Moshi, TZ – Tupendane and Schools changes farming schedule to improve results – 15 Oct 2020

Tupendane, Maendeleo, and Kahe Primary schools had a fairly decent year farming Corn and beans in 2020. As for beans, the schools received their highest harvest yet! Looking forward to more improvements to the labor intensive farming schedule, Tupendane suggested plowing now rather than waiting.

Historically, Plowing occurred in late December and early January. This is the same time all other farmers are hiring the tractor to plow as well, leading to high demand, but limited supply. For many seasons, Tupendane has been challenged with trying to encourage the school farms to be plowed first, but with little luck. Interestingly, Plowing after the beans have harvested every year turns many challenges that Tupendane and the schools experience year to year on their heads.

Plowing now opens up the schedule and allows for the opportunity to add manure and the dried bean crop into the soil for added nutrients. Every year, parents were required to do labor-intensive clearing work after 3 or 4 months of the farms resting which would delay planting! However, this year schools are expecting to have a light clearing and ridge formation in the same week! Schools are expected to plant early and with the addition of the organic matter in the soil hold better moisture and produce a better crop next year.

Soil quality is still a challenge most schools will continue to face. But as time goes on, with the addition of manure every year and protective trees and bushes, schools hope to change their soil health.