MVIWATA imefanya kikao jana tarehe 28/5/2019 na Washauri Elekezi wa Kutathmini Rasimu ya Kati ya Utekelezaji wa Mpango Mkakati wa MVIWATA wa Miaka Mitano 2017-2021 pamoja na Tathmini ya Rasimu ya Uwezo wa Ndani wa Taasisi wa kutekeleza majukumu yake sambamba na mpango mkakati wa Taasisi.

Kikao hiki kimefanyika Makao Makuu ya MVIWATA Bigwa Morogoro kikishirikisha Wajumbe wa Bodi ya MVIWATA, Watendaji wa MVIWATA wa Ngazi ya Taifa na Ngazi za Kati za Morogoro, Arusha, Kilimanjaro na Manyara, baadhi ya wanachama wa MVIWATA kutoka Morogoro pamoja na Washauri Elekezi ambao ndio walikuwa wawasilishaji wakuu wa rasimu ya tathmini walizofanya.

Washauri Elekezi wameonesha hatua nzuri za Utekelezaji wa Mpango Mkakati wa MVIWATA ikiwa ni pamoja na Mpango Mkakati kuakisi changamoto za wazalishaji wadogo ikiwemo ukosefu wa uhakika wa ardhi kwa wakulima, changamoto za masoko, huduma rafiki za kifedha pamoja na kilimo endelevu. Vile vile wameainisha changamoto kadhaa ikiwemo kuboresha mifumo ya mawasiliano miongoni mwa wazalishaji wadogo ili kufikia malengo tarajiwa.

Baada ya Kikao na Washauri Elekezi Kikao kiliendelea cha tathmini ya Muda Mrefu miongoni mwa Wajumbe wa Bodi ya Wakurugenzi, Wanachama na Watendaji wa MVIWATA juu ya mwelekeo wa Taasisi katika Kutetea Maslahi ya Wazalishaji Wadogo na Namna ya Kukabiliana na Changamoto zinazojitokeza.

MWISHO

MVIWATA Board of Directors, Steering Committee of two MVIWATA middle level network of Mbeya Region and that of Iringa and Njombe, MVIWATA promoters and MVIWATA Staffs held a monitoring visit with a number of meetings with MVIWATA members in Southern Highland, Tanzania.

The two days meeting were held at Workers College Conference hall in Mbeya City of which different agendas including the Nafaka Project and its contribution to the growth of the institution, the implementation of activities by the steering committee in Mbeya and Songwe Region and the activities implemented by MVIWATA Promoters. After this two days meeting a visit was made to five Districts of Momba, Mbarali, Kyela, Chunya and Mbozi found in Mbeya and Songwe Regions. The aim was to monitor the progress of MVIWATA local networks members in particular districts together with the implementation of MVIWATA’s Strategic Goals.

Meanwhile the Board of Directors with MVIWATA Staffs made another visit to Njombe Region with the aim of monitoring MVIWATA activities in the area and conducting meetings with Steering Committee in Njombe and Iringa MVIWATA middle level network and also meetings with other local level networks members in villages.

The delegation paid a courtesy visit to Njombe District Offices and met with a District Administrative Officer and District Commissioner Ruth Msafiri whom along with other things a just and fair weigh measurement for smallholder farmer produces was critically discussed and strategic implementations were set together to end the exploitative nature of smallholder farmers by businessmen through unfair weigh measurement system.

After the discussion with DAS and a DC a team headed to Itunduma Village, Mtwango Ward in Njombe District to witness on how a Demonstration Warehouse for storing Irish potatoes seeds constructed by MVIWATA has helped smallholder farmers in the area. It was clear that the Demo warehouse has helped a number of smallholder farmers in the area with many villagers adopting the construction model of the warehouse in their houses to help store the irish potatoes seeds. Before the construction of this demonstration warehouse more than half of the irish potatoes seeds by smallholder farmers used to decay due to poor storage leading to spending a lot of money for smallholder farmers to purchase irish potatoes seeds for the next farming season.

A visit with meetings with local farmers’ network was as also made to Igagala Market constructed by MVIWATA in Wanging’ombe District in Njombe Region to see the status of the market and its benefit to members of MVIWATA and smallholder farmers in general in the area.

