Earlier this year we shared the news that 3 of our partner schools in Tanzania installed 1-acre Drip Irrigation Systems (DIS) on their school farms. With the first two phases now complete, we wanted to share the good news from our best performing school, Gedamar Primary School.

2,415 kg of onions and 800 kg of tomatoes were produced from the first 2 harvests in 2024 and generated TSH 8.2 million (approx. AUD $5,200) in income.

After taking into consideration the cost of inputs, the remaining $1,900 is more than the annual Government grant that the school receives for its operations, which is equivalent to $1,600.

The profits are managed by the school’s Self Reliance Committee – composed of parents, teachers and students – who are responsible for the financial management of the farm’s income (a committee structure and function mandated by the Government). At Gedamar some of the profits were utilised to reinvest back into their school farm, including the purchase of connectors to expand their existing DIS system due to its success. TSH 1 million (approx. AUD $635) was banked into the school’s digital wallet (M-Koba*) to save for operational costs as they arise.

Equally important is the life skills that this project has encouraged. All 471 children and teachers at Gedamar have gained practical learning through their school farm, with a particular focus on climate-smart practices.

‘As a teacher I have discovered that with Drip Irrigation Technology, a farmer can use water economically, [making] it is easy to control weeds and pests compared to other irrigation methods. [Farming] in the off-season or when there’s no rain is made possible, [and] production is very high as we can provide the plant with the optimal water needs. I am also motivated and plan to do it in my own home.‘ Hasan, Teacher in charge of the School Farm, Gedamar Primary School. 

* M-Koba provides access to a low-cost money platform. It is widely used in Tanzania, especially for individuals who cannot access the services of  formal financial institutions.

So They Can’s Shamba Letu Project receives support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).