Landcare was initially established in Ng’wasa Village, Korogwe Tanzania through an AusAID funded project in 2008. Since then the group has continued their work while seeking additional funding to expand to new areas with the support of the Tanzanian Landcare team. On a recent visit to the village some members of the African Landcare Network met with the Nguvu Kazi Landcare Group. On arrival at the village the group gave the following a speech as an introduction and welcome:

“This group started officially in 2008 with 25 active members who received training and study tours in Mtae- Lushoto and Moshi.

We the members of the group thank the leadership of landcare for providing training which helps us in caring for our environment, and improve our land income.

Since the inception of this project in our village, our community has adopted in great extent because the community has succeeded to apply conservation farming through construction of terraces from 6000m in 2008/2009 to 10000m in 2010/2011.

The same community has succeeded to conserve the environment through planting different species of trees from 15000 in 2008/09 to 30000 2010/11.

Also the community has planted improved banana plants from Tengeru, Arusha on the terraces. The banana plants are doing very well. Due to these changes in improving family practice the community has improved income tremendously.

Together with these achievements we still have challenges like low adoption of technologies to some community members so more training is needed to facilitate others to enhance adoption to those who are not part of the group.

Another challenge which faces us is water sources being far from our farms, something which makes our crops to be weak, so we ask for assistance in improving our irrigation infrastructure.

We group members promise that we will sustain and develop this project for the better of our future generation.

With this few remarks we ask you to receive our speech. Thanks.”

An introduction to Landcare in Tanzania can be seen at: http://www.worldagroforestry.org/projects/landcare/content/landcare-tanzania

and more information is available from Mr Charles Lyamchai (lyamchai@yahoo.com).