Conclusively, the monitoring visit in Southern Highland, Tanzania ended with a tremendous success by observing the status of MVIWATA members and their activities, the challenges facing them one being leadership and communication challenges of which the resolutions were made to resolve it. Also having observed the significance of monitoring visits, the team scheduled a plan for a visit of MVIWATA members and networks in other parts of Tanzania.

END

MVIWATA held a one-week campaign to mobilize, sensitize and strengthen smallholder farmers’ groups and members of MVIWATA in two Districts of Kyerwa and Bukoba in Kagera Region. The team included a Member of Board of Directors Mr Charles Ndugulile, Thomas Laiser a Policy and Advocacy Officer and Grace Bitegeko a member of the steering committee of MVIWATA middle level network in Kagera region. Apart from a visit made in these two Districts the team also met with MVIWATA members in Muleba District in MVIWATA local networks of Buleza and Gwanseli Wards.

The main goal of this campaign was to sensitize and strengthen members of MVIWATA alongside discussions about the progress of MVIWATA. The local network leaders and promoters played a vital role in mobilizing members who participated in these public meetings.

The delegation from MVIWATA Headquarters also had an opportunity to participate a constitutional meeting of the steering committee, Kagera middle level network held at Califonia Conference hall in Muleba town.

Three public sensitization meetings were conducted in two days in Kwenda ward and Kaisho ward in Kyerwa District where 78 members of MVIWATA attended. In Bukoba District a sensitization meeting was held at Rubale ward where by 69 members of MVIWATA attended.

The sensitization aimed to build a common understanding among smallholder farmers on the need to mobilize themselves in groups and be members of MVIWATA to easily defend and advocate smallholder farmers’ interests with a common voice. The focus of discussion in defending smallholder farmers’ interests was given with reference to the five strategic goals of MVIWATA that runs from 2017-2021.

Different fliers of MVIWATA were given to smallholder farmers who participated in meetings and also to local government officials as a reference to the discussions and sensitization meetings made together.

Conclusively, the sensitization meetings ended well with a number of smallholder farmers having joined MVIWATA to join hands in advocating smallholder farmers’ interests against exploitative systems and policies that deprive smallholder farmers’ benefit to the fruit of their work.  A resolution also was made for leaders in Regional and District level to strengthen MVIWATA members and be active in participating in meetings and activities conducted by local network groups.

END

Wakulima wadogo kutoka Wilaya ya Kilosa, Morogoro wakiwa katika ofisi za MVIWATA Makao Makuu wakipatiwa Msaada wa Kisheria na Ushauri juu ya migogoro ya ardhi baina yao na wawekezaji pamoja na mashamba yaliyofutiwa hati za umiliki katika maeneo yao.

TRAINING OF PROMOTERS: ANYHOW RELEVANT?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

An inventory done in September 2018 indicated a total of 18579 MVIWATA Promoters who are smallholder farmers developed to cater as community change agents in their areas, the idea which was sought from the initial stage of MVIWATA development to ensure that MVIWATA produces

MVIWATA, upon implementing its Strategic Plan 2017/2021, facilitates leadership training programs, amongst its other initiatives, sought towards producing change agents, tasked to extend such knowledge amongst their peers in their respective backgrounds. Through this program, MVIWATA seeks to build and strengthen the capacity of small-scale farmers in different aspects, altogether with intent in equipping and sharpening their ability in finding solutions to the different constraints posed against them.

In alignment with its strategic goal Number 5 in the Strategic plan 2017- 2021 ,MVIWATA has a leadership training program to its members with the aim of producing change agents in rural areas (termed as PROMOTERS) who will be able to train and mobilize their fellow farmers. This training program aims at building the capacity of small scale farmers in different perspectives so as to equip and sharpen their abilities to find solutions to different challenges posed to their communities.

OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAININGS

The overall objective of the trainings were, To strengthen and build community engagement skills amongst promoters towards promoting good governance and small-hold farming through strong MVIWATA networks which are able to lobby and advocate for the farmers challenges.

Specifically the trainings aimed at;

• Revisiting and sharing experiences from different farming communities.

