Training Center Plan + Tanga + 10 days left!

Well, time is winding down and some of our most critical decisions are quickly approaching. Thankfully, we feel that we have several good people in the mix, and now we just need to arrange the chess pieces for optimal performance over the next year.

To quickly catch ya’ll up on the past week. On Tuesday I met with a local processing group called Safina. The group consists of 12 members from the Korogwe community, mostly older women, and was formed with support from SIDO (Small Industry Development Organization) and the Korogwe Town Council. Using a room in one of the member’s houses, the group uses 1 common-sized blender and scale to make 3 types of sauces: Garlic Sauce, Fruit Sauce (Jam), and Pickled Pepper Sauce. Operating on 3 days of training sponsored by the town council, the group produces their goods using recipes and packaging materials taken from SIDO. They’re hope is to market their goods in retail locations around Korogwe town and the district at large. However, before they can enter the true retail market, they need to be certified by the Bureau of Standards to ensure that product is safe for general consumption. This is a capital problem, because it requires additional funds to purchase a dedicated processing room, the sanitation materials (hats, gloves, etc), and the training necessary to produce in mass. In order, to get this capital the group either needs to sell some of its product in informal markets, receive a grant from the government, or seek out external funding. I visited their project to see what it takes to start a small-group processing project in Korogwe. Someday, we hope to start processing the goods we produce.

Wednesday and Thursday, I met with John Mtambo and others to continue planning for the St. John’s Organic Agriculture Training center. We hosted a few brainstorming sessions and continued the proposal writing.

On Friday, I met with Joseph Desideri of 4H Tanzania. At first, I didn’t connect 4H to the group I had come to associate with the Puyallup Fair in Washington, but after a short discussion, it became obvious that they were engaged in the same type of agricultural and community affairs – except that they don’t try to produce 700lb pumpkins just for fun. But they do train young children to raise gardens and they promote animal husbandry and other such activities in the community. We hope that we can partner with their gardening projects that are already in place once we establish our training center.

On Saturday, I was invited the Korogwe Town Council economist, Renatus, to attend a village sanitation training session at KwaKombo, 10km outside of Korogwe. I arrived at the town council at 9am, expecting to hop in the landcruiser and leave around 9:30am -- normally things just tend to run late. Those of you who have been to Africa, or know government, would understand. Having lived in Spain, which has a similar cultural reputation for being 15-30min late to every meeting, I am accustomed to waiting. However, at 11:30am, we still had not left. I can’t complain too much, because I did get a chance to meet Grace Mbaruku, the head economist for the council, and Louis Mkembo, the solicitor/lawyer for the council. Grace was very kind, and she made sure to offer me sweets every 15 minutes to make sure that I wasn’t too upset about their tardiness. After eating 11 sweets, we were ready to leave!

At KwaKombo, I watched the training session led by the sanitation consultant hired by the town council. Though it was in Swahili, I picked up a few phrases here and there. To appreciate the training in sanitation techniques, which focused around the new toilets that were going to be installed by engineers the following week (yesterday), one must understand the starting point of the training: “What is a toilet?” All kidding aside, this was a very serious question that took almost 45min to answer. In rural villages, the concept of ‘toilet’ as a sanitary way to dispose of waste to ensure that food and water supplies don’t become contaminated was a completely foreign concept. It’s easy to understand that waste smells, but it takes a deeper level of knowledge to realize that waste doesn’t just disappear when it goes down the hole. It goes somewhere, and if one isn’t careful, it could end up in the water supply. In these regions that use shallow wells for water, it is critical that toilets are designed to prevent contaminant infiltration into the groundwater. Thus, the consultant was teaching the community about these dangers and the plan to install two new eco-toilets that trap the waste and ensure its safe disposal.

While learning about toilets was entertaining, I was mostly interested in seeing how the local governments train the rural villagers. The meeting took place in a grade school classroom. The consultant stood in front and used paper taped to a chalkboard to write down thoughts and to make illustrations. Sodas, notepads, and pens were handed out to everyone in attendance, around 30 total villagers. The opening session lasted around 2 hours before breaking for lunch.

In many ways, the training was similar to something you would see in the states. Yes, the material was different, but the techniques and the treatment of the attendees were similar. The only problem is there are so many villages to visit and train, and very few of these training sessions actually happen due to the cost of training. But everyone has to start somewhere.

On the same day, during the training session, I met Mathias Mutayoba, of the UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency). He is working with refugees from Somolia who have fled to Tanzania, about 3000 on his settlement. Mathias manages the settlement, tries to find the refugees employment, and works with the government to provide the refugees temporary citizenship documents. We discussed the possibility of hiring some of his refugees in the future. We will see how it goes.


During the weekend, we hopped on a coastal and headed for Tanga. We spent one day and one night exploring the city and eating the great food. To make sure that no is under wrong impression that we are living lives of luxury over here, I’ve attached a couple of pictures to show how we traveled and where we stayed. Hope you enjoy!




On Monday, I met with John Mntambo to set our immediate goals:

1. Create a management structure for the farm, complete with an org chart, job descriptions, and suggested people for each position
2. Create a 6-12month land utilization and action plan showing when and what we’ll plant, harvest, and sell in the markets
3. Create a Farm Operating Estimate to establish the capital needed to prepare and operate the farm over the next year

That night, I met with Bishop Baji to discuss establishing an NGO for training center and leasing the Kwakiliga farm from the diocese. He was on board with the plan and committed to helping us acquire the information needed to move forward. With that said, I should explain here exactly what we are thinking to do with this project. Below is a quick summary of where we are going (Disclaimer: this is not a finalized plan and should not be looked at as our definite course of action):

1. We want to establish an NGO called the St. John’s Organic Agriculture Training Center
2. The center will be guided by the vision of a Board of Trustees using an executive committee chaired by the farm executive/farm manager to implement the board’s vision.
3. For the first year, the training center will exist just as a model farm. We need to get the farm cleared, ploughed, harrowed, and planted, beginning with just 5-10 acres of the total 40 acre plot. The remaining acres will most likely be share-cropped with the local villagers, offering loan inputs to get the farmers started and having them pay the loans back after harvest.
4. Next summer, we will begin phase II, expanding the crop production and animal husbandry to include short training workshops to begin equipping farmers with the knowledge they need to make educated decisions about their farming (how much do they need to plant to ensure Food Security for their families, is there a market nearby for their Cash Crops, how to keep track of their costs and sales, how to use the best farming practices to increase their yields, etc).
5. All of our teaching will focus on organic, minimally energy intensive methods that utilize resources locally available and within the economic class of the farmers.
6. We will eventually start to organize farmers to equip them with the inputs they need to produce high yielding crops, to transport their goods to market, and to sell their crops in markets with a high demand for their goods.

Most of this vision is the creation of our local consultants such as John Mtambo, Father Komba, Yakub, and others including individuals, NGO’s and government entities. We have added our ideas, linked people with ideas to people with resources (ie. John to Canon Edward [idea for farm to farm with no idea]), and organized the proposal. In the end, this project will be a creation of local people understanding their local needs and realizing the solutions to those needs. We as The Korogwe Project are bringing in ideas to make those solutions more efficient and effective. We are supporting this project fully with information capacity and minimally with financial capacity.

Above: John Mtambo and Humphrey (being vetted for farm manager)

I should say that creating an agricultural training center in Tanzania, or in the Tanga region for that matter, is not a novel idea. But there is a demand for training, and the best incentive for farmers to get training, is to see the possibilities first hand. And we do believe that we are bringing some unique ideas to the table:

1. Training in Organic Farming Methods – several studies, including one conducted by the United Nations, have found that organic farming is profitable, less energy intensive, more environmentally friendly, and more drought resistant that conventional farming in Africa – since the reports on the benefits of organic farming have just come out, there are no agricultural training institutions in Tanzania dedicated to teaching organic farming methods (there is a track in sustainable farming available at Sokoine University in Morogoro, but that’s it)
2. No inputs (seeds, tractors, methods, organic fertilizers, etc) handed out without prior training – in order for a farmer to receive loan inputs, he/she must first complete the required training at the center
3. Training from beginning to end – we won’t just train how to plant the crops, but we will train farmers to think first about which crops to plant based on Food Security, market demand, and the amount of risk they want to take on, we will teach them how to collect data, to do basic accounting, and how to use those practices in conjunction with best organic farming practices (BOFPs) to best manage their production; and finally, we will help link them to markets with a demand for their product

It shall be a great adventure!

Above: looking at pedal powered water pumps

Recently, in order to show our appreciation for the Diocese’s generosity in providing us housing free of charge during our stay, we have dedicated some of our time and financial resources to fixing their submersible pump that has been operating at half capacity during the last few months. Due to budget constraints, the Diocese has not been able to service its pump, its one source of water for the entire compound, which includes St. Raphael’s hospital. Because the pump capacity has been diminishing, the Diocese has been forced to shut off water to some areas for 2-3 days at a time. These droughts have become more frequent in the last few weeks. Thus, we saw an opportunity to give back to the Diocese, and the community that depends on the water, by having their pump fixed. Many of you back home who donated to the project deserve the thanks for fixing their water supply. It will be remembered as a very kind, very tangible gift to the every day lives of our friends and fellow villagers. You can see some of the pictures below.



