These
farmers got different levels of harvest though they have the same
acreage due to different agronomic practices that are done at individual
level. Moreover, they have seen the importance of costing their production
and this helps them determine the price of their produces.
Other studies indicate higher efficiency of about 40% in Lushoto district
where farmers transported water across a valley using indigenous wooden
aqueduct, but improved with modern low cost technology. The Ministry
of Agriculture used the experiences of TIP to formulate guidelines
of developing traditional and small-scale irrigation in Tanzania in
2003 and to develop the National Irrigation Master Plan 2002. TIP’s
work and experiences have, in recent years, become popular for Universities
of Dar es Salaam, Sokoine and Mzumbe for student’s field attachments
and staff research. Since 2003, TIP is represented in the National
Task Force (Irrigation Work Group) on District Agricultural Development
Plans. As reported in the TIP quarterly Monitoring and Evaluation
reports, farmers from various districts in the country make visits
to TIP areas to learn.
Since the promotion of the participation of women is another one of
TIP‘s main strengths, TIP has managed to break through certain
traditions such as the taboo on women handling the water intake. Today,
in communities where TIP intervened, 40% of women participate in Group
Water Committees and have equal rights to water on their farms and
are involved in decision-making. Another result of TIP intervention
is an increase in school attendance and improved nutrition of around
80% and 40% respectively for smallholder farmers in groups that have
received support from TIP. Significant reduction in poverty has been
recorded in TIP areas. For example, poverty assessment in Mwanga District
(2000–2004) shows significant improvements in people’s
livelihoods of about 8% of the total population of the district of
115,620.
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