Iramba Cluster E1 Treecovery Update – May 2026

An Update on Cluster E1

Over the last year, rainfall has been below-average, causing challenges and even leading to food insecurity in some of the villages. To sustain the momentum of the programme, we launched radio awareness campaigns in collaboration with the region’s leading local radio station. This approach helped maintain strong a connection with the community and promoted adoption of the techniques. Despite these challenges, the number of trees restored in Iramba district increased by 27% in Q1 2026, reaching a total of 41,533 trees in the cluster.

Story from the field

On the photo you can see champion farmer Jesca Yohana next to a Fanya juu/chini trench on her farm in Makunda Village, Singida. The champions who participate in the Treecovery projects are also trained in other regreening techniques, such as rainwater harvesting. Fanya juu/chini is suitable for farmland restoration. The name Fanya Chini literally means “throw it downwards” in Kiswahili. It consists of trenches and earthen ridges facing downslope. It prevents the rain that falls outside your farm from flowing into or through the farm, protecting the fertile soil from erosion. The name Fanya Juu means “throw it upwards” in Kiswahili and it is very similar to Fanya Chini since it consists of terrace bunds and ditches along the contour. Fanya Juu prevents the rain that falls within your farm from flowing away, increasing water availability for the crops on your land. In the end, it helps you to regreen your own land.

Photo 1: This trench has significantly improved crop performance and yields!