Within these villages lies the true rock of Mwanza and its surrounding area: farming. 85% of Tanzanians work in agriculture, with the lushness of their crops serving as the leading indicator for the wider economy.
According to a study by the Irish government, Tanzania experiences severe droughts with devastating effects to its agriculture, water and energy sectors. The Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN) Index ranks Tanzania as the 34th most vulnerable and 54th least ready to adapt to climate change, of the countries it covered.
Simusolar is working to address these problems. The Mwanza-based organization produces solar-powered equipment for farmers to fundamentally change how they make a living.
“We told you the percentage of Tanzanians who are farmers, right?” says Arnold Mlokozi, a Mwanzan-born agronomist at Simusolar. “But of that population, only 2% have access to proper irrigation tools.”
We visited Mlokozi and his team to see firsthand the impact they’re making.