Improving Agriculture management

Small scale / peasant farmers mostly in rural communities face critical challenges in agricultural systems, the sector which is considered as the primary source of income and food security. It also affect food production which results in malnutrition and poor health.

Intervention to provide small scale farmers with multiple system of agriculture other than depend on seasonal farming - growing of food  crops such as maize, millet, groundnuts, cassava,  vegetable gardens but also poultry and animal husbandry. They  should also be knowledgeable  in food storage, quality food production, market research, organizing resources, finance management and other skills through short trainings to improve the standard of lives, promoting communal entrepreneurship and community savings as basics to raise and save  funds. 

The rate of poverty, food insecurity, poor health will be reduced and increase high level of development economically and socially in communities, nation and the World at large.

Katete district in particular has a population of more than 8000 people of which 65% live in rural communities with low in-come depending on agriculture as their primary source of income. In these marginalized communities, small scale farmers face surmountable challenges to actively engage themselves into improving agricultural systems to enhance their standard of living. The basic causes being lack of adequate trainings and education on multiple agricultural systems of farming, relevant support to help them access farming equipment and inputs on time, systems of entrepreneurship and lack of knowledge to use facilities such as the internet / videos to access information  to explore and expose themselves to learn other developmental skills. Many of them have low level of education background or have never been to school making it difficult to learn modern technology to  improve or change lives on their own.  

Improving lives of people living in  rural communities through multiple agricultural systems; cultivating crops, poultry, vegetable gardening and animal husbandry rather than depending on one type of product. Also quality food production, communal entrepreneurship, community savings / banking  as the basic factors to raise and save funds. Small scale farmers / beneficiaries are organized into groups according to their geographical location and are provided with short term trainings and education on multiple agricultural basics to improve the system for both food security and as an  in-come venture. Products are marketed and sold into two categories; as for individual farmer and for communal business. In communal entrepreneurship, farmers bring their products together for sale and have  shares as on agreed period.

The technology of the business model or process used depend much on the type of product. If it is maize, cassava, sorghum, millet and other grain products they are taken to millers and vegetables can be sold locally or to external markets.

Farmers are as well assisted to plan on activities that will help them achieve intended goals to improve their lives.

The targeted population are those people with low in-come and live in rural communities, who are unable to access facilities to help them improve their standard of lives. 75% of these people are women ,mostly single parents who take care of more than 8 people in one family including orphans.  Interacting with them and sensitizing them through group meetings and workshops make it easier to learn and understand their needs .House hood  questionnaires' are used to assess their level of living in terms of wealth and  other challenges they face to improve their living. 

They are also involved in practical activities which can help them generate in-come to serve their families. With the nature of the level of their income, the co-operative Society help farmers find markets for their products, organize other farming resources such as inputs and equipment.

Improving agricultural management systems help low in-come small scale farmers learn new technology, multiple systems of farming, quality food production and storage, finance management, market research and other skills to enable them improve their lives. People living in rural communities are deprived of many developmental activities leaving them behind to contribute to social and economic development into the community, nation and the World at large. Communal entrepreneurship, community saving, finance management are some of the basics to help improve their standard of living.

With efforts made by various organizations and other institutions to help improve peoples' lives, still much is to be done to bring up means of solving challenges faced by small scale farmers mostly in rural communities to  improve lives. In this case, poverty and food insecurity is an issue which is affecting 78% of people  living in rural communities who depend much on agriculture as their primary source of in-come and survival. While it is true that similar solutions are implemented such as on soil conservation, agroforestry, awareness of climate changes and many others, still only a small percent of progress is seen as many solutions target individual programme progress. At a later stage, targeted beneficiaries fail to continue implement the programme to the acquired knowledge / skills  as they run out of resources. Therefore, multiple agricultural systems focus on training farmers not to depend on one agricultural system of farming. They should as well understand communal involvement in agricultural management both for food security and entrepreneurship which will help strengthen the system, individually and as a community to progress developmental activities. The project target to promote  full cooperation to targeted beneficiaries by providing trainings and support to ensure progress and success on implemented activities.

Applied technology in this business model or process is categorized in 3 components.

(a) To improve production of quality crops using recommended farming   system. Conservation farming and the use of organic manure is widely used to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers which are not only expensive but affect soil fertility.

