An Agroforestry Experience in the Uluguru Mountains
Imagine a place where untouched nature merges with the age-old wisdom of local communities. A place where biodiversity thrives and sustainable agriculture becomes a tangible reality. This place is called Mgeta Division, in Uluguru, a mountain range in the Morogoro region of Tanzania.
Recently, a group of experts and trainers from the Dreamnature organization, led by Aron Katosho, embarked on a three-day adventure in the Uluguru mountains. The goal? To share the expertise and practical knowledge about agroforestry with local communities, teaching them how to create lush and productive food forests.
Aron and all the team have been engaged in many other syntropic agroforestry establishments in Tanzania, for example: Reforest Africa in Udzungwa, SAT farmers groups of Uluguru mountains, MLDF organization in Mgeta Division (Uluguru mountains), and Apopo Herotrees demonstration plots.
What are Food Forests?
Food forests are ecosystems designed to mimic natural forests, but with an emphasis on the production of food and other useful resources. Instead of focusing on a single crop, food forests combine a variety of trees, shrubs, herbs, and fungi, creating a resilient and diverse system.
This approach offers several benefits:
- It improves the natural balance of plant nutrients, avoiding the shortcomings of monoculture, where the same crop depletes the soil of the same nutrients and attracts specific parasites.
- It reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides, enhancing soil and water quality and promoting a healthier diet.
- It diversifies agricultural produce, making farmers less vulnerable to price fluctuations in single crops.
- It provides a wide range of ecological services, including biodiversity conservation, habitat protection, and sustainable management of soil, crops, and livestock.
In essence, food forests offer a versatile and sustainable alternative to conventional farming, promoting both ecological health and economic stability.
During the three days spent in the Uluguru mountains, Dreamnature experts worked closely with local communities, sharing their knowledge of agroforestry. They taught them how to select the tree species best suited to their environment, such as cocoa, coffee, cardamom, macadamia, and banana, and how to combine them effectively. The local communities showed great interest and strong motivation in learning new agricultural techniques. Many of them have already begun to apply the knowledge gained, planting trees and creating their food forests
The project was implemented by Apopo, Herotrees, and Mgeta livelihood development foundation as part of Apopo Herotrees initiatives, and it was much more of just an agriculture project. It was a formative and transformative experience for all participants. Dreamnature volunteers learned a lot from the local communities, from their traditional wisdom and their deep connection with nature. The local communities, in turn, acquired new skills and knowledge that will enable them to improve their agricultural production, increase their food security, and protect the environment. Those types of experiences are just the beginning of a journey towards a more sustainable future for the Uluguru mountains. With the support of organizations like Dreamnature and the commitment of local communities, agroforestry has the potential to transform the region, creating a healthier, more productive, and resilient environment.
