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CHOLOLO ECOVILLAGE PROJECT SUMMARY PROGRESS REPORT

SEPTEMBER 2011 MAY 2012


PRESENTATED TO EU DELAGATE VISIT ON 26/06/2012
1. Inauguration
The project officially started on 9th September, 2011 and was inaugurated on 21 st
October, 2011. At the inception of project, a series of meetings was held with
local authorities, village leaders and community to formally introduce the project,
raise awareness, gather farming data, and form farmer groups.
2. Agriculture
Demonstration plots were identified and demarcated, and a baseline survey
carried out to capture the existing situation. Prior to onset of rainy season,
intensive training on best agricultural practices was carried out, including use of
tillage implements for land preparation, spacing, intercropping, soil water
conservation, and production of quality declared seeds. To enhance soil moisture
conservation and high crop productivity 24 ox-drawn tillage implements and
improved high yielding and drought tolerant seeds notably pearl millet, sorghum,
sunflower, groundnuts, cowpeas were supplied. A study on sub sector selection
and analysis to identify income generation activities of most benefit to women
was carried out.
3. Livestock
Livestock keepers were trained on improved management of cattle, goats and
chicken. This was followed by supply of 30 improved Mpwapwa breed bulls, 60
blended goat bucks, 123 improved cocks. Acariside for tick control, and other
veterinary drugs were supplied for disease control. Areas for establishing
improved pastures were demarcated and improved pastures and browse species
were planted in 5 acres each. Study of the botanical composition of pasture was
done on village communal grazing land.
4. Natural resources
On natural resource innovation, community members and village leaders were
trained on afforestation, nursery management and tree planting. A total of
14,668 tree seedlings were distributed to 208 households, 6 churches, 1 primary
school and 1 dispensary. Three thousand trees were planted in 3 acres of village
forest reserve and two tree nurseries were established at village school and
borehole.
5. Water
Activities implemented under water section include comprehensive study of
groundwater level changes over recent years. Other important activities carried
out include replacement of village borehole fittings, and re-establishment of
water supply to all domestic water points, construction of rainwater roof
catchment at primary school and partial construction of sub surface dam for
ground catchment rainwater harvesting.
6. Energy
Recently 40 energy saving stoves and 10 low cost biogas plants were introduced
and construction is in progress in Chololo ecovillage.
7. Ecovillage office and Visibility action
The Construction of ecovillage centre building / village office started late
October, 2011 and now it is at roofing stage. Visibility actions involved the use of

farmers field day, national television, radio, newspapers and leaflets for wide
sharing and dissemination. Project successes have been regularly documented
on the web through the online diary http://chololoecovillage.wordpress.com/.
8. Risks and Challenges
The project identified the following risks and challenges:
Studies to establish the status of the existing Chololo water supply have
discovered a critical risk to the project that would be caused by the total
failure of the existing worn out borehole pump and engine. This concern has
prompted the project to explore options of replacement of borehole equipment
using renewable energy sources, e.g. solar / wind which will cost about
16,000. The existing project budget does not provide for this activity.
Scarcity of village reserve land for afforestation as some land has been used
for agriculture. The project plans to review land use and relocate afforestation
to non agricultural land.
There is insufficient funding in the budget for completion of the Ecovillage
Centre due to the need to enlarge the design to encompass a replacement for
the village leadership office, which was destroyed by heavy rain. Dodoma
Municipal Council has earmarked Tsh 20m (952.4) but realistically this will not
become available until the end of 2012. The project is considering reallocation
of some of the savings (5,000) made through the procurement of project
vehicles to complete roofing. The proposed DMC contribution might then be
used for finishing, equipment and fittings.
Project launched in Oct 2011, compressing timescale for deployment of rain
dependent interventions. The project responded by prioritising key rain
dependent activities and adjusting work plan schedules to ensure the
community captured maximum benefit from the rain season.
The project did not consider installation of meteorological station at Chololo
ecovillage and therefore this activity was not budgeted. It has been noted that
rainfall vary within Dodoma and data from meteorological station at Dodoma
airport cannot be similar to Chololo ecovillage. The project is requesting on
reallocation of same savings ( 2,000) made from purchase of vehicles to
purchase and install same meteorological equipment at Chololo ecovillage.
9. Conclusion
In general, the project is on track to achieve the desired results and indeed
considerable contributions have been made. For instance, during the reporting
period, food security has improved for many households, and incomes have been
increased among participating farmers. The success of the project is highly
appreciated by farming communities because during 2011/2012 cropping season
farmers experienced a prolonged dry spell which lasted for 42 days resulting in
major loss of maize crops while introduced drought tolerant crops were not
affected.
Name of the contact person for the Action: Dr. Francis Bernard Njau
Signature:
Location: IRDP DODOMA TANZANIA
Date report due: 26th June, 2012

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