Empowering Rural Farmers and Restoring Soil Health

The Africa Eco-Soil Project, implemented by Africa Harvest Enterprises (T) in Morogoro, Tanzania, addresses soil degradation and the high cost of imported chemical fertilisers by producing organic alternatives. The project converts coconut husk waste into cocopeat and market food waste into nutrient-rich compost, distributing these through agro-input dealers to over 200 farmers and 20 corporate clients. By collaborating with farming cooperatives and international NGOs like the UNDP, the initiative provides training on sustainable agriculture and climate change to empower rural farmers. Despite its success in challenging the dominance of the chemical fertiliser industry, the project faces challenges including a reliance on diesel generators for production, the use of polyethylene packaging, and difficulties in securing non-donor funding for scaling.

• The Africa Eco-Soil Project addresses the high cost and environmental risks of chemical fertilisers in Tanzania, where approximately 90% of fertilisers used annually are chemically-based and imported.
• The project utilizes local waste streams to create sustainable agricultural inputs, specifically processing coconut husks into cocopeat and composting organic waste from local markets into fertilisers.
• The initiative has reached over 200 farmers and 20 larger corporate clients in Tanzania through a distribution network of agro-input dealers.
• To overcome farmer skepticism and build trust, the project employs on-farm demonstrations and partners with existing farming cooperatives to provide extension services and training on sustainable practices.
• The project challenges the established power of the chemical fertiliser industry by offering a cheaper, locally accessible, and environmentally friendly alternative.
• The initiative faces operational sustainability challenges, including a reliance on diesel generators due to limited green energy access in rural areas and the use of ecologically harmful polyethylene bags for packaging.
• Strategic partnerships with international organisations, such as the UNDP's Fungo Innovation Program, have helped the project gain credibility and access resources to scale to nearby regions.

APA

Global Resilience Partnership (n.d.). Empowering Rural Farmers and Restoring Soil Health. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/africa-harvest.pdf

Chicago

Global Resilience Partnership. Empowering Rural Farmers and Restoring Soil Health. n.d. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/africa-harvest.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Resilience Partnership |title=Empowering Rural Farmers and Restoring Soil Health |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/africa-harvest.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalresiliencepartnershipndempowering, author = {{Global Resilience Partnership}}, title = {{Empowering Rural Farmers and Restoring Soil Health}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/africa-harvest.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }