Organic tropical farming in Zanzibar
This
internship is ideal for everyone interested in agriculture in tropical
climate zones, for instance students of agricultural sciences,
botany, biology, agriculture, ecology, landscape design etc. The internship is possible at various farms.
Qualified supervision/tutoring is possible; special interests can be discussed in advance.
The offer is also ideal for dissertation papers, research projects and
similar endeavors. For this, we cooperate with Mr. Foum Ali Garu who is a lecturer at the Kizimbani Agricultural Institute, and who is running his own farm in Kidichi. Depending on the required level of supervision, Mr. Foum might ask for a further contribution that we can let you know in advance.
Students will then also be given access to the scientific library of the Kizimbani Agricultural Institute.
At Foum's farm a variety of tropical fruits are being cultivated, but also spices and mushrooms. There is a visitor's area with a collection of interesting tropical plants.
Besides at Foum's farm, an internship is possible at a joint venture of 4 farms located at
two different places in Zanzibar which comprise of a total acreage of
500 acres (200 hectares). The farms do organic farming and therefore
abstain from synthetic pesticides, fertilisers and additives.
They grow tropical fruits, particularly
different species of mangoes, guava, citrus fruits and bananas,
furthermore vegetables such as cucumbers and avocados. The population
of over 3000 fructiferous mango trees is remarkable. The farms
primarily produce for local markets. Solely exquisite species of
mangoes such as Muyuni and Mwarugo are exported to the gulf region.
Like all traditional farms in Zanzibar these
farms are characterised by the large variety of species grown. An
extensive mixed cultivation is adopted, in which such species of plants
are cultivated close to each other, in which the presence of one
species reduces the appearance of possible pests on other species.
Synthetic pesticides are replaced for instance
by using the oil from the seed of the neem tree. With some species of
fruits and vegetables, shifting cultivation is practised to maintain
the quality of the soil.
One of the four farms is specialist in poultry farming. There are up to
40,000 broilers and laying hens kept in barns in which they can walk
around freely; also a nursery for chicks exists.
Two farms are neighbouring a mangrove forest
which is only accessible during low tide. It is a concern of the farm
owners to inform the local population about the importance of the
conservation of the mangroves, which make a valuable contribution to
the protection of many marine species and against the erosion of the
coastline.
Inside of the mangrove forests, one farms plans
within a short time to start with gathering activity (Fish, mussels) in
an ecologically sustainable way.
Activities to work in include:
1. Planning and construction of irrigation systems on one of the farms which has not been extensively cultivated before
2. Organic weed control
3. Residue Management after harvest
4. Optimization of permanent crops (mainly fruit trees)
5. Storage and conservation of tropical fruits to counteract seasonalities
Info box:
Place: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Duration: 2 weeks to 1 year
Special qualification required: Will be of advantage, but is not a requirement
Costs: 500 € (Including trouble-free package)
Accommodation: No
Meals: Not included
Included: Placement and complete range of services which
is part of the trouble-free package
Not included: Travel to Zanzibar International Ariport, health insurance, visa, work permit
Book this internship now!
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