FARMERS GIVEN NEW MEANS TO DEAL WITH ELEPHANT

 

Director of Tembo Pilipili Organization Dr. Alex Chang'a speaking to the farmers

Some of the farmers listening to Director of Tembo Pilipili Dr.Alex Chang'a

Special reporter, Babati.

More than hundred farmers who lives along protected areas, in  Arusha and Manyara Region have been given new means on how to deal with Elephant who destroy crops.

There has been an increase in incidents of elephants entering into peoples shelters  destroying crops and sometimes causing deaths in the ecosystems of Tarangire- Manyara to Ngorongoro.

Speaking at the farmers meeting held in the village of Kakoi in Babati district, the Director of Tembo Pilipili Organization Dk. Alex Chang'a said that it's important for the farmers to use safe means dealing with wild animals.

Dr. Chang'a Said that among methods that can be used by the farmers were taught on how to use lights, vuvuzela and pepper.

You can use these devices when you are in the field in an area that has been attacked by elephants and it is easy to use without causing harm to the farmers and elephants" he said.

Also he said that already 7110 farmers who are in 237 elephant control groups have been given education by the Tembo Pilipili organization in collaboration with other stakeholders.

By collaborating with Vision Fund organization who provide financial loans and inputs in groups this will enable farmers to do productive farming. He said.

He said, the beneficiaries of the project are from the areas surrounding the national reserves of Serengeti, Mikumi, Ruaha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Nyerere Reserve, the area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority and the Maswa Game reserve.

You can use pepper on the sisal rope that is tied with cloths, it has helped a lot to control and save crops in many areas," he said.

The Elephant Researcher of the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) Muna Habibu said that due to the animals' changing behavior, farmers should also have different methods to control Elephants.

"You need to change the method from time to time, there is a method such as beehives which can be deployed on the edge of the farm, use torches of bright light, vuvuzelas and blowers that are friendly to the environment" he said.

The Chairman of Minjingu Village Samwel Melami has asked the Babati district council and the Burunge Wildlife Reserve to buy vehicles and increase the number of Game officers in areas where people are heavily affected by elephants.

 "Since we are getting a lot of money through Burunge WMA, they should now buy cars to increase protection, using this method of elephants, pepper and Game officers will help reduce conflicts," he said.

Lekule ole Sindai, a resident of Kakoi said that currently men do not sleep inside their houses for the protection of Elephants and others crops have been eaten by elephant but they have never been paid.

"Elephants have become a big problem, we are grateful for this education but we are asking for more help to control these elephants" he said

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of the Director of the Babati council, Head of the Department of Administration and Human Resources, Benedict Ntabagi said the council will continue to help farmers deal with Elephants.

"We know your challenges farmers and that's why we collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure we control elephants from damaging crops but also threatening our security" he said.

The ninth Congress of Farmers also involved livestock and wildlife officials in Babati, Monduli and Karatu councils and government leaders in those districts.