Edison Tumaini Galeba | September 26, 2024
News Brief
In Rukole village, northern Tanzania, Fraiska Steven uses livestock manure to boost crop production on her 1.5-acre farm. Thanks to a radio program introducing her to the Mavuno Project, Mrs. Steven learned how to use manure to fertilize her banana, maize, and bean crops. Her yields have tripled, enabling her to educate her five children. She now trains other farmers, sharing her techniques to improve food security.
At noon, Fraiska Steven stands in front of her dairy barn. She holds a machete in her right hand and a mixture of cattle fodder in her left. The 49-year-old resident of Rukole village in northern Tanzania takes good care of her three cows and four goats, and they in turn produce manure to fertilize her crops.
Mrs. Steven learned about using livestock manure through a radio program that introduced her to the Mavuno Project, which teaches farmers how to fertilize their fields with manure. Mavuno is a Kiswahili word meaning harvest.
Her 1.5-acre farm started with 10 banana plants, but she continued to expand it. She initially produced less than 100 kilograms of beans and 200 kilograms of maize. Now, she harvests over 300 kilograms of beans and up to 800 kilograms of maize.
Mrs. Steven collects manure from her cattle and piles it in a designated area to rot in the sun for several months. Later, she will dig shallow, half-moon-shaped holes, one to three feet deep, near the base of banana stems, and place the well-rotted manure inside. The manure is covered and left to cool for several days before it can be used on her beans and maize.
She advises farmers to wear overalls, boots, and gloves when handling manure to protect themselves from any potential health risks.
The animal manure has helped to improve production on the Steven’s family farm, improving income and food security. Thanks to the increased yields from using livestock manure, Mrs. Steven has been able to educate her five children, with some up to the university level.
Mr. Steven adds, ”Our family used to struggle to put food on the table, but now, thanks to the animal manure that has boosted our farm yields, we have a reliable source of income and can meet our needs.”
Mrs. Steven also trains other farmers in Nyarugando village, helping them increase their harvests.
Byamanyirohi Williamson is one of the farmers she trained. He says, “On my 1.5-hectare farm, I used to harvest bananas weighing less than 10 kilograms per bunch. After learning from Mrs. Steven, my bananas now weigh 50 to 60 kilograms per bunch.”
Crodrick Kiramba is the agriculture and livestock officer for Ihanda Ward, Karagwe district. He explains that livestock manure, bananas, and beans work together to support sustainable fertility in the soil.
He says, “Livestock manure provides nutritious food to soil organisms that support the sustainable process of fertility in the soil. Bananas contribute enough water and the nodes on the roots of beans contribute nutrients and also help prevent soil erosion.”
On the process of applying the manure, Mr. Kiramba explains that the manure needs to sit in the sun, covered with dry grass, for one to three months, depending on the weather. This is can be longer in the rainy season. Well-decomposed composted manure does not burn the plants, but releases all the necessary nutrients to our crops and keeps moisture in the soil.
After, farmers should transfer the manure to holes mixed with black soil, and then cover it. He says, “You need to dig a half-moon-shaped hole 30 centimetres from the banana stem, with a depth of 30 to 60 centimetres.”
He then adds, “Depending on the amount of manure available, separate the first half of the soil upwards and the rest downwards. Mix the manure with the upper soil and spread it evenly, leaving a small gap before filling the hole.” The manure should cool for several days. Then it can be used on the soil of the farm.
Farmers can also make composted manure by mixing the animal dung with nitrogen-fixing plants, like the leaves of beans or groundnuts, for additional nutrients.
Happiness Benson, an agricultural expert from the Mavuno Project in Karagwe district, highlights Mrs. Steven as an exemplary farmer. She says, “Mrs. Steven stands out among the 55,000 farmers trained in 2012 on organic farming and environmental preservation.”
Mrs. Steven’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that with dedication and the right knowledge, small-scale farmers can transform their lives and contribute to the sustainable development of their communities.
This resource is undertaken with the financial support of the Biovision Foundation.