MOBOMERO, Tanzania, Sept 24 (IPS) – Under the scorching sun in Mikese village in eastern Tanzania’s Mobomero district, 31-year-old Maria Naeku tirelessly tends her small vegetable garden. Every time she pulls weeds, her hands are stained by the red dirt. She channels water from a maze of pipes into raised beds to feed her plants. In a drought-stricken region, Naeku’s small garden is a lifeline for her family, providing them with food and an income.
“When the drought hit, our livestock died and we had no milk for our children,” Naeku said. “I knew I had to find a way to support my family, so I had to grow vegetables.”
Drip irrigation, a technology that uses a network of tiny pore-filled pipes to spray water directly onto plants, was new to her, but she gave it a try. “I didn’t know that tiny drops of water could provide nutrients to plants,” she says. “But when I saw green leaves sprouting from the soil, I knew there was a brighter future.”
Naeku quickly became an expert, and her success inspired other women in the village to follow her lead. The Maasai, traditionally known for herding cattle, a symbol of wealth and security, are increasingly adopting climate-friendly agriculture to cope with drought as the rains become more erratic due to climate change. Women like Naeku, who once relied entirely on the herd, have had to adopt innovative farming techniques to survive.
Breaking the Patriarchy
In Maasai culture, men have long held the reins of power, while women have been relegated to the roles of caregiver and homemaker. Decision-making, particularly regarding land and livestock, has traditionally been the sole domain of men. But the severe drought has changed this dynamic. As livestock dwindles and families go hungry, Maasai women have begun to step into roles once reserved for men and embrace climate-sensitive agriculture as a means of survival.
“We are no longer just the caregivers of our families,” says Nasarian Lengai, a 34-year-old mother of five who has become a local champion of horticulture in Mikese. “We are the decision-makers who shape the future of our community.”
Initially skeptical, Lengai is a strong believer in gardening using organic farming practices. “When I first heard about this method, I thought it wouldn’t work for us,” she says. “But now that I’ve seen how much better the crops have become, I’m convinced that this is the right way to go.”
For centuries, the Maasai have relied on cattle for food, including milk, meat, and even blood. The shift to agriculture was a major change from their old ways.
“We used to think that having lots of cattle was the only way to maintain wealth and security,” says Esuvat Joseph, who leads a group of Tupendane Maasai women in Mikese village. “But now we know that we have to deal with drought. We have learned to have fewer cattle and focus more on farming.”
The Tupendane group also adopted water conservation techniques, building above-ground reservoirs to collect rainwater. “This water is very important,” she explains. “When the river dries up, we use it for irrigation.”
Climate Smart Solutions
The Maasai women’s adoption of climate-smart agriculture is not only a response to immediate needs, but also a strategy for long-term resilience. Through an initiative supported by international charity Norwegian Church Aid, these women are learning to diversify their income sources, reduce their reliance on livestock, and adopt sustainable gardening practices.
“We are teaching these women how to make the most of their small plots of land,” explains Oscar John, program manager for Norwegian Church Aid. “By diversifying their income sources, they are less dependent on livestock, which is increasingly vulnerable to drought.”
Conservation agriculture, a key component of this initiative, promotes sustainable farming practices that improve soil health and increase crop yields without depleting natural resources.
For the women of Mvomero, this was a divine plan. They were learning to grow drought-resistant crops, rotate their fields, and use organic fertilizers, all of which contributed to better crop yields.
As more women embrace climate-smart farming, the ripple effect is being felt in neighboring villages. Women who were once skeptical of these new methods are now finding success in Momero, where they are beginning to learn about the practices on their own drought-stricken lands.
Empowerment in Action
The shift from livestock to crop farming has had a profound impact on the social dynamics of Maasai society. Women, once marginalized in decision-making processes, are now at the forefront of managing family resources. This newfound empowerment is improving their social and economic status while also challenging the patriarchal norms that have long defined their society.
“We’ve always been made to believe that men are the decision makers,” said Rengai. “But now we’re showing that women can be leaders too. We can take care of our families and make better decisions.”
This sense of empowerment is evident in the way Mvomero women approach their work. They grow crops and build a future where their voices are heard and their contributions are valued. For example, building a rainwater harvesting system is a task these women are proud to undertake. “We don’t wait for our husbands to do it for us. We build the reservoir ourselves,” says Joseph. “It’s a way of showing that we can take care of ourselves.”
Men in the community are becoming aware of changing gender roles, and some are beginning to see the benefits of shared decision-making. Resistance still remains, but the success of these women is slowly changing attitudes. As the benefits of climate-smart farming become more evident, more men are joining their wives in this effort, working together to secure a better future for their families.
Challenges on the Horizon
The transition from livestock to crop farming is not without its challenges, especially in communities where wealth has long been measured by the size of their herds. “There are still people who are resistant to change,” Joseph admits. “They see farming as a less important occupation than herding. But as more of us become successful, that mindset is changing.”
The road to fully embracing these new practices is slow, and the Mvomero women know that their success is only the beginning. They face many challenges ahead, including the risk of drought and the strong cultural norms that shape gender roles in Maasai society.
But women are strong. They know that their efforts are not only about overcoming the crisis that is happening now, but also about creating a better future for their children.
“We are planting seeds of change,” Naeku said. “Our daughters will grow up knowing that they can be anything they want to be. They will know that women can lead, that we can innovate, that we can solve any problem.”
Model for the future
The success of the Maasai women in Mvomero is beginning to be noticed in other drought-stricken areas of Tanzania, where development agencies and government agencies are taking note of the community’s innovative approach and looking for ways to replicate it in other areas facing similar challenges.
“We see this as a model that can be replicated and implemented in other parts of the country,” John said. “The key is to empower communities, especially women, to take control of their own resources and livelihoods. When people are given the tools and knowledge they need, they can achieve amazing things.”
As Maasai women in pastoralist communities make progress, they are not only securing their own futures, but also creating stronger, more just societies. Their journey is a testament to determination, innovation, and empowerment. It is a true example of the power of women to overcome challenges.
In Tanzania’s Maasai savanna, where the future of pastoralist society is uncertain, these women are showing that with the right support, even the most marginalized can overcome challenges and live better lives.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal Source: Inter Press Service
