures may aggravate poverty, environmental degradation and the prospects for long run economic growth.
The mining sector has experienced double digit growth during the last years, but only accounts for about 2 % of total GDP. Only 10 years ago the mining industry in Tanzania was still basically artisanal. Today Tanzania is Africa’s third largest exporter of gold, and produces a number of other valuable minerals for export. The description of the mining sector as a success growth story has however been questioned on: (i) the contribution of the sector to government revenues4, (ii) the effects on employment as technology intensive large scale mining replaces labor intensive small scale mining and (iii) the local impacts on poverty and environment (e.g. soil erosion, land degradation, deforestation, pollution of air, drinking water and water bodies).
The MKUKUTA notes that “serious poverty concerns [of mining] have been raised regarding the impacts on environment, tensions over land rights and labor relations in areas where these activities have risen dramatically. The challenge ahead is to ensure that investments benefit the wider economy giving particular attention to disadvantaged regions”. However, these concerns are not picked up in the targets and interventions for the mining sector in the MKUKUTA. The government has integrated several environmental safeguards in its policies, such as calls for Environmental Management Plans and Environmental Impact Assessments as a condition for Special Mining Licenses, but the implementation of these safeguards have been questioned. The
issues related to mining are complex and hence merit considerable more analysis than presently outlined5.
The tourism industry has grown at an average rate of more than 6% during last years and
Accounts for roughly 5% of GDP. To maintain growth in the sector, it is necessary to manage the natural environment sustainably. Moreover, future growth of the tourism sector may involve significant environment-poverty related trade-offs.
Since natural resource based tourism happens at the expense of other use of the resource, the sharing of benefits from tourism by local communities is a key issue. The MKUKUTA states that “barriers to communities gaining increased benefits from natural resources (e.g. wildlife) need to be removed”, but is not explicitly addressing how environmental safeguards will accompany tourism sector development.
The Wildlife sector has potential for increased growth and revenue generation and is important for the food security, nutrition and income of rural communities6. However, the sector suffers from mismanagement, under-pricing, over-use of resources, loss of revenues and limited sharing and participation of rural communities. Well managed, the game-hunting industry is one of the few non-farm industries with potential for economic development in remote rural areas of Tanzania. According to the follow-up regulations to the Wildlife Act (from 1998), local communities should receive at least 20% of hunting revenues, but this has not been implemented in practice.
Mining is connected with substantial tax breaks and relatively low royalties.
The impact of Extractive Industries (such as mining) on poverty and environment have been documented by the Extractive Industries Review by the World Bank Group (www.eireview.org)
Well over two-thirds of the population eats wild meat, and according to one source, 95 % of the rural population claim wild meat to be their most important source of protein.

