Livingstone Tanzania Trust works alongside children, teachers, entrepreneurs and farmers across Babati to improve educational opportunities for children and enhance the income generating skills of adults. They work with partners who collaborate with beneficiaries and develop strategies to overcome poverty.
As the climate changes, farmers in Babati are finding that their reliable crops are not so reliable which is causing challenges to income security, household diet and standards of living. Working in partnership with Babati Agricultural Department, Livingstone Tanzania Trust are working with householders to plant Malinde bananas on their land. Malinde bananas are more drought tolerant and because banana trees are propagated from suckers or shorts that grow from the main stem of the plant, one tree can in time become 2-3 trees, so 10 trees can soon become 30 trees.
The Trust is providing funding to Livingstone Tanzania Trust to work with 75 farmers to each plant 10 trees, and provide follow up and training. The bananas can be eaten raw or cooked and can provide the household with a low maintenance food source and in time with a source of income.