• Develop understanding of participants about the basics towards MVIWATA philosophy, mission and vision.
• To capacitate participants with community mobilization skills and methodologies to cope with the different group dynamics
• To capacitate promoters with knowledge that will be a key for enhancing the potential of farmers’ groups and  networks in solving their problems and perform their tasks effectively
• To capacitate participants learning and practicing traits of a good trainer and admirable attitudes towards training others.

• Analyzing the historical setting and development of the land ownership system;
• Promoting the understanding (civic education) on the relationship and relevance of laws and policies to small-scale producers;
• Addressing on preservation, protection and use of natural resources for ensuring sustainable development;
• Building capacity on solidarity economics (through loans, savings and financial management) amongst small-scale producers;
• Facilitating a broadened theoretical and practical understanding on agri-preneurship; and
• Initiating discussions on Gender, HIV/AIDS and Nutrition and Hygiene

This report is thus prepared to narrate some success stories from the field to show the actions brought forward by Promoters all being attributed to the prior training that they got in a 1 month training period divided into two sessions of two weeks each.

The promoters training workshops that engaged small scale farmers from Shinyanga, Ruvuma and Morogoro instigated a sheer sense and spirit of desire and drive to become change agents vide putting into practice the lessons learnt from the two weeks training course, conducted at Kinole and Tawa Training Center.

The first phase two weeks training covers the following topics;

• Understanding MVIWATA (MVIWATA History, mission, vision, strategy and philosophy)
• Group and Network Concepts
• Communication
• Group and Network Leadership
• MVIWATA Constitution
• Lobbying and Advocacy
• Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Facilitation skills

The second phase two weeks training courses covered the following topics;

• Land Law: Analysis of the Origin and Legal Context of the Question of Land (and its Conflicts therein), The village Land Law
• Gender and Development
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Global Warming and Climate Change
• PETS (Public Expenditure Tracking System)
• Animation
• Entrepreneurship and Agriculture

CASE STUDIES

Tracking Progress of the Promoters’ Endeavors: Living the Spirit or leaving it at the training centres?

Post the 2^nd batch training workshop of the promoters, the participants went on to undertake different measures in putting the lessons learnt into practice. Thus saying, hereunder are highlighted some of the field and practical experiences of the participants to the workshop.

1. Resisting Embezzlement and Promoting Accountability in the Villages (PETS/ UMMAPESA)

“Subsequent to the solid legal foundations, the brief and general understanding on and over our basic rights, particularly those enshrined in the Constitution, offered us sheer light as to our entitlements and provided us the courage and shield in questioning  the traits and trends of our leaders in the village. Even when we were threatened, unlike the prior days, we upheld to our stance since we were certain of our constitutional right to question the authorities’ accountability and demanding reasonable and rational response.”

The aforementioned account was expressed in different accounts by Dionisia and Florence as to how they cornered the Village Chairperson and Village Executive Director over the loss of Tshs. 16 Million. Consequent to their boldness the respective village heads were ousted and they (the villagers) were promised an official government auditing ought to be conducted to substantiate the claims. Further such findings were sought to compliment the prospective legal case to be brought against the respective village leaders.

Elsewhere, Hamidu, another participant from Ruvuma, together with other villagers triumphantly pressed for the ousting of the Chairperson of Kilangalanga village upon numerous claims of illegally and unlawfully transferring/ selling village land. And same was the fate for the village chairperson of Mkotamo, whom Fatuma (a participant to the workshop) and other villagers queried over his incompetency resulting to stalling the progress and development of their respective village.

2. Agroecology (Sustainable Agriculture)

The two weeks training course to the first batch trainees from Ruvuma, Morogoro and Shinyanga precipitated an intense discussion amongst the participants on the scope, context and fate of agriculture in their respective localities. Intensive discussions saw the participants, and the facilitator to this particular topic, collectively subscribing to the essence of agro ecological farming systems in the course of achieving food sovereignty. And in their different capacity, participants went ahead to fulfill their expectations by living the agroecology dream.

