Two wells are built in locations near women in their villages, as well as placing them adjacent to the new farming projects. ARF has also been providing assistance to two groups, by donating farming equipment and seeds as a starter kit to the women. The wells themselves are benefiting over 1000 people in three villages.

The groups, between 16 to 20 women, are given land from local people to start their farming projects free of charge. These projects started mid March and to date the bucket kit irrigation systems and farms are benefiting 60 women and their families. The women, who had never been working the soil before, are all motivated and excited in their new venture.

Since March the plants have been growing and the women have learned farming techniques and crop treatment, with advice from a local commercial farmer. For pesticide problems of any kind, local medicinal plants are used pesticides for their crops. This is a natural, healthy way to treat the crops with herbs that are available readily in their area, and non toxic.

Sales of their own produce have been brisk to the other villages since mid May when the harvesting began. At Makutano craft fair in Dar es Salaam, Foundation members gladly sold the okra on the women’s behalf earning, on the single event, an amount that exceeds a normal monthly income for these women. (Approximately 29US dollars)