The Tanzanian forests provide goods and services of crucial importance to poor households and the national economy. 95 % of the energy supply, 75 % of the construction materials and almost all indigenous medicinal products are estimated to be directly derived from forest biodiversity. In addition, eco-system services, such as soil conservation, watershed protection and carbon sequestration, have a large indirect economic value. However, since markets are poorly functioning or non-existent for many of these products and services, they are not accounted for in the national accounts. Consequently the forestry sector officially accounts for only 2-3 percent of GDP.
To increase the contribution from forestry to the incomes of rural communities, the MKUKUTA calls for (among other things) a scaling up of Participatory Forest Management, harmonized natural resource sector policies, and the development of a rural energy master plan including an extension of rural electrification7. A new framework for forestry management has also been developed and implementation is ongoing8. With sustainable management and good governance the potential for pro poor growth and revenue generation from the sector is considerable. There are also many good examples of agro forestry at the village level.
The rapid deforestation constitutes a serious threat to rural livelihoods as well as lost opportunities for growth and revenue generation. For example, turning the “illegally” operating charcoal industry into a major employment and income generating sub-sector in rural areas may have a huge potential, indicated by current annual incomes from charcoal amounting to 40% and more in rural households. It is also claimed that royalties within the sector are presently set arbitrarily and that only 5-10% of the potential revenue is actually collected.
Fisheries represent a significant source of revenue and foreign exchange, and sustain
Livelihoods, in the form of food security and employment and income, of poor people. The Tanzanian fisheries are at or near a state of full development, and sustainable and equitable management is a key challenge. While the inland fisheries, and specifically the Victoria Lake fisheries, are overexploited, the marine fisheries may have potential for growth. In both the inland and marine fisheries, there are conflicting interests between communities reliant on fish resources for their livelihoods and the export oriented commercial fisheries. Good governance which secures maximizing and equitably sharing of benefits, sustainability of extraction levels and maintaining productive marine and inland water ecosystems, is thus a key issue. Today potential revenues are not captured, and negative impacts for poor people are experienced. These developments call for a change in focus from attraction of foreign direct investment to a broad-based, equitable and environmentally sustainable fisheries development. Key policy reforms would include (i) developing the regulatory framework, (ii) strengthening the management capacity, and (iii) securing the livelihoods of the poor in the sector.
OWN PERSPECTIVE
There is a big relationship between environment and human activities in the world. The environment depends on man and the man also depends much on environment in order to survive and exist. There fore, despite of the environmental crisis facing Tanzania today, the Government should prepare a well implement able strategy for environmental Conservation to make sure that the current generation utilize it but with great caution to make sure that the future generation will also find the good environment for them to survive. This is to say that we have to make sure of the sustainable utilization of environmental resources such as land, wildlife animals, forests and water sources.

There should be policies and planning to conserve the environment although it seems to be challenging for Tanzania to reverse the loss of its environmental resources unless a significant progress is made in the reduction of poverty levels because poverty is the biggest source of environmental degradation in Tanzania. Lack of alternatives to fuel sources has made it difficult for people especially in rural areas to stop using fire wood.
However. both environmental degradation and poverty alleviation are urgent global issues that have a lot in common, but are often treated separately. There should be an integrated plan to deal with environment and poverty together.

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MVIWATA hosts Karagwe Diocese farmers groups on field visit

Farmers groups of Karagwe Diocese(KAD), which belongs to the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Tanzania, on the 20th January this year, had an opportunity to tour MVIWATA headquarters in Morogoro.

Among other things, the group intended to learn how best advocacy can be done for the Karagwe farmers to enhance access to markets and fetch optimal prices for their produce, bearing in mind it is a border regional town.
Speaking at a one day meeting, Sr. Editha Sylivester, KAD Planning and Development officer, said their organisation was eager to know how MVIWATA has been able to assist farmers address their challenges while it adds value to their welfare.
On his part, Mr Ibrahim Kimani, a facilitator from Danmission, who accompanied the group said Karagwe farmers could use MVIWATA rich experience could sort coffee market problem, which was apparently distorted by unscrupulous dealers.
“We have come here purposely to learn how farmers in Karagwe can be enabled to sell their produce, coffee or beans, at competitive prices,” said Mr Kimani.
Responding to the posed questions, the MVIWATA Team Leader- Economic Empowerment, Mr Nickson Elly said that through numerous agribusiness, entrepreneurship and advocacy trainings, MVIWATA members were capacitated of bargaining skills to get desirable prices.
“It didn’t happen overnight. We invested in training farmers groups on key subjects. And through the markets that we have built in their areas, farmers can now fetch better deals for their crops,” he said.
The tour that was done by MAYAJA and FAP farmers groups (12 persons) resolved with their host that it was high time the two NGOs find ways to work together by learning and exchanging experience on their operations.
“I am very delighted to know MVIWATA ‘s approach. We will see how better we can work together in future especially in our district where you also operate as MVIWATA covers all the country,” added Sr. Editha.
The Karagwe Diocese runs economic, educational, political, public and social welfare. This is a wide range of projects which deal with every part of human life. Started with a heifer project, which provided cows to poor families at Karagwe, now, they have projects concerning the advocacy of farmers and the palliative care.

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