Shanta Mine Agricultural Project (SMAP)

GOAL

to increase the net income and the overall well-being of 1,500 smallholder farmers through agricultural production in the villages surrounding the Shanta New Luika Gold Mine, Songwe Region and provide an alternative to artisanal mining

LOCATION

Songwe Region, Tanzania

DURATION-

2016

-

2020

FARMERS

1500

VALUE CHAINS

Chickpea, Maize, Pigeon Pea

PARTNERS

ETC Group (ETG), Shanta Gold Mine Ltd

FUNDING

USD 308,600

Shanta Mine Agricultural Project (SMAP)

The Shanta Mine Agricultural Project (SMAP), focused on raising the net income and overall well-being of families through agriculture in the villages surrounding the gold mine in Songwe District, Tanzania. Resettled families were supported to sustainably enhance their food production, in addition to strengthening and empowering farmers from four villages around the mine to improve their agricultural productivity. SMAP provided seeds and comprehensive training in good agricultural practices, conservation agriculture, and basic business skills. The focus villages - Maleza, Mbangala, Patamela, and Saza - witnessed the establishment of Village Agricultural Marketing and Cooperative Societies (AMCOS), registered in the regional capital, Mbozi. Initially, 350 farmers were registered, however, during the project this increased to 1,500, 32% of which were women.

In a bid to further empower farmers, SMAP distributed seed loans and established a WhatsApp group for effective communication and information exchange amongst 25 lead farmers. As the project progressed into its third year, seeds were provided as a grant, to encourage more farmers to transition to the higher-yielding Lindi White sesame. EFF facilitated the procurement of sesame, linking the farmers to ETG, and ensuring a premium price for Grade A sesame. A Quality Declared Seed scheme was also established to ensure access to affordable and locally available good quality seeds.

The positive impact of SMAP extended beyond immediate agricultural gains. It created a sustainable agricultural infrastructure in the area, fostering economic growth and enhancing the overall livelihoods of the participating farmers. The collaborative efforts between Shanta Gold Ltd and EFF exemplify how partnerships can play a pivotal role in creating lasting positive change in local communities.

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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