Narrating on their experience in engaging in Organic Farming, Zamda and Hamidu (alias Afisa Ughani) described their respective, diverse yet similar, initiative of reconnecting with the “traditional” means of farming by enquiring local seeds from the village elders. This undertaking was basically sought to uphold the essence of sustainable agriculture; unlike the industrial/ factory seeds which are of a disposable character (once used then cannot be reused) the local seeds are on the other hand reusable and thus altogether promotes traits of self reliance

In a detailed conversation with Hamidu, he elucidated to have divorced his industrial darling seed, Chapa Tembo 719, and instead opted to tie knots with the local seeds. Zamda, on her case however transformed her farming ways only half way, as she was not able to get enough seeds to plant in the entire farm. Despite such a setback, desirous to practice sustainable agriculture, Zamda noted to have prepared her farm in the traditional and organic ways without using even a drop of factory/ industrial chemicals.

On the other hand Mzee Juma, a trainee from Shinyanga took an initiative of training Primary school students on the procedures of preparing compost manure dreaming on establishing MVIWATA school club in the school with an initiative of training the young people on agriculture and agroecological ways of farming.

3. Environmental Friendliness (Climate Change adaptation and mitigation)

Elucidating on the significant changes in seasons and its unpredictable nature, these days, with tremendous downpours and severe dryness, the topic of climate change traced on the causative agents, effects and challenges related to the aspect of climate change. Broad discussions thereon established this to be a global concern, but the participants collectively established that they would not wait for global initiatives, as they are going to become local “Ambassadors of the Environment,” in the course of protecting, preserving and promoting the environment.

In so doing, Hamidu, a participant to the training workshop, took this topic to heart, whereas as foremost he internalized his understanding on this aspect of Climate Change by reading and re-reading the training book, titled “Mabadiliko ya Tabia Nchi” provided to the participants in the training. Further, he went on to coordinate the planting of 1000 trees in his locality as an attempt to counter climate change.

“I mobilized a group of 10 youths (6 males and 4 females) and we established a tree nursery by transplanting 1000 trees in containers (viriba). The actual target is planting 8000 trees. This target however is challenging as I am overwhelmingly faced with shortage of containers (viriba), whereas other trees (miche) I have actually transplanted in bottles.”

4. Challenging the Gender Disparities (Gender and Development)

Amongst all other topics, the topic of Gender and Development gave rise to intense and heated (but still warm and friendly) debates amongst the participants during the training. Perpetrating the theoretical traits and elements of gender balance, the participants got to practice and live the gender balance experience. Altogether, despite their age and sex orientation, participants cleaned dishes, swept, slashed, mopped, cleaned toilets, picked litters, assisted in cooking and took part in the works of the garden.

With the practical experience, the participants were urged to go and live the experience in their respective houses, families and communities. Mzee Juma, a participant of the training workshop from Shinyanga, on his hand expresses as to how his perspective has changed and so to how such change has impacted his approach to life. Although he claims that he has changed entirely and not that he takes part in all social/ domestic activities at home, as he did during the two weeks training,  but still Mzee Juma acknowledges that unlike the past (before the training) he now, at least, takes time to light fire for cooking.

5. Socializing the Knowledge

Essentially, the training of promoters was sought to build capacity to the participants of the training workshop with intent such participants to become change agents in their respective communities. Further, such knowledge was sought to be shared by the promoters amongst other community members and such was expressed to have been propagated by the promoters.

Fatuma, a participant to the training from Ruvuma, explained as to how she has been helping in understanding the law amongst her community members and trying to resolve or suggest some conflicts related to land (and other) issues. And in her doing, like other participants to the workshop, she also been seeking legal consultation from the legal facilitator to the training.

Dionisia has sparked a sense of admiration and inspiration amongst fellow women upon advocating for the community rights and thus established a foundation/ precedence amongst other women to engage in community affairs. And further she convinced them as to their role and position in tracking the public expenditure and in promoting accountability.

Elsewhere, Mzee Juma conducted a seminar amongst 13 year old students as to how to prepare composite and animal manure. Such a seminar was meant to transmit the “traditional” knowledge to the younger generation and further stir up the sense of engaging with the organic farming and subscribing to food sovereignty from an early age.

