Ngara, TZ – Families continue expanding use of organic growing skills – 25 October 2015

Three families in Ngara are using the organic growing skills they learned from SODAT to expand their agriculture activities. They are hoping to increase the amount of nutritious vegetables they enjoy at home while also increasing income from selling excess vegetables.

The ABT, BB, and ETB families started an organic vegetable garden together with SODAT on September 1, 2015. Shafan Jaston, the garden lead for families living in the Mukibogoye area, helped the families start their garden. As they built the garden Shafan explained how to use various organic techniques and why to use the techniques. This knowledge allowed the families to expand their use of organic growing techniques.

In late September they planted a small plot of tomatoes using techniques like mulching and raising protected seedlings for efficient replanting. In November the families expanded their garden from 12 beds to 18 beds. They are hoping to take advantage of the short-rains season which typically lasts from September to January and features brief rain showers followed by brief periods of sunshine. This is often the most productive growing season.

The family has already been able to eat well from their garden, so they are hoping these expansions improve their income so they can reinvest in new projects.