Community Farmers’ Support by SGSC Shaloom Company (T) Limited in Kibondo and Kasulu

SGSC Shaloom Company (T) Limited implemented the Climate-Smart Water ATM project to support community farmers in Kibondo and Kasulu districts, Tanzania. The initiative aimed to provide smallholder farmers with reliable, sustainable access to clean water, enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting climate-smart farming practices. The project focused on empowering vulnerable farming communities, particularly women, youth, girls, and people with disabilities (PWDs), to build resilience to climate change and improve their livelihoods.

Key Aspects of the Project:

1. Solar-Powered Water ATMs:
   SGSC Shaloom installed solar-powered Water ATMs to provide farmers with consistent access to water for irrigation. The use of solar energy ensured a renewable, low-cost solution to water scarcity, particularly during dry seasons when water availability was critical for crop production.
2. Water Efficiency and Climate-Smart Agriculture:
   The project promoted climate-smart agricultural practices by teaching farmers how to use water efficiently for irrigation. These practices helped improve crop yields while conserving water resources, ensuring that agriculture remained sustainable even in the face of unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change.
3. Capacity Building and Training:
   SGSC Shaloom provided training to farmers on how to operate the Water ATMs and implement water-efficient agricultural techniques. The training focused on enabling farmers, especially women, youth, and PWDs, to adopt climate-resilient farming practices that increased productivity and safeguarded the environment.
4. Community Empowerment:
   The project empowered local farmers by including them in the management and maintenance of the Water ATMs. SGSC Shaloom established local committees responsible for overseeing operations, ensuring the sustainability of the project, and fostering a sense of ownership within the community.
5. Improved Agricultural Productivity and Food Security:
   The consistent water supply from the Water ATMs enhanced irrigation, which in turn boosted agricultural productivity. The project contributed to improved food security in the community by enabling farmers to grow crops year-round, even during dry spells.

Impact on Community Farmers:

• Enhanced Resilience to Climate Change: Farmers were able to better manage water use and improve yields, despite changing weather patterns.
• Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups: Women, youth, and PWDs gained new skills and opportunities to improve their agricultural practices and economic stability.
• Sustainable Farming Practices: By learning and implementing climate-smart techniques, farmers used water more efficiently, contributing to the long-term sustainability of their farming operations.

The Climate-Smart Water ATM project by SGSC Shaloom Company (T) Limited played a pivotal role in supporting farmers in Kibondo and Kasulu by providing sustainable, reliable access to water. By integrating solar power, promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, and empowering vulnerable communities, the project helped enhance agricultural productivity, food security, and environmental sustainability in the region. The lasting impact of the project continues to support the development of resilient, climate-adapted farming communities.

Farmer-Led Irrigation Development (FLID)

Farmer-Led Irrigation Development (FLID) is a silent revolution transforming smallholder irrigation practices across Kasulu and Kibondo, empowering farmers to independently manage water resources and enhance crop production sustainably.

Irrigation