Women in Zanzibar now embrace mixed farming

Women in Zanzibar now embrace mixed farming

Unguja. Some women in Zanzibar are now embracing mixed farming, a sustainable practice that utilises small plots of land while conserving the environment, in attempt to addressing climate change.

Mixed farming integrates crops and trees in a single area to yield social, economic and environmental benefits.

It addresses land scarcity and provides solutions for energy needs, while promoting food security, absorbing carbon dioxide, improving nutrient cycles, conserving soil moisture, and increasing farmers’ income.

Despite agriculture employing approximately 35 percent of Zanzibar’s population, women’s participation in the sector remains limited.

The ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources, and Livestock states that agriculture—which includes crops, livestock, and forestry—continues to be a critical pillar of Zanzibar’s economy, directly supporting the livelihoods of many.

Historically, women’s involvement has been constrained by lack of land ownership and societal perceptions.

Agricultural expert Hussein Ali Ame emphasises that mixed farming reduces investment costs, optimises land use and improves family nutrition.

In interviews, women farmers in Uzi and Ng’ambwa shehias in South Unguja shared how they have embraced mixed farming despite numerous challenges.

Aisha Abdalla Ahmed, a farmer from Uzi, explained that mixed farming offers significant economic and food benefits while preserving the environment.

“We now have great hope for better harvests compared to the past,” she said.

Similarly, Amina Rashid from Ng’ambwa noted that women in her community were traditionally excluded from farming due to lack of land and cultural beliefs that relegated women to household duties.

“Education has played a key role. Today, we’re fully embracing mixed farming, growing a variety of cash and food crops simultaneously. If one crop fails, another succeeds, giving us hope and boosting our economy,” she said. However, challenges persist. Najjat Msimu Hassan, another farmer, highlighted the physical demands of farming, stressing the need for male support to achieve their goals.

She also raised concerns about access to quality seeds, particularly avocado seedlings, which often fail due to the region’s soil and environmental conditions.

Farmers like Mtoro Simai Vuai in Ng’ambwa are working hard to improve their livelihoods through farming, despite limited support.

“Since learning about mixed farming, women have become more active. However, we still need male assistance to succeed,” she said. She said access to water remains a major challenge, calling for the construction of wells for irrigation, as existing sources are distant.

“If we had wells nearby, our productivity would have increased significantly. Water scarcity is a major obstacle to our economic progress,” she said.

Men in these communities acknowledge the growing involvement of women in farming. Malik Mbaraka Makame, a resident of Ng’ambwa, said mixed farming has been transformative but stressed the importance of collaboration between men and women.

“Women’s efforts are visible but they need men’s support for tasks that are physically demanding,” he said.

Ahmed Ali Mussa echoed such sentiment, noting that while many men support women farmers, they are often constrained by other responsibilities.

“Women can achieve a lot with proper resources, land and tools. Many of us try to help, but it depends on the situation,” he said.

Othman Mwinyi Haji, Sheha of Uzi, highlighted environmental issues like seawater intrusion caused by mangrove deforestation. This has increased salinity levels, affecting crops.

“In the past, seawater encroached only once a year, but now it’s a daily occurrence. Despite reforestation efforts, the problem persists,” he said.

The Zanzibar Women Leadership in Adaptation (ZanzAdapt) project aims to reach 4,000 farmers, 80 percent of whom are women. The initiative, supported by the International Forestry Organisation (CFI), Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) Zanzibar, and the Pemba Forestry Association (CFP) with funding from Global Affairs Canada, focuses on equipping farmers with skills to adapt to climate change.

“Women are among the most affected by climate change. Empowering them with knowledge and income-generating opportunities will help build resilience and promote environmental conservation,” said Shaaban Peter, a project officer.

The programme has distributed banana, pineapple, lime and avocado seedlings to over 300 farmers while training them on climate-resilient farming techniques.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s 2024/25 budget prioritises irrigation for rice production, targeting 1,928 hectares of irrigated land.

Agriculture minister Shamata Khamis Shaame emphasised the ministry’s commitment to increasing productivity through modern farming techniques, market access and resource conservation.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Khamis Ali Juma, outlined a strategic plan to revitalise agriculture across Zanzibar, aiming to boost the sector’s contribution to the economy.

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Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’

Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’

Monrovia — The Rwanda Minister of State responsible for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, cautioned that while the country is beginning to see positive signals in its fight against the Marburg virus, the outbreak is “not yet over”. He, however, expressed hope that  “we are headed in that direction”. The minister said the epidemiology trend, since the disease was first discovered in the country more than a month ago, is moving towards fewer cases.

Dr. Butera, who was giving updates during an online briefing yesterday, said in the past two weeks, only two deaths were recorded while 14 people recovered from the disease. He said Rwanda was expanding its testing capacity with 16,000 people already inoculated against the disease.

The priority right now, Butera said, is “rapid testing and detection”.

Marburg is a highly virulent disease transmitted through human-to-human contact or contact with an infected animal. The fatality rate of cases, which has varied over the period, is more than 50%, according to the World Health Organization.  WHO said the highest number of new confirmed cases in Rwanda were reported in the first two weeks of the outbreak. There’s been a “sharp decline” in the last few weeks, with the country now tackling over 60 cases.

At Thursday’s briefing, a senior official of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, said mpox – the other infectious disease outbreak that countries in the region are fighting – was been reported in 19 countries, with Mauritius being the latest country to confirm a case. He said although no new cases have been recorded in recent weeks in several countries where outbreaks occurred previously –  including Cameroon, South Africa, Guinea, and Gabon – Uganda confirmed its first Mpox death. This, he said, is one of two fatalities reported outside Central Africa.

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“The situation is not yet under control.”

Source: allafrica.com

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