LESSONS LEARNT

• More emphasis on understanding of the major essence of the law. It would indeed be a great deal of work to equip people with the absolute understanding of the law, but it would indeed be essential for these people to grab the basics of what entails to law prior bombarding them with respective laws as to either land and so forth. And in this case it is entirely crucial for there to be a set a basic understanding on the relevance and relationship between law and society
• In specific terms, suggestion is for the separate learning on Land law (village land law) and policies, a sub training on local authority administration related laws (crucial in understanding the means and modes of operation within the local government authorities) be done and also the basic of criminal procedural law for promoters (who may be at risk in their accountability tracking work)
• Having resources simplified explaining about the laws and for this case a simplified format of the Village Land Law which was developed by the Legal Officer who trained the first batch second session training in Kilosa Training Centre served a great purpose in helping the trainees digest the Land law easily.

MVIWATA through the support from Trust Africa had a meeting with delegates from Ministry of Agriculture and Members of Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania (Agriculture, Water and Livestock Committee) with the aim of discussion a budget of the Ministry of Agriculture 2019/2020. The meeting was done in May 2019 at St. Gasper Hotel Conference Centre in Dodoma.

In this meeting the Ministry of Agriculture presented an overview of the budget with its key priorities for year 2019/2020 while also presenting agriculture bill 2019 for discussion.

MVIWATA’s propositions were presented by Rehema a smallholder farmer and member of MVIWATA from Gwata, Morogoro rural District.  The propositions required the government to increase its budget in constructing irrigation schemes so that smallholder farmers can get rid on overdependence to unpredictable seasonal rains.

Likewise, MVIWATA wanted land security to smallholder farmers while urging the Ministry of Agriculture to collaborate with stakeholders in making sure that the land of which its title deeds were revoked by the president of the United Republic of Tanzania His Excellence Dr. John Pombe Magufuli finally turns into the hands of smallholder farmers as main producers of the country.

In giving his contributions, MVIWATA – Executive Director Mr, Stephen Ruvuga said there is need for a Ministry of Agriculture and stakeholders to come into an understanding though bitter that producers of a variety of produces in Tanzania are smallholder producers.

Mr. Ruvuga gave numerous examples of transnational companies that has failed to ensure production is effected despite having massive land fields in different parts of the country. Therefore, he said the primary role of production in the country has remained in the hands of smallholder farmers. Thus, Mr. Ruvuga said it will be a wise decision for the government, policy makers and stakeholders to make policies and laws that addresses smallholder farmers’ challenges because they are main producers in the country.

Members of Parliament in giving their contributions said that there is a tendency of the government to disregard smallholder farmers’ opinions and propositions in policy making processes and budget formulation sessions and therefore the government continues to make policies and laws that do not reflect the needs and wants of smallholder farmers as main producers in the country.

From the government, The Director of Policy and Planning of the Ministry of Agriculture gave a thankful remark to MVIWATA for uniting smallholder farmers in the country and for the propositions given in discussing the agriculture budget 2019/2020. He said that the propositions by MVIWATA reflect the actual one and firm voice of smallholder producers in Tanzania and the propositions shall be incorporated in the final budget when presented in the parliament for ratification and implementation by the government.

The Chairperson of the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania for Agriculture, Water and Livestock Committee Hon, Mgimwa concluded the meeting and thanked MVIWATA and Members of Parliament for defending the interests of smallholder farmers while promising that his committee will always be open and shall defend the smallholder farmers’ interests in different levels of decision making.

MVIWATA kwa kushirikiana na taasisi ya HAKIARDHI na TAGRODE chini ya AllianceTALA wamefanya Mdahalo na wananchi wa Kijiji cha Kichangani, Wilaya ya Ulanga,  Morogoro uliohusu Sera na Sheria za Ardhi kupitia Programu ya LTSP (Land Tenure Support Program). Mgeni Rasmi wa mdahalo alikuwa ni Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Ulanga aliyewakilishwa na Afisa Tawala wa Wilaya.

Kupitia mdahalo sera ya ardhi iliwasilishwa na wanasheria kwa wananchi ambapo nao pia walitoa maoni yao zikiwemo kero mbalimbali za migogoro ya ardhi katika maeneo yao. Baadhi ya kero hizo ni pamoja na mabadiliko ya mipaka ya vijiji bila ushirikishwaji wa wananchi, viongozi wa serikali ya kijiji kutokuwa na ushirikiano na wananchi na baadhi ya wananchi kutokupimiwa mashamba yao huku wengine wakilalamikia sera za uwekezaji kupora maeneo makubwa ya ardhi na hivyo kuwaacha wananchi wenye kipato cha chini bila ardhi ya kutosha kukidhi mahitaji yao.