Please continue to think and pray about our work. In the next 9 days we have a lot to accomplish. We are currently interviewing possible farm managers to oversee the cultivation of our farm, we’re establishing management protocols, and we’re still compiling our long-term proposal for the training center. At the diocese, we’re installing a rainwater catch to store water coming off of the roof of our house, and we’re fixing the submersible water pump. Everyday is very busy. We will need a lot of support for everything to come together before we leave. But we are confident and excited about the direction everything is going.

Thanks for following along and take care,

Jesse

Climbing Hills + Agricultural Training + Visit to Moshi

Last Friday, after the completion of the Diocese’s Strategy workshop, Sam, Brendan, Father Komba, Yakub, and I decided to hike the hill behind our house. The steep hike took about an hour to summit and about another hour and a half to descend. Some of the views are included below.



After our hike, Sam and I met with John Mntambo at his house about 4min outside of the city center. Surrounded by papers on agricultural techniques and proposals for schools and education centers scattered all over the tables and couches, we discussed the way forward for the development of an agricultural training center in Korogwe. A planned 30 minute discussion soon extended into a 3 hour dialogue in which John uncovered a 15 page report that he had handwritten outlining his vision for the program. To say the least, we were impressed.

Not wasting any time, Sam arranged a meeting between the Diocese, members of the Korogwe Project, and John Mntambo/Yakub to develop a plan for a model farm and agricultural training center at Kwakiliga, a small village about 15 kms away from Korogwe. The diocese owns 41 acres there, one of 5 farms that the Diocese owns in various locations throughout the Tanga region. This farm is the closest to the town of Korogwe and would be the best location for a proposed vocational training center.

On Saturday, I left for Moshi to visit HCC missionaries, Tim & Mabel Koop. Tim & Mabel are working at the Rafiki Foundation’s Moshi orphanage, which currently serves as home to 12 orphan children ranging in age from 2-6 years old. Tim acts as business manager for the 50 acre “village” while Mabel is in charge of educational services for the children.



The property is located 15 minutes outside of the city of Moshi and at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Not surprisingly, there are many foreigners living in Moshi given its proximity to one of the world’s highest peaks at 19,331ft – also one of the easiest to climb as long as you aren’t prone to altitude sickness. (in the picture I'm pointing to Kilimanjaro, but it's very hard to see)


I enjoyed getting away from Korogwe for a few days, but to get there I risked my life! I’m sure many have not heard, including my mother, that there was a horrible bus accident in Korogwe one week ago in which 30+ of the 45 passengers lost their lives. An American was named as one of the casualties.

It is well known that these buses are often overcrowded so that many passengers are standing. It is also widely known that these buses travel much faster than the speed limit, and that the bus driver will try to save himself if anything goes wrong. In the instance of the recent crash, the bus’s left tire blew sending the bus out of control. Instead of trying to turn the bus back to the left, which would have put the driver in potential peril but would have protected the majority of passengers, the driver turned hard to the right sending the bus broad side into an oncoming semi truck. The bus was ripped to shreds (photo coming). I say all that as a warning to those traveling over here. It may seem very adventurous to travel by local bus, but really, the dangers are still above an acceptable level.

Allowing my local friend, Yakub, to line up a bus for me Saturday morning, I didn’t realize he had booked me on one of the local buses. The trip to Moshi takes 3.5 – 4 hours. For the 1st hour, I was standing in the front left (non-driver’s side) thinking to myself, “Am I going to be standing, bent over (because I was taller than the cab), for 4 hours in the most dangerous position on the bus?!” Let’s just say, I arrived safely. I thank God. And I will not be traveling that way for the foreseeable future, especially when tickets on a safer, nicer bus line only cost $7 more.

My time in Moshi was very relaxing. I want to thank the Koops for being accommodating hosts, pampering me with good American food, a large bed, fresh towels, and a real SHOWER! I will be back soon!


On Monday, while I was traveling back from Moshi, Sam began the collaborative effort to write the Diocese’s Socio – Economic Profile focusing on the Agricultural Sector, specifically the proposed St. John’s Mzumilo Farm Agro – Livestock Vocational Training Center (I think we will have to shorten the name!). Members of the Diocese, including the Diocesan General Secretary (Canon Edward Komba) and the Diocesan Development Officer (Lulu), participated in the effort along with community patron Mzee John Mntambo and others to craft the vision for the farm.

The first step is to determine the background of the farm and to assess its current state.

The farm’s history harkens back to the First World War where the Germans used it as a rubber plantation. After the war, and years later, a hamlet formed adjacent to the site attracting more people into a village population of 400 by the year 2009. The farm itself was acquired and surveyed in 1995 by a private owner on a lease-hold title. As time past, a mortgage was taken out on the farm and when the owner later defaulted, the bank acquired the farm. In 2005, the bank auctioned the farm, and in an investment effort, the Anglican Church took over ownership of the land. Since then, the farm has remained largely unused.

