Agriculture

Cassava (also called Manioc) is mostly grown in Africa, as a food source. It is the third largest source of carbohydrates in the world. 

Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) is caused by a virus which is transmitted by whitefly and primarily infects cassava plants. 

CMD was first reported in 1894, it is found throughout the African continent resulting in great economic loss and, at frequently, devastating famine. In the late 20th century, a highly virulent form of this virus broke out in Uganda and quickly spread to East and Central Africa. 

Today, CMD is considered one of the most damaging crop viruses in the world and one of the most detrimental diseases affecting food supply in Africa. Annual economic losses in East and Central Africa are estimated to be between 1.9 and 2.7 billion $US. 

Currently, CMD is managed through phytosantitation practices as well as the use of conventional resistance breeding. 

To assist the community dealing with this major problem, MIBOS has established demonstration plots for Cassava using improved and resistant seeds. With support from Concern Wordlwide, we have now have plots in 10 villages in the Kigoma rural area, and they make a significant contribution to household food security. 

We provide maize, beans, and rice seeds to raise food security in the villages, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations and local authorities.

CAPACITY BUILDING ON-SITE & INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES

Our Capacity Building and Income Generating activities, within the community, are a very important part of our work. The term "Community Capacity Building" emerged in the lexicon of international development during the 1990s and refers to strengthening the skills, competencies and abilities of people and communities in developing societies so they can overcome the causes of their exclusion and suffering. 

This involves not only providing skills and awareness, but also creating channels, by means of partnerships, policy and leadership, through which this learning can be transferred into sustainable action. 

Our Capacity Building and Income Generating activities are focused on 3 main areas: 

PROGRAMS FOR FARMERS

We work with local farmers to establish Cereal Banks and Saving and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs). SACCOs are financial organizations owned and operated on a "Not for profit" basis, by their members, according to cooperative principles. 

Once a SACCO is established, we provide education and training and help the members to market their products. 

The Nyanganga village (Kigoma province) was amongst the first beneficiaries of this program. We first went there in 2002. The villagers were at that time completely on their own ,without any type of support or resources. We first started to gather them into a Community-Based Organization (CBO). We provided them with seeds, training and assisted with Capacity Building.

As their CBO progressed, we linked them with organizations such as Concern World Wide, the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), The United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). 

As a result of their efforts, the Upendo Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO) was established and officialy registered in 2010. In 2011, they received the authorization from the Tanzanian government to market their crops throughout the entire Eastern-Africa area. 

In 2012, two Tanzanian SACCOs were invited to the Eastern Africa Business Forum. Ours was one of them. 

In 2011, our combined efforts, sold a surplus of some 210 tons of maize. 

PROGRAMS FOR FISHERMEN 

We work with fishermen and help them organize into Beach Management Units (BMUs). A BMU is an umbrella organization that manages and coordinates all aspects of the fishering activities (fish processing, material maintenance, trading, environmental issues, security matters, accounting, etc.). 

Six Beach Management Units have been established so far, all along the Lake Tanganyika shores. Below is the Kibirizi BMU, started in 2010 and currently has about 200 members.

EMPOWERING WOMEN

We work with different groups of women in a program named HEKIMA, focusing on income generation, nutrition and skills development, HEKIMA aims at making these women more financially autonomous by helping them and engaging in work in various activities including: 

a) Mat Weaving
b) Designing bed sheets and tablecloths
c) Horticulture (Vegetable gardens) 
d) Tailoring
e) Fish mongering