CHOLOLO ECOVILLAGE: A MODEL OF GOOD PRACTICE IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION

Chololo Eco-Village is located in Dodoma, 45 km from town; number of population is 4,079 with 1,111 households. Project started September 2011 to May 2014 with title “EMPOWERING VULNERABLE RURAL COMMUNITIES TO ADAPT AND MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN CENTRAL TANZANIA”.

Before project implementation village was characterized with slash and burn as predominant tillage practice, dry planting, farmyard manure applied on cropland after planting, planting was randomly, low plant population, poor agronomic practices, use of farmers saved seed with low genetic potential.

But now…Chilolo Ecovillage is A model of good practice in climate change adaptation and mitigation, Empowered a community to test, evaluate and take up 26 climate change innovations:- in Agriculture, Livestock, Water, Energy and Forestry.

In Agriculture

Project has introduced a package of ecological agriculture technologies to make the most of the limited rainfall, improved soil fertility, reduce farmers’ workload, and improve the quality of local seeds. These includes Ox-drawn tillage, Soil water conservation measures, Farmyard manure, Improved early-maturing high-yielding seeds, Optimal plant population, Community seed production, Intercropping and crop rotation, fish farming as well.

“Before the project I was farming traditionally. In pearl millet I was getting an average of 2 bags per acre but now I am getting 5-6 bags per acre. In sunflower I am getting 6-7 bags per acre compared to the past where I was getting 2 bags per acre” Stefano Chifaguzi- Anna Malengo- Chololo community member.

“I got education in fish keeping and made a fishpond, which is supplying fish for my family. I am also using water from the fishpond to irrigate my flowers and papaya trees and seedlings. I am now getting papaya fruits and I am selling seedlings to different people within and outside the village. With water availability, fish can be produced at home and provide food for the household” Agness Mwalimu- Chololo community member.

In Livestock

“The project aims to increase the genetic potential of local livestock breeds, improve productivity, livestock health and feeding” Dr Francis Njau- Project Manager.

The project has increased the generic potential of livestock in the village, through the introduction of improved breeds of cattle, goats, chickens. This has increased the productivity of the animals, producing more meat and more eggs, more quickly. Through training, livestock keepers are now more able to keep their livestock healthy, and ensure they have adequate feed, particularly during the dry season. Also leather production training was provided for 40 people.

“Making leather products has made us self-employed. In November 2013, we made 50 pairs of sandals and sold them for 12000/= to 18000/= Tsh each. I advise other rural people to make use of hides and skins to make leather goods. This will reduce poverty and help them adapt climate change ” Anna Malengo- Chololo community member.

In Water

Access of clean, safe and quality water is a big challenge to most of areas in Tanzania, including Chololo village in Central Tanzania. When the project began in October 2011, there was no drinking water supply to the village as the borehole equipment had broken down, so people (mostly women and girls) had to walk for two hours a day to get a bucket of water from the next village. The project is tackling these issues through several innovations, including:- the village water supply is now powered by solar energy, The village primary school has been equipped with  roof catchment rainwater harvesting equipment, capturing 60,000 liters of water in underground tanks.

“Since the installation of the solar water pump, water is available every day. The price of water has gone down from 50 Tsh in the past 25 Tsh per bucket. When we were using the diesel pump, there were frequent breakdowns and we were using a lot of money for repairs, and during the repairs and during the repair water was not available.” Joina Mgohachi- Chololo Water committee member.

“The first benefit to the school was from rainwater harvested through roof catchment. The water is enjoyed by the children and community surrounding school. Children are water all the time for drinking and washing their clothes. Water is also available to irrigate trees and tree nurseries. School children pass the rainwater harvesting knowledge to their parents and start their own rainwater harvesting” Amon Mada- Chololo Primary School Teacher.

In Energy & Forestry

Tanzania loses around 1% of its forest cover every year. This means around a year millions acres of forest is cut down annually. Reliance on wood fuel and charcoal for cooking is a key driver of deforestation as 94% of all (rural and urban) energy consumption is derived from these sources.

The project has supported the community to take up, test and evaluate a range of alternative energy technologies, including energy saving cooking stoves, and low cost domestic biogas plants. The project trained 12 women how to construct energy-saving stoves, carried out community sensitization.

Energy saving-stoves halve the amount of wood needed to cook, reducing pressure on forest resources, saving women time and effort, reducing harmful smoke at home.

“You can cook two pots at a time and there is no coughing due to smoke. In the past I was using two bundles of firewood per week on my three-stone traditional stove but now am using less than one bundle per week with the energy saving stove. This has reduced the burden of fetching firewood, which is now scarce due to deforestation. I advise other women to just get an energy saving stoves” Mama Chifaguzi- Chololo community member.

“Modern beekeeping provides us more honey than traditional beekeeping” Michael Mbumi- Village Chairperson.

Chololo Eco-Village Project is really life touching and made remarkable changes in semi-arid area toward climate change. Currently 97% out of 4,079 people in Chololo Ecovillage, 46% are now using adaptation innovations and food shortage is reduced by 50%.

Thanks to European Union (who funded project), Dr Francis Njau (Project Manager-IRDP), Implementing Partners and Chololo Eco-Village Community. The Green Icon appreciates much.