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 Agriculture is the foundation of Tanzanian economy. It accounts for about half of the national income and three quarters of merchandize exports. Agriculture in Tanzania is dominated by smallholder farmers (peasants) cultivating average farm sizes of between 0.9 hectares and 3.0 hectares. There is a lack of some vegetables in southeastern regions of Tanzania.
The project’s objective is to teach participants the basic techniques of small-scale enterprises through a small vegetable farming business in the Mtwara region. 125 men and women have learned how to grow and sell vegetables both commercially (to hotels and camps) and to their neighbors through the local farmers market. The Mchepa farmers are now earning up to three times more money than the average person in the area.
Mchepa soil requires a lot of nutrients and fertilizers. The cost of such nutrients is expensive for the farmers. To help solve this problem Artumas has partnered with the Mchepa farmers in finding alternative solutions. Beginning 2007, the Mchepa farm has started a compost system in order to produce fertilizer. The compost is made from raw biological waste generated by Artumas’s camp. The farm benefits from nutrients produced by the compost and the camp has implemented an environmentally friendly waste management program.
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