How Sustainable Agriculture is Conserving Magamba Forest eserve

Sustainable agriculture in Magila Village is reshaping the way local communities interact with their environment. For years, residents of Magila Village depended heavily on agriculture, but unsustainable practices such as burning the Magamba Nature Forest Reserve for farmland and extracting forest resources for income caused extensive environmental degradation.

With support from the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund (EAMCEF), the village has embraced sustainable agriculture in Magila Village through education and the provision of quality seeds. Farmers now cultivate vegetables like onions, beans, bell peppers, and mangoes without harming the forest ecosystem. This shift has led to new opportunities, including cattle farming and the acquisition of vital farming equipment like irrigation machines and water pumps.

The forest remains an essential water source for these agricultural activities, making its conservation critical. Thanks to EAMCEF’s environmental education initiatives, villagers understand the dangers of using fire in land preparation. As a result, the harmful practice has ceased, and the community has witnessed firsthand the benefits of conserving the Magamba Nature Forest Reserve.

The most notable outcome of this transition to sustainable agriculture in Magila Village is the significant reduction in forest destruction and the protection of biodiversity. The project has not only safeguarded the environment but also improved livelihoods by diversifying income sources and enhancing the community’s quality of life.

The success of sustainable agriculture in Magila Village now serves as a regional model, demonstrating how conservation and economic development can go hand in hand through environmentally friendly practices.

Story Details

Location:
Magila Mkumbara Village, Korogwe District
District Surrounding Forest:
Magamba Nature Forest Reserve

KEY DATA

52 beneficiaries (39 women and 13 men) were trained in vegetable farming.
An 8,000-liter water tank was installed in Kwenangu with support from EAMCEF to facilitate irrigation.
TShs 14.82 million was earned from vegetable sales by the trained farmers.

Through the EAMCEF project, I first bought a water pipe, then used the remaining money to pay for my children’s school fees. Secondly, I decided to purchase tomato seeds to continue farming, and with the leftover funds, I contributed to buying 20 bags of cement. I am grateful because I wasn’t like this before, but now I have confidence as a woman. The Eastern Arc has empowered me, and I have become a champion of farming. Therefore, to the Eastern Arc, may God bless you abundantly. I have nothing to give in return, but you have made me a courageous mother, and I am truly thankful.

Neema Joseph

I am very grateful to the EAMCEF-funded project for helping me with onion farming. I used to grow vegetables such as tomatoes, bell peppers, and greens, but onion farming has benefited me. After seeing the success of this project and as a religious leader, I encouraged my fellow believers, who used to cut down trees for charcoal and construction purposes, to join me in farming. Some of them have already decided to join this project.

Ostaadh Hamza Juma Ayubu

So far, I have bought one cow worth around 300,000 shillings. I have been able to acquire a TV, antenna, and radio set. I am very grateful to EAMCEF for enabling me to reach this point, which I did not expect to achieve. Therefore, I thank them and hope they continue their support so that we can benefit even more from this project.

Kassim Hamisi

“Through this project, we are grateful for being able to cultivate onions. So far, I have been successful – I have bought a water pump and sent my child to school. If possible, I ask that they continue to support our fellow farmers so that we can achieve even more success from this project.

Haruna Hassan

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