Linking Research, Development
and NRM in AHI Watersheds:
Experiences of the Lushoto
Benchmark site
Juma Wickama
Lushoto, Tanzania

Contact:
• The author can be contacted through
wickama@yahoo.com or follow him on
twitter wickama@twitter.com

Historical Development
• 1998 the Lushoto site taken on board for
Phase two of AHI regional programme
• 1999 – 2001, ARIs (4 Institutes) which
have a stake in the AHI agenda introduce
a basket of INRM technologies in the pilot
site (Kwalei village)

Historical development. . .
• 2002 the site braces for the third phase of
AHI agenda
• We delineate the Baga Watershed as the
working area
• We add 5 villages (Kwekitui, Mbelei, Dule
Kwadoe and Kwehangala)
• We conduct participatory diagnostic
studies across the Watershed

Historical Development …..
• 2003 we put together observations across
the Watershed and develop an action plan
with the communities
• We break the issues discussed with the
communities into three themes and
develop them into a work plan for 2004-
2005 implementation

Major areas of conflicts in the
Watershed
• Water for Irrigation,
• Trees Vs Shading
and Water sources,
• Declining Crop
Production,
• Soil Conservation,
• Poor Governance

The themes and objectives
Themes
• Stakeholder engagement for niche-compatible
Agroforestry
• Water Source Management
• Integrated Catchment Management.
Overall Objective
To improve the livelihoods of watershed communities
through integrated watershed management.

Issues within each theme
• Niche compatible agro-forestry
– Springs protection
– Farm cross boundaries issues
– Protected area buffer zone
– Policy and Governance (by laws and
implementation)
The theme engages and brings together a
number of stakeholders for negotiation and
joint action

Cutting down of harmful trees – An Acrocapus spp tree cut to reclaim a
water source in Kwadoe Village

Issues within themes
• Water source management
Carry out water source protection,
Promote spring-compatible forestry,
Advocate soil erosion control,
Lobby for implementation of relevant
policy and institutional measures.
The theme implements this through stakeholder
involvement, research and advocacy

Issues in the themes …..
• Integrated Watershed management
 improve the productivity and sustainability of natural
resources
 promote micro-catchments management by using
attractive incentives (improved domestic water supply,
income opportunities and integrated technical support)
 catalyse community innovation for system-wide impact.
The theme seeks to achieve these through community
engagement, policy advocacy and research

Linking the efforts to Development
in Lushoto
• Promoting contact with the Executives,
Counselors, and local District Council in
Lushoto
• Publicise our activities to other projects,
NGOs and Institutions in Lushoto to
reduce duplication of efforts (TIP,
TAFORI, SECAP)
• Exposing farmers to beneficial side of the
technologies and markets

Consolidating the work plan
• We have combined the work plan covering
the three themes to avoid each team
making its own encounters to same
farmers
• We have introduced briefings before and
after field works
• Each theme is supposed to report on the
technical and process issues

MANY THANKS
AND
WELCOME TO LUSHOTO