Smart Low-Carbon Farmer’s Field School (SLoCaF)

This project is expected to solve four specific problems that are encountered by most of the rural communities in Tanzania as well as other developing countries. First of all, responding to Climate change impacts to natural resources, unsustainable livelihood, and community development. Then, enhancing community’s perception and adoption of climate smart technologies (ecosystems conservation and zero emission housing management). In addition, scaling up community’s understanding and considerations on gender equality (Empowering women in the sustainable development processes and improved livelihoods initiatives). Finally, improving individual’s awareness and response to covid19 and other related pandemic diseases.
            Most of these problems are directly related to each other, but climate change is the major problem which is influenced by the historical and ongoing GHG emission from developed countries during the pre- industrialization period. Recently, Tanzania and other developing countries are experiencing the consequences of the changing climate due to the reason that 90% of its population has no protection against climate shocks. The Canadian government (2020) describes, the negative influences of climate change in developing countries tend to broaden the gap between gender inequalities and development, and thus it affects most of the women and girls who depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. 
            In Tanzania, Climate hazards such as drought and floods occurred many times with adverse impacts on the economy, agricultural output, food security, and hydropower generation. Whereas, the drought that occurred in 2000-2002 affected more than 50 Million Tanzanians, while in 2004-2005 it induced low farm returns, which frustrated efforts to alleviate poverty and food security (World Bank website).

This solution is a fully state-of-the-art smart Low-Carbon Farmers Field School (SLoCaF), including combinations of installed smart agro-meteorological weather stations, bio-digesters, climate-resilient crops, livestock farms, small scale solar fertigation kits, smart agricultural technologies, and improved technology transfer methodologies benefiting 8 million households in Tanzania involved in agricultural activities.
             The project includes the formation of small groups of farmers,  restructuring of the farm (Perennials, horticulture, cereals and other crops) and livestock facilities with various smart farm management technologies; construction of biogas facilities which will produce biogas from cattle waste for domestic uses and farm tools, and bio-slurry as fertilizer and fish feeds; installation of smart agro-meteorological weather stations which will be a reliable source of weather and climate information; Utilization of various smart agricultural technologies which ensures low carbon emission from agriculture; Participants will be exposed to green recovery good agricultural practices, agroforestry techniques, and improved technology transfer methodologies. Farmers from other areas will be invited to visit and learn techniques and management of smart farms, which increase the number of beneficiaries. Due to this situation, increased food production will be assured, as well as food security and income generation for Tanzanians.

The proposed innovation is concentrating to provide technical support to all rural communities which are vulnerable to climate change in Tanzania. Most of them are directly or indirectly depending on agriculture as their source of livelihoods and sustainable development. The SLoCaF project has a direct impact on reducing GHG due to the use of eco-friendly agricultural technologies, biogas, and bio-slurry from cattle wastes as well as agroforestry(Traditional and improved), and high value crops farming systems which will increase areas for carbon sequestration in Tanzania. Apart from that through direct practicing and various intensive pieces of training, this project will increase reliance and perception on response to climate change of most vulnerable people and communities.
 The SLoCaF has a positive impact on freshwater quality and environmental pollution and conservation. It will benefit citizens from various agro-climatic zones and other related farmers through increased access to reliable agricultural and weather information, and affordable extension services. Benefits include ensured food security, increased resilient to climate change, income generation, sustainable agriculture, reduced postharvest loss of low shelf life produces, time savings farm activities, improved safety and empowerment of women, and the disabled at all location where SLoCaF implemented, including special training regarding gender balance and empowerment. The participation of female farmers in the SLoCaF shall be doubled from the current state.

For more than 10 years, some of our team representatives (including myself) lives in the rural areas as a native residents as well as community service providers. Most of us used to participate in different programs (farmers internal exchange visits, training, etc.), participatory research, local meetings, and conferences that resulted into identification and Prioritization of the community needs and services required by the intended specific community. Since, farmers and local leaders are the one proposed some elements of this solution, they are responsible to motivate and influence others to participate on designing, implementation, success, monitoring, evaluation, analysis and decision making on the recommended improved farmers Field School project.

To acquire technological assistance and funds (financial) to facilitate smooth implementation and success of the project. This will help rural communities in Tanzania to improve their adaptive capacity to climate change, livelihoods and gender considerations

Recently, Farmers Field School (FFS) is not considered as a global new idea, for the first time it was developed by specialists from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at the end of the 1980s in Asia and Africa (Pontius et al). Farmer Field School (FFS) is an experiential training methodology grounded in the principles of adult education, it is the concept and such schools’ with a positive impact on agricultural development and wider societal benefits (e.g. poverty alleviation). It focuses on group learning by discovery, experimentation and observation, group analysis of results, and making better decisions (Aguilar et al. 2010, Rivas et al. 2012). It is involving 10–20 million people in more than 90 countries.
Regarding the benefits provides by the FFS and its direct relationship with the community development in association with the social and ecological systems, we have decided to link between the general operation of FFS with the current global movements on response to climate change through the performance and use of low carbon technologies, practices and other interventions. 
        This idea of Smart Low-carbon Farmer Field School (SLoCaF) is extremely innovative idea, since it involves the use of climate smart technologies and other approaches which influences low emission production practices in the vulnerable communities in Tanzania. It will lead to the establishment of Eco-village with all qualities of low carbon and environmental conservation characteristics. This is also known as classrooms without walls where apart from implementations of climate smart technologies and other early warning systems, also participants will learn about topics of common interest through observation, discovery, and exchange of experiences. Furthermore, topics strengthen capacity for improving livelihoods and gender equality while also supporting the establishment of Climate Smart Zones (CSZ).

Our impact goals is to have a community which is more responsive and resilient to climate change and pandemic disasters. As a pilot project implementation, we are focusing to have at least 3 exemplary SLoCaF in each 5 regions of Tanzania which are most impacted by climate change disasters. Since this is the global movement, through the community leaders, farmers, and our professionals, we have planned to propose a pilot project which will open perceptiveness not only to our government but also other stakeholders to support and experience the fruits of SLoCaF to the vulnerable poor community.

This projects intends to solve four identified specific problems faced by the most vulnerable communities in Tanzania. Based on identified problems, major indicators for the progress toward impact goals are as follows:
- Improved livelihoods of each individual community member.
- Enhanced food safety and security.
- High level of gender equality consideration (large number of women participating in various community development activities and decision making forums).
- Availability of all basic needs that relies on the presence of conserved natural resources (biodiversity, soil and water).
- Alleviated poverty status, good health and appropriate education to the community.
- High level of adoption and maintenance of climate smart technologies.
- Availability of low carbon community service infrastructures, curriculum and other applied approaches.
- Economic growth of the proposed zones and other neighboring regions.