SGSC SHALOOM COMPANY (T) LIMITED: Supporting Business, Enhancing Livelihoods, Promoting Social Responsibility, and Climate-Smart Charcoal Briquettes for Vulnerable Farmers in Kigoma, Tanzania

Business Support and Livelihood Enhancement Initiatives:

SGSC Shaloom Company (T) Limited is committed to improving the livelihoods of local communities through sustainable agricultural practices and business support initiatives. These include:

Farmer Capacity Building and Support: SGSC provides training to farmers on best practices for agricultural production, particularly focusing on cassava and maize. The training covers sustainable farming techniques that enhance productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship.

Job Creation and Economic Empowerment: The company’s operations create both direct and indirect employment opportunities, significantly impacting local communities. These job opportunities span production, processing, distribution, and marketing, which contribute to the broader economic development of the region.

Collaboration with Vulnerable Communities: SGSC actively works with vulnerable farmers in Kigoma, including those in refugee communities. By providing bulk supplies, agricultural tools, and educational programs, SGSC helps integrate these communities into the local economy, improving their economic resilience.

Climate-Smart Charcoal Briquettes Program:

In its effort to promote sustainability and mitigate environmental degradation, SGSC has developed the Climate-Smart Charcoal Briquettes Program. The initiative provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional charcoal production and is designed to address several interconnected issues:

Reducing Deforestation and Environmental Degradation: Traditional charcoal production in Kigoma leads to deforestation, putting pressure on local ecosystems. SGSC’s charcoal briquettes, made from agricultural waste, reduce the demand for wood, helping preserve forests and mitigate environmental damage.

Economic Opportunities for Vulnerable Farmers: SGSC trains vulnerable farmers, including refugees, to produce charcoal briquettes as a supplementary income source. This empowers them to diversify their livelihoods while promoting the use of clean energy.

Environmental and Climate Benefits: The program supports climate-smart practices by utilizing organic waste materials such as sawdust, crop residues, and other biomass, which would otherwise go to waste. The production of charcoal briquettes significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional charcoal production methods, contributing to climate change mitigation.

Energy Efficiency and Access: The briquettes provide a more efficient, cleaner cooking alternative compared to traditional charcoal, improving energy access for rural farmers and refugees who rely on charcoal for cooking.

Social Responsibility and Community Engagement:

SGSC Shaloom Company integrates corporate social responsibility (CSR) into its business model, ensuring that its operations align with broader community development goals. Key initiatives include:

Empowering Women and Youth: The Company prioritizes the involvement of women, PWDs and youth in its programs, such as charcoal briquette production and agricultural training, enabling them to gain skills and improve their economic status.

Health and Safety: SGSC ensures that its programs adhere to health and safety standards, creating safe work environments for employees and community participants involved in both the briquette production and agricultural initiatives.

Promoting Climate Resilience: By implementing sustainable agricultural practices and climate-smart projects, SGSC helps build resilience in vulnerable communities. This ensures farmers and refugees can better cope with the impacts of climate change while improving their livelihoods.

SGSC Shaloom Company (T) Limited plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable development in Kigoma, Tanzania, by offering business support, enhancing livelihoods, and addressing climate change. Through its Climate-Smart Charcoal Briquettes Program, SGSC not only offers a cleaner, more efficient energy source but also creates economic opportunities for vulnerable farmers and refugee communities. The company’s efforts in social responsibility and community engagement further strengthen its commitment to improving the lives of those it serves, contributing to a sustainable and resilient future.

Figure 1. Briquettes distribution

Figure 2. Beneficiary (graduate) produce briquettes using manual machine for household use.

Figure 3. Briquettes making theory training for Vulnerable groups (Refugees and Host Community)

Figure 4. Charcoal Briquette

Figure 5. Briquettes manufacturing unit Centre.

Figure 6. Drying briquettes after produced

Figure 7. Beneficiary receive certificate after the completion of the trainings.