Mbola, Tanzania
Population |
30000 |
Villages |
6 |
The Mbola cluster is located in the Uyui district in mid-western Tanzania. Located on low, hilly terrain, the six villages are spread out over an expansive area, making travel between them difficult while also suppressing the development of local markets. The nearest city center is Tabora which is located 36 km away.
Subsistence farming is the main economic activity, consisting mainly of rain-fed agriculture and the production of local livestock breeds. The cluster represents the maize-mixed farming system in the Miombo woodland savanna agro-ecological zone of the Southern Africa plateau. The village has two distinct seasons, a rainy one between November and April and a dry season for the remaining parts of the year. In recent years, the rain has become increasingly erratic.
The main development challenges in Mbola include the high rate of environmental degradation resulting from poor crop management practices, declining agricultural production and destruction of the Miombo woodlands for fuel wood used in the tobacco industry. Overgrazing and expansion of agricultural land have also contributed to the decline of land productivity. In addition, roads are in a poor state, thus limiting easy access to markets. There is a general lack of basic infrastructure for health and education.
Village Characteristics
Farming is the mainstay of people living in Mbola. The village land holdings range between 1 to more than 15 hectares per household, with 1.4 being the most common size. The main food crops are cassava, sweet potatoes, paddy rice, fruits and vegetables. The main cash crop is tobacco, which is cultivated by 68% of the population. Beekeeping and rice growing are also important activities in the region. Unreliable rainfall and poor soil fertility are the major hindrance to farm production in the area. Low and declining crop yields are posing problems of food insecurity resulting in hunger and malnutrition in most households, particularly affecting children.
Many people in Mbola suffer from water-borne illnesses and infectious diseases including malaria, acute respiratory infections, schistomiasis, worms, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. There is one health facility in the region that is 7 km away from Mbola. The roads in and around the cluster are difficult to traverse. Many sick people suffer and die without even seeing a doctor or the inside of a clinic.
Most schools are poorly attended and few children finish their primary education. Poverty has had a devastating impact on the level of education throughout the villages. Many parents cannot afford to send their children to school, buy uniforms or school materials. Children, especially girls, instead stay at home to perform household chores. Secondary school education is nearly non-existent.
Many villages have little or no access to clean water. Most sources are from stagnant pools or water holes. Most of the houses in Mbola are made up of mud and thatched roofs which limit the ability to harvest rainwater. There is no existing sanitation or sewage system. Instead, temporary pit latrines are commonly used which contaminate water sources during the rainy season.
Intervention Highlights
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Agriculture, Environment, and Business Development
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The tremendous increase in agricultural yields has been a source of particular joy among villagers, with many elders citing the recent spring harvest as the best in memory. Farmer contributions from food surpluses have led to a major expansion of the school meals program. Alongside food security efforts, the MVP is working with villagers to encourage environmentally-sustainable farming practices such as planting nitrogen-fixing trees throughout the cluster. Additionally, more than 5,900 of Mbola’s 6,000 farmers have diversified their crops to include high-value crops, such as sunflowers, fruits, and vegetables with the aim of generating a significant income boost for Mbola’s farmers.
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Health |
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| The project has worked with local officials to train community health workers about the effective use of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets and malaria diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The Millennium Villages team has also partnered with community and local government to construct two new health dispensaries as well as to renovate three existing dispensaries. A new clinic has also been constructed by the MVP. Mbola’s health centers are staffed by six clinical officers, six nurses, two social workers, one laboratory technician, one laboratory assistant and two medical attendants. The Mbola cluster is also served by more than 30 community health workers (CHWs). In 2008, CHWs visited all 6,000 housholds in the cluster and approximately 12,000 patients received treatment for malaria at Mbola’s health clinics. |
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Education |
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| Now, there are 17 junior primary schools in Mbola. The MVP has constructed six new classrooms and all schools have received moderate rehabilitation and improved kitchens. With the launch of the school meals program, more than 7,000 school children receive daily school meals, provided in partnership with local farmers. In 2008, Mbola’s farmers contributed more than 100% of the grain needed for the school meals program. Initiatives to promote gender equality in education include the provision of secondary school scholarships to girls and the construction of separate and safe latrines at schools. |
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Water and Sanitation
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The project has focused on increasing access to water and improving water quality and safety. In 2008, construction of water sources increased access to water to 6,000 people. Half of the Mbola cluster is now reached by the grid extension and the other portion of the cluster will be served by off-grid sources. In 2008, assessments were conducted for both the extension of the grid and off-grid sources, and the clinics were internally wired for future connection.
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Gender Equality
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Initiatives to promote gender equality in education include the provision of secondary school scholarships to 45 girls and the construction of separate and safe latrines at schools and throughout the broader community to prevent gender-based violence.
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Community Development
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Community development in the Tanzania cluster has focused on two initiatives: ensuring the successful establishment and facilitation of participatory, gender-sensitive pro-poor institutions throughout the cluster; and guaranteeing that surrounding communities benefit from the development within the cluster. Throughout 2006 and 2007, the Tanzania team has been working with various stakeholders, including ward executives, village chairpersons, hamlet chairpersons, and ward councilors, to sensitize and inform them about the project’s principles and its objectives. The majority of local stakeholders are taking an active part in encouraging communities to attend project meetings, subscribe to the principles of the project, and sign up to receive farm inputs and other services.
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