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Report on the 1th national workshop |
REPORT ON THE 1ST NATIONAL ECO-FARMING SENSISTIZATION WORKSHOP AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NECOFA TANZANIA
Morogoro, Tanzania 3rd – 4th January, 2003
Dr. Abel K. Kaaya and Mr. Idd S. Mdanku
NECOFA Tanzania Secretariat
June, 2004
REPORT ON THE 1ST NATIONAL ECO-FARMING SENSISTIZATION WORKSHOP AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NECOFA TANZANIA
Morogoro, Tanzania 3rd – 4th January, 2003
1.1. Introduction
With financial assistance from DSE, Germany, the 1st National Eco-farming Sensitization Workshop and establishment of NECOFA Tanzania was held at Vocational Teachers’ Training Centre (VTTC) of Vocational Education Training Authority (VETA), Morogoro for two days (3rd – 4th January, 2003). The main objectives of the Workshop were:
a) To sensitize different stakeholders (including researchers, trainers, agricultural extension agents, farmers and Government officials) on issues related to Eco-farming so as to promote eco-farming activities in Tanzania
b) To bring together different stakeholders so that they could deliberate on establishment of country group of Network for Eco-farming in Africa (NECOFA) for Tanzania
1.2. Participants:
Initially, a brochure advertising NECOFA and its objectives was prepared and distributed to a number of individuals and Institutions so as to create people’s awareness about NECOFA. Then various stakeholders were invited from many parts of the country. Finally, the workshop drew participants from the following regions: Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Mbeya and Morogoro. A total of 21 participants from within the country attended the Workshop. Also, Country Representative of NECOFA - Kenya, Mr. Samuel K. Muhunyu accepted our invitation and attended the Workshop. In addition to his role as NECOFA Kenya Representative, Mr. Muhunyu also represented the NECOFA International Coordinator, Dr. Sahle Tesfai. Mr. Muhunyu was very resourceful as a moderator of the Workshop.
1.3. Workshop Organizing Committee:
Members of the Organizing Committee included the following:
1. Dr. Abel K. Kaaya Chairman
2. Mr. Idd S. Mdanku Secretary
3. Mr. Richard Mwanakulya Member
4. Ms. Zubeda M. Kondo Member
5. Mr.Adam I. Mwakyalaba Member
6. Mr. Abbas A. Rehani Member
7. Ms. Felistas Kalomo Member
1.4. Methodology of conducting the workshop
1.4.1. General
The Workshop was organised in such a way that there were two sessions per day. The two sessions were separated by lunch break, and within each session there was tea/coffee break
On registration, the participants were provided with registration pack, which included a T-shirt and a cap (both bearing NECOFA logo) and stationery for use during the Workshop. After registration on the first day, the Workshop started by self-introduction of the participants followed opening remarks by the Country Representative of NECOFA Tanzania Mr. Richard Mwanakulya.
The Workshop was covered by invited national and local news media (including Radios, TVs, newspapers, etc.)
1.4.2. Opening remarks and keynote address:
The NECOFA Country Representative, Mr. R. Mwanakulya, gave the opening remarks including keynote address. He started with welcoming all participants to this important workshop and then presented background information regarding NECOFA since its establishment in Ethiopia in 1998 In his address he pointed out the objectives that led to establishment of the network and its relevance for adoption as a farming system which is socially, economically and environmentally sound. The NECOFA Country Representative concluded his speech by emphasising on the need of establishing the country group of Network for Eco-farming in Africa (NECOFA) for Tanzania.
During this session, the Country Representative of NECOFA-Kenya, Mr. Samuel Muhunyu briefed the participants on the Kenya experience regarding the NECOFA Kenya activities. Participants were informed that NECOFA Kenya is very active with secretariat that is working with community-based groups and they were in the process of making official registration of the organization in Kenya.
The Acting District Executive Director of Morogoro Rural District, Dr. Abdu Haighaimo, officiated the opening ceremony of the Workshop. During the opening ceremony, Country Representative of NECOFA-Kenya, Mr. S. Muhunyu read greetings from the NECOFA International Coordinator, Dr. Sahle Tesfai. The message from NECOFA International Coordinator emphasized the need for the Workshop participants to come up with strategies and plan of action that will make our country group attain the level of the other countries taking into consideration that Tanzania did not participate in the 2002 NECOFA workshop held in Uganda.
1.4.3. Presentation of papers (in brief)
The morning session of the first day was occupied by paper presentations followed by discussions. Papers presented during the 1st National Eco-farming Sensitization Workshop were:
a) History and establishment of NECOFA (by Richard Mwanakulya, Country Coordinator)
b) Highlights of NECOFA Workshop that was held in Uganda in 2002 (by Samuel K. Muhunyu, NECOFA - Kenya)
The presentation focused on the strategies of improving networking in NECOFA and gender issues among the member countries. Mr. Muhunyu emphasized the importance of NECOFA Tanzania participating in the next international NECOFA workshop to be held in Kumasi, Ghana in September- October, 2004.
c) Organic Farming in Tanzania (by Abbasi A. Rehani)
The presentation indicated that farmers’ experiences in Tanzania are that organic farming is a farming system that has to follow the standardization and regulatory procedures in all production processes and subsequently issued with certified certificates from accredited certifiers with IFOAM.
The participants had time to discuss more on the status of organic farming in Tanzania and the strategies involved in the development of the organic agriculture sector in the country.
d) Concepts and sustainability of eco-farming (by Abel K. Kaaya)
The presentation gave an overview of eco-farming concepts. The key issues in this presentation were:
emphasized that that although approaches of eco-farming in different cultural systems, social, economic and ecological settings may differ, the general goal of eco-farming is to maintain those factors of production that will allow future generations to meet their needs.
further stressed that sustainability of eco-farming depends on the effective participation of all stakeholders of eco-farming including farmers, researchers, extension agents, scientists dealing with management of natural resources, etc.