Akitoa majibu kwa mamia ya wananchi wa Kichangani, Katibu tawala wa wilaya ya Ulanga aliwasihi wananchi kushiriki mikutano mikuu ya vijiji pamoja na kuhakikisha wanachagua viongozi watakaowajibika kwao kikamilifu. Vilevile aiwasihi wananchi kuandika barua kwa Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Ulanga na kuorodhesha kero zao zote na kuzifikisha Ofisi za Wilaya ili Mkuu wa wilaya aone haja ya kutembelea kijiji cha Kichangani na kuongea na wananchi kwa nia ya kutatua changamoto zilizopo.

Awali kabla ya siku ya mdahalo washiriki kutoka MVIWATA, TAGRODE na HAKIARDHI kupitia AllianceTALA pamoja na wananchi wa  Kata ya Kichangani walitembelea maeneo yenye migogoro ya Ardhi ikiwemo msitu wa uliohifadhiwa wa Chokoachoka uliopo kata ya Kichangani kwa ufahamu zaidi.

Mara baada ya mdahalo wanasheria kutoka MVIWATA na HAKIARDHI waliendelea na utoaji wa Huduma ya Msaada wa Kisheria kwa siku tatu zaidi kwa  wananchi katika Vijiji vya Igumbiro, Kichangani, Chilombola na Mzelezi  viivyopo katika Wilaya ya Ulanga.

MWISHO

Tarehe 17 April 1996 wakulima 19 waliuawa na dola katika nchi ya Brazil wakiwa katika harakati za kutetea ardhi yao. Tunaungana na wakulima wadogo duniani kote katika kuadhimisha Siku ya Kimataifa ya Mapambano ya Wazalisahji Wadogo Duniani.

Watu hao 19 waliopoteza maisha yao ni mashahidi wa mapambano ya kupigania haki za wanyonge na mauaji yao ni ushuhuda wa madhila, mateso na hatari tanazokumbana nazo wakulima katika kudai haki yetu.

Hivi karibuni tumeshuhudia ongezeko la harakati za uporaji wa ardhi kwa kisingizio cha uwekezaji. Katika nchi yetu harakati hizo zimepelekea msukumo wa kutaka kubadili sera na sheria ili kurahisisha uporaji wa ardhi kinyume na maslahi ya wakulima wadogo na kwa ujumla kinyume na maslahi ya taifa letu. Mabadiliko yoyote ya sera na sheria yenye lengo la kuiondoa ardhi kutoka katika umiliki wa jamii pana wakiwemo wakulima wadogo na kuikabidhi ardhi hiyo kwa wachache hususani makampuni au matajiri wachache ni hatari kwa mmomonyoko wa amani yetu na taratibu yanaturejesha katika mifumo ya kinyonyaji na kitabaka ambayo taifa letu lilipambana kwa nguvu zote kuondokana nayo.

Leo hii katika sehemu mbali mbali za nchi yetu kuna shuhuda za wakulima wadogo kunyanyaswa, kutishwa, kubambikiziwa kesi ili mradi tu tukate tamaa ili kuruhusu uporaji wa ardhi kwa maslahi ya wachache.

Tunawapongeza wakulima wote waliosimama kwa mshikamano kupinga uporaji wowote wa ardhi.

Rai yetu kwa wazalishaji wadogo kote nchini ni kuendelea kusimama na kutetea haki na usawa, kupambana na kutokomeza maovu na madhila yoyote yenye nia na malengo ya kutunyonya ili tuweze kuwa na mazingira bora ya kuzalisha chakula kinacholisha Taifa na kujenga jamii yenye haki na usawa.

Mfumo wa uzalishaji ni lazima ujengwe juu ya misingi ya haki, usawa, heshima na kutoa ulinzi kwa wazalishaji wadogo ambao siku zote tumekuwa nguzo ya uzalishaji chakula na mazao mengine katika taifa letu na huu ndiyo mfumo sahihi kwa taifa letu.

