FIRST TIME ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

When I received an offer for a USAID Farmer-to-Farmer assignment in Tanzania, I jumped on it. I’ve had a fascination with this country and its wild animals since grade school. I loved the photos of Tanzania’s wild life and its people, and now I get to check them out in-person!

The assignment originates with a not-for-profit operating in Dar Es Salaam called IESC. They make all the arrangements. Even though I’m a volunteer, my expenses are paid and I receive a per diem. Most importantly, I get to speak ‘farming’ with interesting people in places I would not likely visit on my own.

I will be working with organic spice growers in the northeast region around the East Usambara Mountains, which is part of the Eastern Arc mountain chain. These spice farmers are in need of organic solutions to organic challenges. This is just up my alley!

GETTING THERE

Two days of flying and one day of driving takes me from Asheville, NC to the Tanga Beach Resort in Tanzania. This is a very nice hotel with GREAT staff. While there is no beach, there is a view of the ocean from the top floor. The breakfast buffet features lots of delicious local dishes and the weekend entertainment has great vocals - check out Jacky Chant x TK Vibration Band.

MY ASSIGNMENT

My host for the USAID assignment is Cleopa with GFP Organics. His company buys spices from approximately 500 organic farmers in the area. GFP dries, bulk packages and exports the spices to the European Union. The farmers who sell to him are having some specific problems with Phytopthora root rot and ant infestations in black pepper plants. Our first step - go visit farmers in the valley and high up in the mountains to hear about their issues directly.

AT WORK

After visiting the farmers we set up a black pepper test plot, with randomized treatments on 168 plants. This involved loosening the soil, applying compost, gypsum and diatomaceous earth, trimming the plants, and using a straw mulch to learn what solutions would work best. We held a training day with the farmers to show what treatments we were working with, and ended up with an abundant cross sharing of information and lots of enthusiasm. GFP staff is so much fun to work with!

A MEMORABLE HARVEST

It happened to be orange harvesting time while I was in Tanzania, and GFP dries and sells orange peels. Once the oranges are harvested, women peel off the skin, spread it in the sun to dry and discard the flesh. Throughout the work, they exude pure joy. I was so inspired by the way the women carried heavy loads on their heads, that I gave it a try myself. We all ended up having a good laugh as I tried to copy what they do with such ease and grace!