Organic Hill Farming Programme
Lushoto District, Tanzania
Introduction of Syntropic Agroforestry
1 Organic Hill Farming Programme
Mambo (Lushoto District) and its surrounding area has a very high and still increasing population densitiy. The intensive cutting, slashing, burning and farming of the hilly country including the very steep slopes on the Northern edge of the Western Usambara Mountains over the last decades has resulted in an immense destruction of productive land. As a result the area faces tremendous soil erosion as well as soil depletion. With the reduction of organic matter in the soils this has lead to a severe lack of water storage capacity. Meanwhile certain villages are – in dry years - only supplied with water once a week through one sole water source during the last months of the dry season – an inac
ceptable situation! The situation has been additionally aggravated by the changing cli mate, which has shifted the rainfall pattern (belated and shorter rain seasons) and re duced the rainfall in total.
Basically the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that without serious counter measures on every level the majority of the population will either face severe food and water shortages within the next 10 years or then have to migrate to some other area. The effects of climate change and inadequate farming methods are thus very severe!
In 2014 Martin Graf – passing through Mambo with a group of tourists – became aware of the difficult situation in the area and started up the “Usambara Push & Pull Programme in 2015. The initial objective was to fight erosion and improve soil fertility as well as introduce Push & Pull methods for the planting of maize and other crops. This allows to reduce the fertilizer and pesticide input.
In 2018 the programme showed significant results with roughly 100 participating farm ers. On the other hand the programme could not continue on the basis of external fund ing by the project initiator, the Paul Schiller foundation and others. It had to become fully sustainable within the local economy.
Therefore first of all the programme, which started off as a simple erosion control and
soil fertility programme by means of Push & Pull, had to be focussed on a more inte grated approach of organic farming through cooperation with the existing Happy Cow Programme for programme farmers. A crop rotation based on a minimal percentage of fodder production and the subsequent production of manure from ruminants is a pre condition for organic farming anyway.
In addition the programme had to be directed towards mid-term economical independ ence to ensure it’s sustainable forthcoming. For this purpose “Organic Hill Farming Com pany Ltd.” was founded in October 2020 to take over the programme within Phase II. The respective company office was originally set up in the village of Nkukai with Oliver Venance Mrosso as Managing Director. In 2022 the office was moved to Mambo centre.
Thus the original “Usambara Push & Pull Programme” was transformed into the “Usam bara Organic Hill Farming Programme” run by a Limited Company, which must ensure an economically viable execution by the end of 2025.
Meanwhile many programme farmers have caught on and realizied the value of the adapted Push & Pull method and crop rotation for the fertility of their soil, plant health and production level of their crops as well as the value of Elefant Grass and Greenleaf Desmodium as good fodder for their animals. This mainly due to the fact, that they earn good money from the production of Desmodium seed in addition to a crop harvest on the same plot. During the months of September/October 2023 programme farmers har
vested a total of 70 kg of Desmodium seed, in 2024 the harvest increased to a total of 275 kg. The production will continue to multiply, as long as it can be sold to customers.
From 2023 onwards a considerable number of new farmers want to join the programme, whilst those, who have never actively participated, drop out. These new farmers are be ing introduced to the production method by their successful compatriots within the pro gramme. It is now – after 10 years of engagement – the first sign of an intrinsic motiva tion amongst programme farmers.
3
2 Programme objectives
The programme is presently working with programme farmers in the five villages of Nkukai, Sunga, Tema, Masereka and Chambogo under the leadership of Oliver Venance Mrosso and the help of the existing extension staff in Sunga and Mbaru Wards.
The programme endeavoures to establish and ensure organic farming methods on more than 100 smallholder farms applying an adapted Push & Pull methodology combined with improved crop rotation techniques, a stronger diversification of crops, the local production of seed and improved animal husbandry. The programme objectives are the following:
1. Prevent soil erosion and soil depletion by means of strip cultivation along the contours
2. Conserve the soil and improve soil fertility by preventing any run-off of rainwater with the help of the deep-rooting nitrogen-fixing legume Greenleaf Desmodium and Elefant Grass
3. Improve the organic matter of the soils and thus their water storage capacity using the coverage and mulching effect of Greenleaf Desmodium
4. Improve plant health using improved crop rotation techniques, precautionary measures against disease and organic/biodynamic treatment methods (prepara tions)
5. Promote organic farming to reduce dependency on market inputs and ensure healthy produce
6. Conserve and multiply adapted local seed of Desmodium, maize and other spe cies for programme farmers and interested customers
7. Provide fodder for farm animals using Elefant grass, Greenleaf Desmodium and possibly Rhodes grass
8. Improve animal husbandry and selection of adapted farm animals 9. Build general conscientization regarding sustainable agricultural production methods
10.Provide market access for the produce of programme farmers through the com pany
4
The Push & Pull method is basically a strip cultivation method, a concept, which - due to climate change - will have to be established broadly worldwide to enable the reduction of the present soil degradation, the improvement of the local water storage capacity and the reduction of use of pesticides.
