MILIMBA COMMUNITY NURSERY PROJECT

GOAL

To promote sustainable income generation and support improved nutrition in schools and farming communities, while also promoting environmental sustainability, by establishing 21,000 high-yielding cocoa seedlings and implementing amaranth demonstration plots across seven schools in Morogoro Region, Mlimba District, Masagati Ward.

LOCATION

Tanzania

DURATION-

2024

-

2025

FARMERS

2500

VALUE CHAINS

Amaranth, Cocoa

PARTNERS

EFF Funded

FUNDING



Enhancing smallholder cocoa farming in Tanzania

To introduce cocoa as a profitable cash crop in Tanzania, Empowering Farmers Foundation launched a cocoa nursery project in Mlimba District, Morogoro Region, in Masagati Ward. In collaboration with seven local schools, EFF has established nurseries at each school, with a combined production capacity of 21,000 seedlings.

The project goes beyond simply providing seedlings. Recognizing the importance of knowledge transfer and sustainable practices, EFF is actively empowering students and local farmers through hands-on training programs. These programs cover all aspects of cocoa cultivation, from nursery management and proper planting techniques to sustainable farming practices that maximize yields and minimize environmental impact. To further enhance the project's impact on local nutrition, amaranth demonstration plots have been established at each of the seven schools. These plots showcase the cultivation of amaranth, a highly nutritious crop, and serve as a practical learning resource for the community, promoting dietary diversity and improved food security.

Key project activities, achievements and impact to date

• Successfully established seven cocoa nurseries across seven schools, nurturing a total of 21,042 cocoa seedlings.

• Distributed 2,600 seedlings to participating schools and allocated 18,442 seedlings to 231 farmers in Ipinde, Tanganyika, and Taweta villages, aligning distribution with the onset of rains in late December 2024.

• Registered 1,872 farmers from these three villages who expressed interest in joining the cocoa project in the future, further supporting the project's goal of promoting sustainable cocoa farming practices and community engagement.

• Set up seven demonstration plots for amaranth, each measuring 10 x 15 meters in the schools to showcase the cultivation of this highly nutritious crop.

• Harvested amaranth seeds for further distribution to more schools, supporting seed multiplication efforts to expand local access to this nutritious crop and strengthen food security in the region.

Agricultural Productivity: Enhance agricultural productivity through sustainable and climate-smart practices, improved access to quality seeds, fertilisers, and modern technologies, and training for small-scale farmers. b. Irrigation and Water Management: Promote water conservation techniques, efficient irrigation systems, and integrated water resource management to ensure a reliable water supply for agriculture. c. Diversification: Encourage crop diversification to enhance food availability and household nutrition by promoting the cultivation of smart food crops and high-value crops for increased income generation. d. Storage and Distribution: Strengthen post-harvest management and improve storage infrastructure to reduce household food losses; and promote efficient aggregation systems for improved inputs distribution and access to markets. e. Market Linkages & Financial Services: Support the establishment or farmer cooperatives/ organisations for effective produce aggregation and market linkages, and provide technical assistance to enable small-scale producers to access domestic and international markets and financial services, fostering income generation and economic growth. f. Skills Training and Capacity Building: Facilitate agronomic training, entrepreneurship development, and business management skills to enhance the capacity of smallholder farmers and communities to generate sustainable incomes.
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