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24.04.03

Normally, it is very hot through Christmas to January with rains expected from Mid February every year. The onset of the rainy season means a lot for the people here. More like a custom/tradition, lives of people here are modelled on this natural weather changes: the rainy season means people grow their food and it's not the best time to visit nor hold sensitisation seminars or training.

Most will be engulfed in their shambas (gardens) either planting, or weeding, etc. When rain is over (again normally end of May through August), it's time for merry making, exchanging gifts, visitations, etc...and the best time to visit because most people will be available.. and less farm work. A lot of beer making and drinking too!

This year it's been very different. The rains did not come as expected (around 15th Feb.) not until 15th April. And what can I say ? When these came, they have been very heavy, coupled with hailstorms. One things is definite - late planting, which further means that there will be food shortage for a community entirely dependent on the rains. There would not be enough rains for crop to mature (most crops mature within a minimum 90 days).

And worse, something that could be a headline for a news column in a national journal: heavy rains now with hailstorms and hurricane have destroyed hundred of acres of crops, leaving over 70,000 people in Karagwe completely without food. This means, for a population heavily dependent on bananas as main staple food crop, these are going to starve.

FADECO's role

There are a lot of implications to the interventions started and being implemented by FADECO. FADECO is involved in the promotion of appropriate technologies in agriculture: organic farming, agricultural diversification, agroforestry to post harvest processing, preservation, storage and marketing. This is done by sensitising farmers and training them in simple techniques to help them cope with such disasters but most importantly to ensure household food security and income.

FADECO has been called to respond to the existing disasters - not by providing relief food, but by procuring planting materials for sweet potatoes. I can say that I have been motivated. This is like an expression from the Government of Tanzania that they recognize the contribution made by FADECO in addressing local community needs.