The problem in areas such as the Usambara Mountains is the high population density coupled with the tremendous scarcity of fertile and well watered farming land, which in addition has been degraded by inadequate land use und recently the effects of climate warming.
Thus there is a strong need of improving productivity on small plots of land by increasing their production potential without the use of chemical inputs.
3 Piloting Syntropic Agroforestry
3.1 Syntropic Agroforestry
One way of achieving this is the introcuction of so called Syntropic Agroforestry. It was developped by the Swiss farmer and researcher Ernst Götsch, who developped the me thod from 1974 onwards in Germany, Namibia and Costa Rica, before he perfected it on a large degraded farm in Brazil from 1980 onwards (https://agendagotsch.com/en/ernst-gotsch/). It is basically a next step following the Push & Pull method.
Syntropic Agriculture implies – like Push & Pull - that the soil always remains occupied by growing species. The advantages are numerous: optimization of photosynthesis, soil life chain stimulation, constant input of organic matter, and above all, the complete in dependence of pesticides.
It’s characteristic trait is, that trees, grains and vegetables grow together on the same small plot harmoniously. Thus you have a total occupation of the field in time (natural succession) and space (stratification). The result is a biodiverse, ecologically resilient field that ensures financial flexibility for the farmer.
For the more advanced programme farmers in the Organic Hill Farming Programme of Mambo area this type of farming may – with the right choice and combination of species – increase the production potential of their plots considerably and will reduce the risks of climate change. It is therefore worth trying out on 1-2 demonstration farms.
3.2 Introduction of Syntropic Agroforestry to Mambo area
The idea is to establish at least two demonstration plots of Syntropic Agroforestry adap ted to the area. This entails the choice of the right combination of plant varieties for the altitude and climate of Mambo area.
The two plots shall be established on model farms during two training sessions, thus enabling a knowledge transfer to 15-30 interested farmers within the programme. The two plots will serve as lead plots, visualizing the method and it’s advantages to inte rested followers. The participants in the trainings ought to be able to apply it on their own farm and also to disseminate it to their compatriotes.
The specific trainings require considerable preparation and will run for three consecutive days. They must take place at the beginning of the short rains in November 2025.
The training concept has been outlined by Apopo, located at SUA Morogoro (see attach ment). APOPO initially began planting trees to offset its own emissions. As the organiza tion expanded its support for communities living in cleared areas, it realized a greater potential: not only removing dangerous remnants from the soil but also preventing harmful chemicals from being introduced. This vision is rooted in regenerative farming methods, ensuring that once the land is cleared, nothing harmful goes back in.
For the trainings the Organic Hill Farming Programme will thus be supported by compe tent trainers from Apopo Morogoro (www.apopo.org). A master trainer and one training assistant will be provided and be present during the preparation and trainings. The plots will be fully established during these trainings, but will thereafter have to be maintained by their owners.
3.3 Budget for training and establishment of demonstration plots
The budgeted cost to carry out two trainings including establishment of the two plots is the following:
The prospective cost to establish the two demonstration plots of max. 2'000 m2 amounts to 6‘041 Euros or 18.4 million TZS including planting material and the two three-days’ trainings under the supervision of competent master trainers.
The aim is to train 15-30 farmers in the method, so that they can disseminate it within their compatriotes.
4 Next steps
The next steps to be taken are the following:
5 Contact and documentation
Responsible contacts:
Oliver Mrosso Alex Wostry
Organic Hill Farming Company Ltd. Apopo Training & Research Centre P.O. Box 125 SUA, P.O. Box 3078 Lushoto Morogoro
Mobile+255 763 900 056 +255 655 219 060 Email oliver.mrosso@organichillfarming.com alex.wostry@apopo.org URL https://organichillfarming.co.tz/ www.apopo.org
Herman Erdtsieck
Mambo View Point Eco-Lodge
P.O. Box 157
Lushoto
Mobile+255 711 289 089
Email herman@mamboviewpoint.org
URL https://www.mamboviewpoint.org/
Account number for support
MamboSteunPunt, Prins Hendrikweg 82 3451 CP Vleuten, Netherlands Account No. NL45 TRIO 390450030
IBAN Nr. NL45 TRIO 0390 4500 30
Swift Code TRIONL2U
Typical terrassed agricultural land in Mambo area
Training in the area
Theoretical training
Practical training
Training at MamboViewPoint
Organic Hill Farming Programme Lushoto District, Tanzania Introduction of Syntropic Agroforestry
1 Organic Hill Farming Programme
Mambo (Lushoto District) and its surrounding area has a very high and still increasing population densitiy. The intensive cutting, slashing, burning and farming of the hilly country including the very steep slopes on the Northern edge of the Western Usambara Mountains over the last decades has resulted in an immense destruction of productive land. As a result the area faces tremendous soil erosion as well as soil depletion. With the reduction of organic matter in the soils this has lead to a severe lack of water storage capacity. Meanwhile certain villages are – in dry years - only supplied with water once a week through one sole water source during the last months of the dry season – an inac
ceptable situation! The situation has been additionally aggravated by the changing cli mate, which has shifted the rainfall pattern (belated and shorter rain seasons) and re duced the rainfall in total.
