Tanzania: An Effort to Reduce Firewood Use

Source from:  Tobacco International 01/20/2009

Tabora - The adoption of a new type of flue-curing barn has allowed some Tanzanian growers to cut their need for firewood in half. A government official who has observed the barns praised the Tanzanian Cigarette Company (TCC) of Tabora TAZ for its promotion of the technology earlier this year and said the effort deserves government support. "The company is a true development partner," Tabora District Commissioner Moshi Chang'a told the Citizen newspaper of Dar Es Salaam. "It is actually doing what was supposed to be done by the government." In addition to promoting the so-called "rocket" barn, the company is also supplying seeds and tree seedlings to farmers for tobacco curing in the future. Chang'a said this initiative would greatly save the diminishing forests of Tanzania. "Apart from supplying modern tobacco curing barns and installation of mud stoves, the project also offers education to farmers on how best to undertake small irrigation schemes, use of improved toilets, and tree planting and rearing techniques," said TCC project coordinator Rebecca Mkufya. TCC is an affiliate of Japan Tobacco International. Enditem