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Upendo Farmer Field School in Tanzania has a Love for Enhanced Crop Production
Upendo Farmer Field School (FFS) in Haruzale Village was started in in 2010 and has a total of 32 members (15 men and 17 women). Upendo, which means ‘love’ is a fitting name for the FFS as the members all seem to have a love for their work as well as the benefits that are being received as a result.
Upendo FFS is growing maize, intercropped with lentils, green gram (a type of beans) and will also start growing groundnuts in the future because they are very marketable. The crops are being grown for household use and the surplus is sold on the market. For example, maize which is their main crop is produced at a rate of 15-20 bags – 10 of these bags are used at home and five bags are sold on the market.
Upendo was inspired to start growing groundnuts for both home consumption and the market after a CPAR nutrition training session. They learned that groundnuts could be fried or ground and mixed with vegetables or ground with flour to make a protein-rich porridge for either children or adults.
From September to April (the short rains season) Upendo will focus on growing cassava, a drought-resistant crop. When they first started growing cassava they were only generating five-six bags per acre. After their CPAR training in the FFS they are now generating 15-20 bags per acre. They increase in crop production is partially due to training in crop spacing, the effective use of proper seeds and manure.
The money that is generated from the FFS is partially used to support each household with home needs, school fees, etc. Any surplus that is generated is deposited into a collective fund in the Bunda bank and is designated to be reinvested in future projects. Some of the proposed future projects include buying a milling machine, and expanding the FFS plot from one acre to five acres.
Maskha Debora, a FFS member notes the many benefits that Upendo FFS members receive. “The FFS has had many benefits for us. One of those benefits is the support that we receive as a result of being close to each other and always reaching out to support each other’s needs.”
“The Farmer Field School has had many benefits for us. One of those benefits is the support that we receive as a result of being close to each other and always reaching out to support each other’s needs.”