“We used to sell our products to tourists; some of us were employed in a tourist company, now days we just stay at home, wildlife doesn’t help us anymore. Things are becoming worse as we don’t have food; most of us have got low harvests as a result of floods and exhausted land”. Community members of Kilengezi, Bonye and Mbwande villages along Jukumu Wildlife management area (WMA) want to learn on sustainable farming and beekeeping practices so that they can earn income and cope with COVID 19 impacts.
Poverty and food insecurity remains a major driver toward deforestation and Wildlife loss in Tanzania, even though great reduction progress has been made, there is still much to do. As people are restricted to move and international travels are cancelled to stop the spread of the pandemic COVID 19, villagers are experiencing insecurity from the loss of income they generated from tourism. Their last hope was their farms which also results to low harvests, the only remaining alternative is nothing but Jukumu WMA where they can cut trees for timber and charcoal or hunt wildlife for bush meat.
Kilengezi,Bonye and Mbwande community can abandon destructive activities only if they have adequate food and income. They want beekeeping and sustainable farming skills that will help them to have more harvests for food and attain surplus for selling. Your support could help us to train them, obtain farming inputs and beehives. By supporting these community, you will help vast of wildlife and forest species in Jukumu WMA and its bordering Selous game reserve (The world heritage site) and Mikumi national park.

YOUR FUNDS WILL HELP US TO ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES;
1. Community consultation and needs assessment survey
2. Assessment of habitat quality and anthropogenic disturbance in Jukumu WMA
3. Awareness campaign, preventive measures against COVID 19 and formulation of producer groups
4. Training for sustainable agriculture and modern beekeeping
5. Purchase and apply production inputs (of sustainable agriculture and modern beekeeping) in fields
6. Training of Trainers (TOT) to lead farmers on intensive skills for sustainable agriculture and modern beekeeping skills
7. Establishment of collection center for commodities (Paddy, Orange fleshed sweet potatoes and honey)
8. Identify producers who comply with non-destructive activities (Producer certification)
9. Develop and sign an agreement for collection and selling of commodities between ECOWICE and producer groups
10. Undertaking monitoring and evaluation throughout implementation duration
11. Write and disseminate information and reports to stakeholders