Basically the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that without serious counter measures on every level the majority of the population will either face severe food and water shortages within the next 10 years or then have to migrate to some other area. The effects of climate change and inadequate farming methods are thus very severe!
In 2014 Martin Graf – passing through Mambo with a group of tourists – became aware of the difficult situation in the area and started up the “Usambara Push & Pull Programme in 2015. The initial objective was to fight erosion and improve soil fertility as well as introduce Push & Pull methods for the planting of maize and other crops. This allows to reduce the fertilizer and pesticide input.
In 2018 the programme showed significant results with roughly 100 participating farm ers. On the other hand the programme could not continue on the basis of external fund ing by the project initiator, the Paul Schiller foundation and others. It had to become fully sustainable within the local economy.
Therefore first of all the programme, which started off as a simple erosion control and
soil fertility programme by means of Push & Pull, had to be focussed on a more inte grated approach of organic farming through cooperation with the existing Happy Cow Programme for programme farmers. A crop rotation based on a minimal percentage of fodder production and the subsequent production of manure from ruminants is a pre condition for organic farming anyway.
In addition the programme had to be directed towards mid-term economical independ ence to ensure it’s sustainable forthcoming. For this purpose “Organic Hill Farming Com pany Ltd.” was founded in October 2020 to take over the programme within Phase II. The respective company office was originally set up in the village of Nkukai with Oliver Venance Mrosso as Managing Director. In 2022 the office was moved to Mambo centre.
Thus the original “Usambara Push & Pull Programme” was transformed into the “Usam bara Organic Hill Farming Programme” run by a Limited Company, which must ensure an economically viable execution by the end of 2025.
Meanwhile many programme farmers have caught on and realizied the value of the adapted Push & Pull method and crop rotation for the fertility of their soil, plant health and production level of their crops as well as the value of Elefant Grass and Greenleaf Desmodium as good fodder for their animals. This mainly due to the fact, that they earn good money from the production of Desmodium seed in addition to a crop harvest on the same plot. During the months of September/October 2023 programme farmers har
vested a total of 70 kg of Desmodium seed, in 2024 the harvest increased to a total of 275 kg. The production will continue to multiply, as long as it can be sold to customers.
From 2023 onwards a considerable number of new farmers want to join the programme, whilst those, who have never actively participated, drop out. These new farmers are be ing introduced to the production method by their successful compatriots within the pro gramme. It is now – after 10 years of engagement – the first sign of an intrinsic motiva tion amongst programme farmers.
3
2 Programme objectives
The programme is presently working with programme farmers in the five villages of Nkukai, Sunga, Tema, Masereka and Chambogo under the leadership of Oliver Venance Mrosso and the help of the existing extension staff in Sunga and Mbaru Wards.
The programme endeavoures to establish and ensure organic farming methods on more than 100 smallholder farms applying an adapted Push & Pull methodology combined with improved crop rotation techniques, a stronger diversification of crops, the local production of seed and improved animal husbandry. The programme objectives are the following:
1. Prevent soil erosion and soil depletion by means of strip cultivation along the contours
2. Conserve the soil and improve soil fertility by preventing any run-off of rainwater with the help of the deep-rooting nitrogen-fixing legume Greenleaf Desmodium and Elefant Grass
3. Improve the organic matter of the soils and thus their water storage capacity using the coverage and mulching effect of Greenleaf Desmodium
4. Improve plant health using improved crop rotation techniques, precautionary measures against disease and organic/biodynamic treatment methods (prepara tions)
5. Promote organic farming to reduce dependency on market inputs and ensure healthy produce
6. Conserve and multiply adapted local seed of Desmodium, maize and other spe cies for programme farmers and interested customers
7. Provide fodder for farm animals using Elefant grass, Greenleaf Desmodium and possibly Rhodes grass
8. Improve animal husbandry and selection of adapted farm animals 9. Build general conscientization regarding sustainable agricultural production methods
10.Provide market access for the produce of programme farmers through the com pany
4
The Push & Pull method is basically a strip cultivation method, a concept, which - due to climate change - will have to be established broadly worldwide to enable the reduction of the present soil degradation, the improvement of the local water storage capacity and the reduction of use of pesticides.
