SIMANJIRO DISTRICT, EMBOREET VILLAGE STRATEGIC/FARM PLAN Objective of arch diocese: Bring the farm into production in a sustainable and profitable manner to generate income to cover all costs of the proposed girl’s secondary school. In addition, provide income for the Diocese development and educational offices to assist with the funding of future development and educational efforts within the Diocese area of responsibility. Promote sustainable farming techniques by practicing sound conservation and demonstrating these practices with the local community. In the future, a University is being considered and would be constructed on the property. Background: Jeff Knowles, a retired United States Department of Agriculture volunteered with the Catholic Relief Service to assist the Archdiocese of Arusha to develop a strategic/farm plan at the farm in Simanjiro. Knowles spent 3 weeks in March and April 2016 working in Tanzania with William Msuya to develop the plan. In 1986 the local Maasai tribe donated 1070 acres to the Arch Diocese of Arusha. Since that time the land has been used primarily for grazing by the local Maasai herds of cattle and sheep. In addition, a small herd of cattle was kept by the school in Simanjiro which recently closed because of corruption and mismanagement. The school’s cattl e were sold to cover costs associated the past mismanagement. The land is primarily open savanna with native grasses/legumes and scattered acacia with some areas covered with thick stands of acacia. The thick stands of acacia are primarily in the center of the property and along the northern western and north eastern property lines as well as a section connecting to the west of the property. Wildlife including; zebras, gazelles, and wildebeest, etc feed on the vegetation and is often seen amongst the Maasai livestock for protection against lions. Lions occasionally seek refuge in the thick stand of acacia in the center of the property. Until recently nearly all the property consisted of virgin native species having never been farmed except for a small portion. Two color types of soil dominate the landscape including a black soil and a red soil. Although there are two colored soils, Knowles believes there are between 6-12 different soils types on the farm. In general, the black soils appear to have high clay content and are poorly drained. During heavy rains, the areas of the farm with the black soil are difficult to walk and drive in. The red soils are better drained and considered superior to the black soil. During field visits to the farm the last 10 days of March 2016, Jeff Knowles and William Msuya were given the official governments, “ Certificates of Occupan cy”, by Father Simon. According to the 3 certificates the property consists of only 840 acres. According to Father Simon, adjacent
farmers land grabbed areas on the north and west side of the property. Apparently, the neighboring farmers encroached on what was Diocese land by planting crops while the land was idle without the Diocese’s knowledge . Because the Diocese did not have the official, “Certific ates of Occupancy the government turned said lands to the neighboring farmers. During this same period Knowles and Msuya discovered the current caretaker (Simon) of the property and the former principal have cultivated and began cropping large sections of Diocese property. In addition, the caretaker gave other farmers permission to farm additional sections. This was done without Diocese knowledge or consent. A total of 6 areas or fields of the farm have been cultivated and are planted beginning in early 2016. Using a GPS instrument Msuya and Knowles determined the land being cropped totals 315 acres. It is apparent the areas being illegally farmed on Diocese property by the caretaker, former principal and other neighbors are among the highest quality soils on the property. Nearly forty percent of the total Diocese lands are being illegally farmed. This strategic/farm plan provides recommendations to the Diocese on needed conservation practices and a proposed schedule of operations for implementing the practices. Information of potential earning and equipment needs and repairs is discussed as well as recommendations for bringing remaining acreages into crop or hay production. Refer to the sketch drawing developed by Knowles and Msuya to clarify areas being addressed. RECOMMENDATIONS 1) It is recommended the Diocese bring in a priest or lay person to live on the farm and serve as the farm manager. This individual would be responsible to run, operate and manage all future farming endeavors on the 840 acres. It is recommended this individual not be Maasai in order to eliminate potential corruption and favoritism within the local Maasai community. This individual should have the following traits; 1) faithful to the Diocese, 2) committed to the Diocese, 3) extremely competent in all aspects of farming. This should be the highest priority to stop the illegal and unpermitted use of the land that is currently occurring and to prevent future land grab efforts. This individual needs to have good communication skills and should be required to report directly to the Auxiliary Bishop on a monthly basis. The farm manager’s job responsibilities should only include the operations of the farm and not the operations of the new school, both of which should be considered full time jobs. 2) It is recommended the Diocese plant trees along the western, northern and eastern property boundaries. Not only is this a requirement of Tanzania’s “Certificate of Occupancy”, it will prevent future encroachment from neighboring farmers. See the proposed schedule of operations for further recommendations. It was noted during field
visits that neighboring farmers in the north western part of the farm have plowed approximately 1 acre of Diocese lands this spring. 3) It is recommended the Diocese remove the farmers who are currently using Diocese lands for farming at the end of the 2016 harvest. The Diocese should begin to farm the 315 acres that were brought into production in 2016, beginning in 2017. The current caretaker should be replaced with the farm manager chosen by the Diocese. In addition, the Diocese should request a percentage of profits from the illegal farming that is occurring on their property in 2016. 4) It is recommended the Diocese conduct a meeting with the local Maasai community and inform the Maisai of the future plans for Diocese lands and ask for their assistance in preventing future land grabbing efforts among local farmers. The Diocese should be clear about the apparent wrong doings committed by local farmers, (believed to be Maasai) in 2016. 5) It is recommended the Diocese use this strategic/farm plan as a guide for future decision making to make this land profitable and serve as a model conservation farm within the surrounding communities. 6) It is recommended that William Msuya become proficient with the knowledge contained in the folder, “ U nlock the secrets of the soil”. The majority of farmers throughout Tanzania and East Africa are farming their land in an unsustainable manner. The plowing and planting methods result in the soil left bare with no protection from the elements and over time the soils become compacted decreasing crop yields. In addition, the life (micro-organisms) within the soil as well as organic matter is being destroyed. So il like the world’s oceans and forests store vast quantities of atmospheric carbon, however, carbon can only be stored in the soil if the soil is covered with live or dead plant materials. One of the solutions to solving climate change is protecting our soils. It is recommended the Diocese begin to collect scrapes and unusable pieces of charcoal being produced in numerous areas around Arusha. These scrapes (less than ½ inch) called biochar have tremendous potential as a soil supplement. Begin to add biochar with compost and manure to gardens on church grounds, convents and Diocese gardens. Currently the scrapes of unusable charcoal are discarded. The four basic rules of unlocking the secrets of the soil are; 1. Keep the soil covered as much as possible 2. Disturb the soil as little as possible 3. Keep plants growing throughout the year to feed the soil 4. Diversify as much as possible using crop rotation and cover crops. 7. Prior to moving forward with a full scale farming operation, the Diocese should give serious thought to what type of farming operation is most beneficial to the local community, the catholic church and the country of Tanzania. Does the Diocese see benefit to running a
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