Pointed out the main differences and similarities among modern farming systems, organic farming and eco-farming.
Some examples of eco-farming technologies relevant to Tanzanian environment and extension methodologies for disseminating the same were also discussed.
1.4.4. Discussions & Presentation of Case Studies
The afternoon session of the first day was occupied by presentations of case studies and discussions on participants’ experiences in eco-farming and eco-farming-related activities. In the discussion the participants were able to appreciate the differences between organic farming and eco-farming although both of them may be ecological, socially and economically sound. Some of the presented case studies gave insights on the importance of participation of rural population in implementing eco-farming programmes such as their involvement in environmental conservation activities (including control of soil erosion, management of degraded lands, agro-forestry, crop rotation, application of organic fertilizers and pesticides, etc.)
During the discussion it was evident that eco-farming was viewed by the majority of the participants as being an agricultural system that is being practised by majority of small-holder farmers in Tanzania which involves integration of modern and indigenous techniques and methodologies. Therefore it was convincingly noted that the modern eco-farming system (or approach) could easily be adopted and practised by majority of farming population particularly the small holder farmers in Tanzania.
1.5. Field excursion (led by Mr. Adam Mwakyalaba, in charge of the Kireka Prisons Farm)
The field excursion was scheduled for the morning of the 2nd day. The field excursion involved visits to:
i) Prisons pavilion at Eastern zone Agricultural show grounds in Morogoro where participants could see plots of well-established crops that have been produced without applying any industrial or (inorganic) inputs. The crops included fruit crops, various vegetables, leguminous crops, cereals, bananas and fibre crops.
ii) Kireka Prisons` Garden (in Morogoro Urban), where participants were shown ecological and organic agricultural practices in place at two parallel establishments for their comparison. The observed cultural practices were mainly in the development of nursery techniques, cultural practices such as crop rotation, cover crops, soil erosion control, mulching, small scale irrigation, utilization of green manures, etc.
During the field excursion the participants were able to appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of both ecological farming and organic farming in relation to conventional farming systems. These three systems were the basis of the discussions during and after the field excursion.
1.6. Resolutions/Deliberations of the 1st National Eco-farming Sensitization Workshop
During the afternoon session of the second day of the workshop, the participants made the following resolutions and deliberations of the Workshop:
a) Agreed to establish a NECOFA Tanzania country group of Network for Eco-farming in Africa (NECOFA) that will be called NECOFA Tanzania.
b) Agreed to strengthening NECOFA Tanzania through:
i) Institutionalising it
ii) Registering it following the existing government regulations and procedures
iii) Mobilising (recruiting) more members including individual members, farmer groups, Government and non-government organizations, Government and non-government institutions, Research centres, etc.
c) Planned activities of NECOFA Tanzania (to be initiated):
i) Preparation and writing of eco-farming related articles in mass media
ii) Participating in organization of farmers field days or farmers open days to disseminate eco-farming technologies appropriate to our environment.
iii) Organising eco-farming sensitisation seminars/workshops for Government leaders and politicians.
iv) Lobbying and Advocacy: by attending open Workshops, ceremonies, shows, etc.
v) Collaboration with Farmers training Centres in organising eco-farming demonstration farms/plots.
vi) Participation in training targeted groups of people especially farmers in issues related to eco-farming
vii) Preparation and production of simple training manuals or publications on specific eco-farming technologies and methodologies.
viii) Development of eco-farming community projects to be submitted for donor funding.
ix) Development and improvement of linkages with other organizations with similar objectives
x) Enhancement of networking with other NECOFA country groups.
xi) Taking of inventory of the existing eco-farming technologies and methodologies in the country.
xii) Establishment of NECOFA Tanzania Information Centre.
xiii) Outreach of NECOFA Tanzania in the country to establish a strong membership base with a contact person in each region (Tanzania has 26 regions).
The Workshop was then closed, and the remaining part of the day was spared for a General meeting to adopt resolution for establishment of country group of NECOFA Tanzania.
1.7. The 1st NECOFA Tanzania General Meeting
Following resolutions made during the 1st National Eco-farming Sensitization Workshop, the 1st General meeting was held to establish NECOFA Tanzania country group of Network for Eco-farming in Africa (NECOFA) for Tanzania. Mr. Richard Mwanakulya, the Country Representative of NECOFA chaired the meeting.
1.7.1. Draft of NECOFA Tanzania Constitution
During the meeting the draft of NECOFA Tanzania Constitution (prepared by Mr. Idd S. Mdanku and Dr. Abel K. Kaaya with contributions from the Workshop Organising Committee members) was distributed to members; and Mr. Idd S. Mdanku did the presentation. Members had an opportunity of discussing various items of the draft of the constitution. Then the members present went through the draft of NECOFA Tanzania Constitution one item after the other, and some amendments were proposed. Then the Constitution was anonymously passed subject to incorporating the suggested amendments.
1.7.2. Elections of office bearers of NECOFA Tanzania
The establishment of NECOFA Tanzania country group of Network for Eco-farming in Africa (NECOFA) for Tanzania, culminated by carrying out elections of office bearers (for the 1st 3 years) by voting according to the NECOFA Tanzania Constitution. Mr. Samuel K. Muhunyu, the NECOFA Kenya Country Representative, chaired the elections. The elected office bearers are shown in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1: The elected office bearers of NECOFA Tanzania for the period 2003 - 2005
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