Today, the farm lays fallow with only a few failing orange trees still existing on the property. It is located geographically at grids 38° 27’ E and 5° 15’ W. There is a municipal waterline available in the middle of the property with an electricity line within 300m of the southern end of the farm. The soil appears fertile, but to verify Brendan and I will be heading out to the farm on Friday to dig two 1mx1m pits to assess the soil stratification and to take samples that will be processed at a lab enroute to Tanga. We will also conduct our own survey of the plot, taking GPS and elevation readings at various points around the farm to determine its geographic layout.
Once these activities are finished, and compiled with the vision for the farm utilization and the vocational training curriculum, we will be ready to move forward with the implementation of the project plan. Our hope is to complete the proposal writing by the time Sam heads back to the United States, August 14th!


Also on Monday, after returning from Moshi, I went with Yakub to meet with the Micro-Finance Manager at Building Relationships Across Communities’ (BRAC) Korogwe office. This office manages a large part of the Tanga region, overseeing several districts in the area. BRAC itself is the largest southern NGO in the world, employing 100,000 people and serving nearly 110 million people in Asia and Africa. During our meeting, we learned more about BRAC’s work in the local community to provide micro-micro-finance opportunities to farmers and entrepreneurs (Micro Finance Banks in the area don’t loan in the same small amounts that BRAC lends), to provide Agriculture and Livestock training , healthcare solutions, and educational centers. We discussed our plan to open an Agro-Livestock Vocation Training Center that could be used as a base for their training classes, which would offer a hands on approach in a model-farming environment that currently isn’t offered in the area. We also discussed possible opportunities for future collaboration and left the door open for their suggestions. We look forward to working with BRAC down the road.

On Tuesday, Sam and I, along with Yakub, attended the District wide Agricultural Exhibition in Mombesi. This event is held once a year in different wards throughout the Korogwe Township District. The event showcases local farmers’ efforts to produce quality goods and is an opportunity to connect farmers to farmers and farmers to wholesalers/retailers who would be interested in purchasing their products. We spent a good amount of time chatting with Katani Ltd., one of the largest sisal estates in the area, about their program to equip subsistence farmers with the inputs necessary to produce quality sisal. Katani Ltd focuses on the manufacturing of the sisal into retail value goods and hopes to equip more local farmers with the tools to cultivate the sisal on their own.

We also spent time investigating goods the local farmers were producing, including a women’s group that is processing horticulture products into a pepper sauce available at retail locations. This is very important to the township of Korogwe, providing a use for goods that do not store well and are difficult to transport to distant markets. If more of these local agro/horticulture processing initiatives could take off, it would spark a revival within the failing infrastructure of Korogwe’s long lost industrial heart—which would in turn spark a demand for horticultural goods which are often left to rot if they can’t be sold in local markets.

Following the exhibition, we made a quick stop by World Vision’s field office near the Korogwe District Council’s administrative offices. With an introduction letter in hand courtesy of World Vision USA, we were able to sit down and discuss our project with Clemence Joseph, the acting Zonal Manager at the time (the actual Zonal Manager was out of town for a few days). We learned more about what WV has been doing in the area, and we were encouraged to hear him say that we would be filling a great need in the area, a need that WV isn’t currently addressing, in helping farmers connect to larger markets. He was also very positive about our plans to create an Agricultural Vocation Center in the township, and he offered the full support of WV Korogwe in providing information and possibly creating an official partnership if it becomes mutually agreeable in the future. We will definitely be stopping back by WV, and we hope to continue to work with the very welcoming staff at their field office.

On Wednesday, Sam continued to work furiously on the Development Profile for the farm along with John Mntambo. We are getting closer to a full fledged proposal, but it will be the last 40% of information that will take the most time and effort to obtain and write up (material costs, personnel costs, near term/long term action plan, etc).

At the same time, we have been planning to attend the nation wide Agricultural Exhibition, Nane Nane, being hosted in Morogoro this week. After long deliberation, we decided to send Sam and a single member of the Diocese, Thomas, to attend the event along with members of the Korogwe Town Council, local agricultural extension officers, and several farmers from the area. This morning, Sam and Thomas left for the 3-day event, and they will be returning on Saturday. The event is the largest agricultural exhibition in Tanzania, and it affords us the unique opportunity to see what is being done in the agricultural sector around the nation, as well as a great opportunity to network with other farmers, wholesalers, and retailers. We hope that Sam will soak up new ideas and return ready to pound out the rest of the Farm’s Vocational Training vision!


Thanks again for taking the time to read our blog, and we will strive to keep the amount of time between editions to a minimum!

Take care,
Jesse & Sam