Tunatumia fursa hii kuishurukuri Serikali yetu kwa kupigia Kura Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa la Wakulima Wadogo katika mkutano wa Baraza la Umoja wa Mataifa. Tunatumaini kwamba Serikali yetu italisimamia na kuliheshimu Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa la Haki za Wakulima Wadogo ili kuhakikisha wazalishaji wadogo nchini wanapata haki na usawa kama ilivyoainishwa kwenye azimio hilo.

“Mtetezi wa Mkulima ni Mkulima Mwenyewe”

Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) iliandaa kongamano la kumbukumbu ya aliyekuwa Waziri Mkuu wa zamani Edward Moringe Sokoine. Kongamano lililofanyika katika Chuo Kikuu cha Jordan mjini Morogoro. Lengo la kutaniko ni kuchambua fikra, maisha na mtazamo wa Sokoine katika ujenzi wa Uchumi wa kitaifa na hasa maendeleo vijijini.

Watoa mada walikuwa ni Dr. Bashiru Ally, Prof. Issa Shivji mada ambazo zilijadiliwa na wanachama wa MVIWATA. Wageni wengine waalikwa walikuwa ni mashirika rafiki na waandishi wa habari. Mada zilizojadiliwa ni Ni nani hasa Sokoine iliyowasilishwa na Dk. Ng’wanza Kamata mhadhiri kutoka chuo kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, mada ya pili ni Fikra, Mtazamo na Maisha ya Sokoine katika Muktadha wa sasa wa Taifa iliyowasilishwa na Dk. Bashiru Ally, vile vile mada ya Ushirika na Maendeleo iliwasilishwa na Pro. Issa Shivji Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa KAVAZI la Mwalimu.

Dk. Kamata alimuelezea Sokoine kama kiongozi makini, aliyeishi maisha ya kawaida kupita kawaida. Aliendelea kwa kusema kuwa Sokoine hakuwa muoga wa kuamua jambo wakati hata kama lina kinzana na sheria. “Ni mtu ambaye alipenda kujadiliana zaidi na sio kuamrisha. Alimuheshimu mkubwa kwa mdogo na hakupenda kujilimbikizia mali”.

Katika kujadili fikra, maisha na mtazamo wa Sokoine katika muktadha wa sasa Dr. Bashiru Ally anasema “Adui wa haki na usawa ni wizi na unyonyaji, havikai pamoja hivi na fikra za Sokoine ni dhidi ya watu wenye nguvu kisiasa lakini wanaodokoa na kuiba mali za umma. Jamii ya kinyonyaji haiwezi kusimamia mali za umma. Rushwa, Ufisadi na Unyonyaji ni mapacha. Ubaguzi unatokana na jamii ambayo haina usawa. Sokoine hakuwa muoga alipambana na wanyonyaji. Wakati wa Sokoine ilikuwa unachagua kama unataka kufanya biashara au unataka kufanya siasa”. Dr Bashiru alisisitiza kuwa Sokoine alikuwa na bahati ya kufanya kazi na Mwalimu Nyerere ambapo wote waliamini kwa dhati katika Azimio la Arusha.

Washiriki walipata fursa ya kujadili fikra za Sokoine na mchango wake katika ujenzi wa maendeleo vijijini ambapo walitoa changamoto zinazowakabili ikiwemo migogoro ya ardhi, masoko, vipimo vya mazao, unyonyaji pamoja na ubadhirifu kwa viongozi wa umma katika maeneo yao. Vile vile washiriki walisisitiza juu ya umuhimu wa kuwa makini katika kuchagua viongozi wanoguswa na changamoto za wananchi na sio wale wanaotaka kujinufaisha kibinafsi.

Prof Shivji katika kuchangia mjadala alisema hatuwezi kujikomboa bila mapambano. “Tuhakikishe tunatumia mkutano mkuu wa kijiji na halmashauri ya kijiji. Tukiona viongozi wakijiji hawatekelezi tunayowaambia tunawafukuza. Pili tunahitaji chombo cha ushirika, ushirika ambao utakuwa na sura tofauti, ushirika utakaokuwa wakidemokrasia. Ushirika ambao utatafuta masoko na kuendeleza viwanda vidogodogo. Ushirika ambao mfumo wake utatoka chini kwenda juu” alisema Prof Shivji.