(b) Use of already existing modern and traditional farming equipment for ploughing, irrigation and food processors ready for market and consumption. This technology is as well widely used as a cheap means to prepare land; such as oxen driven ploughs, hand pumps for irrigation and hand mills for processing, digging shallow ponds to reserve water for watering vegetable plants during dry season.

(c) For storage, both improved traditional and modern technology are used; such as drying of partly cooked vegetables, preserving grain seeds ready to plant the next season or for consumption. Here, large clay pots are used to store grain crops/seeds without application of chemicals, granaries  made of bamboos and other natural resources to store crops, also use of some tree leaves large enough sewed together to keep partly cooked dry vegetables for future consumption. Of most, is the communal business system/entrepreneurship where beneficiaries have one savings account as well as their personal accounts.

Recommended agricultural systems to improve farmers crops production is being applied mostly by small scale farmers such as the use of organic fertilizers, less application of toxic chemicals such as insecticides as well as in food preservation and storage.This technology has been applied from time to time at a lower scale. Traditional technology of preserving food stuff both for consumption and keeping it as seed to plant the next season has been in use for a long time mainly for small scale farmers as a cheap means without use of chemicals. Multiple agricultural system still exist up to date but not at an improved level in rural communities making it difficult for small scale farmers to improve their lives.

Though it is being surpassed with modern technology, traditional methods are not only cheap but add value to improve developmental activities and sustainbility. However, farmers are still to learn how they can thrive to sustain the production and improve lives as by introduction of communal entrepreneurship as a role model. 

Activities: The beneficiaries are provided with short trainings theoretically and practically in methods of multiple agricultural systems and entrepreneurship. Also workshops and group meetings are conducted to enhance and share information on the ground.The project is such organized to receive support from members and other interested parties on ongoing mentorship, access to resources, and corroborate with the community. Therefore, the community receives access resources to entrepreneurship practically and theoretically. Outcomes:  Beneficiaries gain competency in various aspects of conducting themselves in communal entrepreneurship, agricultural management, plan, financial management at a large scale to solve social and economical problems. They also scale to know where they are operationally self sufficient and engaged in various activities. The community as well gain awareness in the system of multiple agricultural methods and entrepreneurship to solve social and economic problems at a large scale. Short term outcomes: Beneficiaries demonstrates ability to work in the context of understanding how to apply the acquired knowledge theoretically  and practically to solve social, economic problems and provide the necessary service. They  also demonstrate double line impact through both qualitative and quantitative metrics. The community demonstrates a shift in values, engaging with more subjective, discursive and other approach to creative problem solving in the context of social and entrepreneurship problems. Long term outcomes: The beneficiaries are able to mentor, train others in the unique process of entrepreneurship, recommended agricultural systems, finance management, market research for  social and economic  impact and changes. They are then able to adopt the cultural and tactical approach taken by other organizations  advancing the role of problems worth solving. The community accepts and are able to tackle large scale economic and social problems.

As the project is at its initial stage, the targeted number of beneficiaries as currently is 127. These are local community small scale farmers  who have benefited in a form of a co-operative society.  In the next year, the number of beneficiaries is expected to grow to more than 500. This is so as many small scale farmers have seen the positive results from the existing members and want to join the system. In five years time, the number is expected to increase up to 2000 national wide as is one of the goals. Through these farmers, millions of people are likely to benefit Globally  through  products produced and other services provided.

The project goals are that small scale farmers in rural communities are to be trained in multiple agricultural systems which will them meet progression demand to improve standard of lives. by the next five years, millions of people will be reached and benefit from the programme globally. By this time, many small scale farmers in rural communities with low in come are expected to have been trained, acquire various agricultural management skills, formation of communal entrepreneurship groups, facilitated by introduction of community banking / savings to help transform lives, to solve problems together in times of crisis, help reduce the rate of poverty, food insecurity and illiteracy. Other approaches to achieve the intended goals can be from other sources, organizations or individuals who have the interest to change lives of people  by reducing the impact of poverty, improve food security and health. 

