Empowering farmers, protecting wildlife: GIZ’s innovative solutions in Tanzania

“I do not know anyone who has gotten to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but should get you pretty near.”

These words by former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher, perfectly encapsulate the essence of success through dedication and perseverance.

In the Ruvuma landscape of Tanzania, this sentiment rings true as the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a German Development Agency, embarks on a transformative project aimed at safeguarding farmers’ crops and enhancing local livelihoods.

With a commitment to hard work and collaboration, GIZ, in partnership with village game scouts (VGS), has allocated funds for constructing smelly fencing in the Ruvuma landscape.

This innovative approach not only ensures the safety of farmers’ crops from wildlife but also empowers local communities to actively participate in environmental conservation efforts.

Through this initiative, the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature is strengthened, fostering sustainable development practices for the benefit of all.

Sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ’s project in the Ruvuma landscape exemplifies the power of strategic partnerships and grassroots engagement.

Namtumbo District Game Warden, Issa Ndomondo, highlighted the effectiveness of the project in reducing elephant intrusion incidents in most villages.

Mr Ndomondo said they have been advising villagers to use all the methods drawn up by experts, like scaring away wild animals, methods that are now becoming familiar but not too effective.

“The challenge was more serious before GIZ came to our district,” he said, noting that people are grateful that elephant intrusion incidents have been reduced in most villages.

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Only three out of eight villages involved in the mitigation of human-wildlife conflict project reported elephant crop raiding incidents during the past farming season, he said, pointing out that in Namtumbo District, GIZ works in eight villages.

These are Mtelawamwahi, Ligunga, Kilimasera, Mtonya, Likuyu Sekamaganga, Likuyu Mandela, Nambecha and Kitanda, with the project being implemented for three years, mid-2022 to June 2025.

A GIZ technical advisor in Namtumbo District, Chrian Zimbaiya, reported a significant decrease in human-wildlife conflicts in Mtelawamwahi, Ligunga, Kilimasera, Mtonya and Kitanda villages due to interventions implemented by the project.

Mr Zimbaiya made the remarks recently to the members of the Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) that this intervention has contributed to reducing human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) in the aforementioned villages.

“HWC challenges have decreased in five villages involved in the project. Only three villages still faced the problem,” he said, asserting that if GIZ hadn’t initiated the measure, crop damage in the villages, especially in Likuyu Sekamaganga, would have been much more serious.

He said taking into consideration that the budget allocated to reducing HWC by the district is limited, hence decisions by GIZ to provide a 120m/- subsidy to help with fuel, uniforms, allowances and tents.

Noting that the funding is intended for one year, he stated that the government would later need to take full responsibility to address the challenge, with Kitanda village chairman Joseph Ngonyani affirming that the project made a difference.

With support from GIZ, the wildlife authorities have succeeded in reducing intrusion incidents from 46 in 2023 to 15 this year. The success is linked with instructions to the villagers on how to scare away the beasts, as well as the provision of protective equipment handed as part of the project.

The village government has been working with these agencies to stem elephant intrusions into farms and causing damage, he said, pointing at a smelly repellent as having worked wonders.

It is a handy method to mitigate the growing problem of crop-raiding by elephants, he said, noting that the few people still experiencing the challenge are those whose farms were not protected by using the smelly repellent fence.

Edson Ndungule, the Kitanda village executive officer, said that GIZ is also providing training to village wildlife officers to enhance their skills in dealing with the big animals.

He appealed for more VGS as well as providing them with allowances to boost their morale, while a farmer, Afuna Nyoni from Kitanda village, said she has harvested more maize this year compared to last.

She had farmed two acres in the 2023 farming season, but elephants entered her farm and destroyed one and a half acres, she stated at the event.

Apparently, the efforts of the German, GIZ, in supporting the project in the Ruvuma landscape are truly commendable. Their commitment to mitigating human-wildlife conflicts through the construction of smelly fencing with the assistance of village game scouts (VGS) is a shining example of effective and sustainable conservation practices.

The project’s impact stretches across eight villages in Namtumbo District: Nelawamwahi, Ligunga, Kilimasera, Mtonya, Likuyu Sekamaganga, Likuyu Mandela, Nambecha and Kitanda.

By working closely with local communities and utilising innovative solutions, this initiative is poised to make a significant difference in preserving the natural habitat and promoting peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife in the region.

With a project duration spanning from mid-2022 to June 2025, the collaborative efforts and dedication of all those involved are key to its success.

Forward looking, let us continue to support and champion initiatives like these that strive to protect biodiversity, foster sustainability and create a harmonious balance between people and nature.

Literally, GIZ is a public-benefit federal enterprise dedicated to fostering international cooperation aimed at sustainable development and education. The organisation addresses a wide range of issues, including economic development, energy, environmental sustainability, peace and security, and international education.

In pursuit of its mission, GIZ focuses on generating innovative ideas for change, formulating strategic plans and executing those initiatives effectively. Through its multifaceted approach, GIZ aims to promote positive transformations in various sectors, ultimately contributing to global sustainability and improved quality of life.