Katika kuhitimisha majadiliano Dr Bashiru aliisihi MVIWATA kuendelea na utaratibu wa kukutana na kujadiliana, pili kuendeleza mapambano kwa kutambuana kitabaka na sio kinasaba na tatu kuendelea kuelimishana kwa kupitia njia za kisasa zinazoendana na teknolojia ya sasa na vile vile kuelimishana juu athari za unyonyaji na mbinu mbalimbali za kinyonyaji zinazotumika.

Edward Moringe Sokoine alifariki kwa ajali ya gari tarehe 12/4/1984 akitokea Dodoma kwenda Dar es salaam. Sokoine atakumbukwa daima kwa uchapakazi wake na mchango wake katika Ujenzi wa Uchumi wa Kitaifa na hasa maendeleo vijijini.

International Women’s Day is a global day in celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. This three (3) day event was attended by an average of 200 smallholder farmers. All together through discussion, sharing of experiences, reflection and presentations, farmers re-affirmed their spirit and assumed a single struggle of “women emancipation, all farmers’ emancipation”.

The panel discussion was organised by women’s panellist and the aim was to bring out the real experience and practices on land ownership and financial services to the smallholder farmers in Mngeta. These two were the main topics for the commemoration activity.

Natalia, a smallholder farmer in Mngeta opened up the panel by sharing her experience on land where she pointed out land scarcity problems to smallholder farmers Mngeta and Kilombero at large. She went further by saying “We have no land while the Investors in our area owns large portions of land which in fact belonged to us previously and currently he has been renting the area to smallholder farmers who in return pay 1 sack of paddy after harvesting per each acreage rented”.

Natalia despite of admitting to the fact that the ‘land question’ particularly in their area is not gender biased she made it clear that women on the other hand due to a number of factors can encounter great challenges in land ownership from their fellow male counterpart especially once married. “We legally owned the land and we had with us the purchasing receipts and later on came an order that we had to vacate as the area is re-owned by the new investor and up to date we don’t have areas that we can use to produce not mentioning for establishing permanent settlements”- she concluded.

Another panellist presented the challenges of financial service access in Mngeta where she explained on the exploitative nature of the commercial bank loans coupled by stringent rules, un-timely loan disbursement, unaffordable interest rates on the loans and lastly the third panellist namely Calista gave out the Village Community Bank (VICOBA) experience where she put it clearly that VICOBA of recently in their area (Mngeta) have started the exploitative nature likely to the one of the so called “formal financial system” of the commercial banks.

In this commemoration the District Commissioner (DC) for Kilombero District attended the event as the Guest of Honour who addressed the mass by firstly commenting on the tremendous work that is being done by MVIWATA in uniting smallholder farmers in the country.

The District Commissioner (DC) went further by advising smallholder farmers on their role in protecting their land and that they shouldn’t always resolve their poverty crisis problems by selling their land to investors.

At the end of the event all participants agreed that the need for land advocacy in Mngeta is bigger and that all participants have re-affirmed to continue with their struggle on land regardless of the challenges faced, to have serious solidarity among farmers through groups and networks in advocacy of their challenges, to resort into group saving and lending (VICOBA) as mode of financing smallholder farmers, groups which will be owned by all farmers for smallholder farmers’ interest.

END

We, East African farmer and civil society organizations, met in Arusha on 5th – 6th March 2019, to deliberate on the East African Community (EAC) Seed and Plant Varieties Bill 2018 and its implications for smallholder farmers and their seed systems. The rationale given for the Bill is that this will create a conducive environment for improving regional availability of seed and planting materials. However, we are convinced that this proposed law will displace local seed systems, further entrench inequalities and corporate capture of food and seed systems, and marginalize the rural poor, especially women. We therefore demand that policymakers ensure transparency, public consultation and the inclusion of farmers’ rights to save, reuse, share, exchange and sell all seed in their seed and farming systems.Read more

Mafunzo juu ya sera na sheria za ardhi  yametolewa kwa wakulima wawezeshaji (mapromota) 30 ambao ni  wanachama wa MVIWATA mkoani Mbeya. Mafunzo hayo yamejumuisha wakulima kutoka Wilaya za Mbarali, Momba na Mbozi. Mafunzo yamefanyika kwa muda wa wiki 2 katika Chuo cha Kilimo Uyole Jijini Mbeya.