Project Description

Sesame Projects:

In order to further the diversity of crops within the region and improve the standards of living by raising farm productivity, the Foundation introduced sesame farming into the Kilwa and Songwe region with a number of communities. Through this project the Foundation has linked these smallholder farmers to the global market and has provided them with improved seed, Lindi 2002 White, to increase the quality and quantity of sesame production. The project provided farmers with crop and agricultural training along with market information. This training was accompanied by demonstration plots and in-the-field training in order to ensure comprehension of the new crop and the farming practices that are needed to succeed in securing a good yield.

Kilwa, Tanzania

Since the project began in the 2012/2013 season the number of participating farmers has increased to approximately 700, as the benefits could clearly be seen in the community with the average participant doubling their household income each season. According to a Kilwa District Council survey over 70 new homes were built in the Majuvi community, our largest community of farmers. Indeed, throughout the coming seasons many of our original farmers have managed to double their yields further increasing their annual income. The project seeks to reach and impact more farmers within the Kilwa region and also to improve the Post Harvest Handling of those participating in order achieve higher standards.

Songwe, Tanzania

The EFF Inclusive Green Growth of the Smallholder Agriculture (IGGSAS) project, which was planned to start in November 2016, started officially in mid-January 2017. The project, which is financially supported by AGRA through funding from the Norwegian Government, aims to increase incomes and food security of at least 7,000 smallholder sesame farmers in Songwe Region by 2020 through market-driven productivity enhancements. The focus is on the sesame value chain. Since the start of the project, EFF has established 5 demonstration plots in Kanga and Galula wards (Songwe District) and a field team, consisting of a Field Extension Officer (FEO) and a Community Development Officer (CDO) for the transfer of knowledge and skills to the community of smallholder farmers, has been recruited.