Farming and Water Management in Mto wa Mbu: Arusha Region Tanzania

The town of Mto wa Mbu is located in the Arusha Region of Northern Tanzania at the foot of the Rift Valley, adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park. In this community the land is shared amongst 10,000 farmers representing over 120 different ethnic groups. Rice, sugarcane, mango, okra, sunflower, and other crops are inter-planted and only fertilizers using only natural local sources. Water is channeled from the Rift Valley Mountain, the community works together to maintain the irrigation channels. Water is managed by leaders ,"Bwana Maji", who represent the various tribes. Mto wa Mbu Irrigation and Flood Control Project Implemented was in the region in 1980-1988. It involved the building of two flood control drains, rehabilitation of old canals and construction of new ones in order to prevent recurring flood damage and expand cultivable and irrigable land. Funding obtained through Tanzania SPWP launched in 1979, which was supported by multi-bilateral donors like DANIDA, the Netherlands, Germany, EEC and WFP. *Would like to direct a moment to the survivors of the Japanese tsunami. A touching video update can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/yourfilmfestival?x=player/iuAyksZnbDk__en_us * Special thanks to our guide Maasai of the Cultural Tourism Programme (http://www.infojep.com/culturaltours/) and Cloud Goi of Killi-routes (www.killi-routes.com) Learn more about Indigenous Knowledge Project www.indigenousknowledgeproject.org Follow Heather Cruise at http://farmingnomad.blogspot.com/ http://tz.linkedin.com/pub/heather-cruise/18/604/a5