THE Tanzania Social Action Fend (TASAF) has invested in tree planting projects in Mufundi district in Iringa region as an effort to conserve the environment, combat possible climate change crises and generate income for village governments so that they can establish rural development projects.

The projects in question are related to establishment and development of tree plantations, producing fish in ponds and conducting irrigated farming.

Revocatus Mgaya, TASAF Mufindi District Coordinator, told journalists recently that the Fund in the district is implementing various development projects in 118 villages out of the 121 villages in the district.

Beneficiaries of these projects in the district were more than 6,500 of which until the end of September this year, there were about 4,000 beneficiaries after a chunk of them had graduated.

Mgaya said the projects implemented by TASAF in Mufindi district are tree planting projects which are carried out by TASAF beneficiaries through public works programs (PWP). The works are held for ten days every month.

He said that the trees that are planted are those that are used to produce timber, hardwood and fruit.

The fruit trees planted are avocados, papayas and mangoes. More than 60 secondary and primary schools in Mufindi district have planted fruit trees in their fields, which is an average of two hectares per school.

"Among the benefit of tree planting projects is to create revenues for the district by selling poles for construction activities and production of electric poles;

We have planted many fruit trees in the school premises so that they can be taken care of by the beneficiarias in respective areas and they can get fruits for themselves," said Mgaya.

The trees have been planted in the villages of Ludilo, 80 hectares have been planted to produce poles and hardwood.

In the village of Ifupira, 35 hectares of this type of trees have been planted. Itulavanu village has planted 14.5 hectares of these trees.

Itulituli village has planted 11 hectares. Another village is Ikaning'ombe where 11 hectares have been planted. All these projects are managed by the village governments on behalf of TASAF.

He said that TASAF is also implementing dam projects for fish breeding and irrigation farming. The projects are implemented through the PWPs arrangements in 106 villages. 

Daudi Chafu, Itulavanu Village Executive Officer said that TASAF projects have been an important stimulus for economic activities through tree planting, agriculture and fish farming using ponds. 

"There many beneficiaries who have graduated from the programme and others continue to benefit from it through PWP and the under 18 monthly grants. TASAF has been a catalyst for development for rural residents," said Chafu.

Janeth Kisweswe, Itulavanu Primary School Teacher said that the fruit farm project funded by TASAF has been very beneficial.

She said the same project started in 2022 the goal is to reap fruits for food and to sell some of them to Mufindi town markets where sales generated are up to 120,000/- per season.

"The earned sales are used to prepare resources for the school such as the printing of exams. The school farm is one hectare and has 100 avocado trees," she said.

Abdul Diuchile, TASAF Senior Programme Expert said that the aim of the projects is to boost the citizen's income from being paid through PWP and running production projects.