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The project lack enough funds which has resulted to limited resources to use as it depends only from the revenue raised from products sales of members and small donations made by group members. This makes it difficult to reach the intended goals, to provide adequate services as planned. It also lack enough technical approach to many issues as many experienced personnel need to be paid for services rendered and this slows the progress of various activities which are supposed to be accomplished in time planned. Most members / beneficiaries have different level of education background which means that it requires more provision in terms of education at the best level to make them understand the phenomenon of the project objectives. Still, there is need to do more market research on products produced as there is always competition with other producers. This  is so due to geographical location of the community targeted, specifically, lack of transportation of products to the intended markets on time.

Finance: The project require enough funds to run activities if it is to reach the intended goals from other outside parties through donations, grants or any other help. The funds are to be used in providing trainings to lead farmers/team leaders, educate beneficiaries, conduct workshops, group meetings, empower beneficiaries with simple farming equipment and inputs and to execute other services such as rentals, office utilities, transport, communications and advertising. Technical: Experienced personnel are needed to provide technical trainings on various sectors such as recommended agricultural systems, finance management, market research and on how to go about with communal entrepreneurship. Cultural: The community deserve to acquire primary/basic or literacy education mostly those who have low level of education background to help them understand technical approach of agricultural management and entrepreneurship. This is done through weekend classes, workshops and group meetings within the groups themselves or volunteer mentors. Marketing: Products and services are to be marketed through advertising or other sources of market research to promote effective delivery. This is done through community radio stations, posters and social media.

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The team consists mostly with volunteers and few part time workers as follows;

1. 3 employees, 5 volunteers and 7 board members.

The Executive Director is a former Provincial Community Officer who posses high education level and has a vast experience in community programs. He has been in service for 35 years. He has as well worked and helped various organizations in the same capacity.

The Executive Board secretary has worked with several organizations in community and institutions for a period of 22 years and has a vast experience to deliver the required services.

The project advisor/planning officer is a former Head teacher who is well qualified and experienced who has worked with the community and other institutions for a period of 33 years.

The rest twelve (12) Team leaders are well qualified and trained in various fields of work with high experience and have worked with the community and other institutions not less than 25 years. These are men and women dedicated and hard working committed to deliver and help improve peoples' lives.

Currently, there are no partners but look forward to work with one or two organizations who will be ready to work with.

The project works as a cooperative to provide beneficiaries with benefits through corroborative services. The beneficiaries are organized in groups and provided with trainings on various sectors and skills to enable them improve their standard of living. The targeted communities are experiencing great changes in improving their lives. Various developmental activities take place both socially and economically; thus, food security, improved income breaking the cycle of hunger and poverty. This  does not only benefit the members but also other non members from different communities who receive the services provided by members such as helping the old aged, disabled and those chronically sick. This is done through the revenue raised from sales of agricultural products.

Finance: Insufficient funds to run the project makes it difficult to achieve intended goals to provide services to beneficiaries. It will be worth for solver teams to intervene by funding the project to help it meet its expected expenditures if it is to achieve its goals. Technical Advice:                            The project require technical services such as trainers/mentors/facilitators and technical advice to plan and project management. Solver teams members can come on board to deliver these services and participate in implementing the programme through interacting with local communities by sharing information and mutual values to break cultural barriers to help members have common interests and needs as key stake holders or investors. To provide technical advice to project team leaders, help connect clients to markets and facilitate trade relationship between clients and the external market. So the solver teams will be of great help to source markets for the products. Other: Solver teams members would also connect / find other interested organizations to help run the programme.

Team Members need to partner with other organizations and institutions to achieve the goals of help communities improve their lives. Stated areas which require  intervention from partners such as business model; here the team has to be helped on how to build a successful business model that will help beneficiaries transform their lives. Marketing, media, and exposure; partners will assist in extending marketing products through media, Funding and revenue model; this is one of the most important if team members are to achieve the intended goals. Board members or advisors; team members will need expert advise on various issue pertaining to matters rising from the Board.

The Cooperative Society will cooperate with any interested potential partner, MIT, Solve Members, Organizations those who can come on board to advance the solution to its success. These can provide their services either financially, manpower or any other.

Women are the most vulnerable but important figures in every community who contribute 75% both social and economically. In most cases, women are left out or neglected without support to enable them play their part in developmental activities in communities. The team will use the Innovation for Women Prize to empower women in various sectors such as entrepreneurship, farming and other income activities to enable them change and improve their lives. Trainings in various skills and to improve education level for both adults and the youths to better understanding and application of modern technology in their day todays life.