The problem in areas such as the Usambara Mountains is the high population density coupled with the tremendous scarcity of fertile and well watered farming land, which in addition has been degraded by inadequate land use und recently the effects of climate warming.
Thus there is a strong need of improving productivity on small plots of land by increasing their production potential without the use of chemical inputs.
3 Piloting Syntropic Agroforestry
3.1 Syntropic Agroforestry
One way of achieving this is the introcuction of so called Syntropic Agroforestry. It was developped by the Swiss farmer and researcher Ernst Götsch, who developped the me thod from 1974 onwards in Germany, Namibia and Costa Rica, before he perfected it on a large degraded farm in Brazil from 1980 onwards (https://agendagotsch.com/en/ernst-gotsch/). It is basically a next step following the Push & Pull method.
Syntropic Agriculture implies – like Push & Pull - that the soil always remains occupied by growing species. The advantages are numerous: optimization of photosynthesis, soil life chain stimulation, constant input of organic matter, and above all, the complete in dependence of pesticides.
It’s characteristic trait is, that trees, grains and vegetables grow together on the same small plot harmoniously. Thus you have a total occupation of the field in time (natural succession) and space (stratification). The result is a biodiverse, ecologically resilient field that ensures financial flexibility for the farmer.
For the more advanced programme farmers in the Organic Hill Farming Programme of Mambo area this type of farming may – with the right choice and combination of species – increase the production potential of their plots considerably and will reduce the risks of climate change. It is therefore worth trying out on 1-2 demonstration farms.
3.2 Introduction of Syntropic Agroforestry to Mambo area
The idea is to establish at least two demonstration plots of Syntropic Agroforestry adap ted to the area. This entails the choice of the right combination of plant varieties for the altitude and climate of Mambo area.
The two plots shall be established on model farms during two training sessions, thus enabling a knowledge transfer to 15-30 interested farmers within the programme. The two plots will serve as lead plots, visualizing the method and it’s advantages to inte rested followers. The participants in the trainings ought to be able to apply it on their own farm and also to disseminate it to their compatriotes.
The specific trainings require considerable preparation and will run for three consecutive days. They must take place at the beginning of the short rains in November 2025.
The training concept has been outlined by Apopo, located at SUA Morogoro (see attach ment). APOPO initially began planting trees to offset its own emissions. As the organiza tion expanded its support for communities living in cleared areas, it realized a greater potential: not only removing dangerous remnants from the soil but also preventing harmful chemicals from being introduced. This vision is rooted in regenerative farming methods, ensuring that once the land is cleared, nothing harmful goes back in.
For the trainings the Organic Hill Farming Programme will thus be supported by compe tent trainers from Apopo Morogoro (www.apopo.org). A master trainer and one training assistant will be provided and be present during the preparation and trainings. The plots will be fully established during these trainings, but will thereafter have to be maintained by their owners.
3.3 Budget for training and establishment of demonstration plots
The budgeted cost to carry out two trainings including establishment of the two plots is the following:
The prospective cost to establish the two demonstration plots of max. 2'000 m2 amounts to 6‘041 Euros or 18.4 million TZS including planting material and the two three-days’ trainings under the supervision of competent master trainers.
The aim is to train 15-30 farmers in the method, so that they can disseminate it within their compatriotes.
4 Next steps
The next steps to be taken are the following:
5 Contact and documentation
Responsible contacts:
Oliver Mrosso Alex Wostry
Organic Hill Farming Company Ltd. Apopo Training & Research Centre P.O. Box 125 SUA, P.O. Box 3078 Lushoto Morogoro
Mobile+255 763 900 056 +255 655 219 060 Email oliver.mrosso@organichillfarming.com alex.wostry@apopo.org URL https://organichillfarming.co.tz/ www.apopo.org
Herman Erdtsieck
Mambo View Point Eco-Lodge
P.O. Box 157
Lushoto
Mobile+255 711 289 089
Email herman@mamboviewpoint.org
URL https://www.mamboviewpoint.org/
Account number for support
MamboSteunPunt, Prins Hendrikweg 82 3451 CP Vleuten, Netherlands Account No. NL45 TRIO 390450030
IBAN Nr. NL45 TRIO 0390 4500 30
Swift Code TRIONL2U
Typical terrassed agricultural land in Mambo area
