About Agriculture in the Region

The northern Tanzania region is characterized by alluvial soils and volcanic soils. The main agricultural products of the region are:

• Grains: Maize, rice, millet and finger millet
• Roots and tubers: Cassava, sweet potatoes, potatoes, yams, taro (cocoyam)
• Pulses: Mung beans, beans, cowpeans, peas
• Oilseeds: Sunflower, sesame, peanuts
• Vegetables: Okra, eggplant, onions, ginger, lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, carrots, chilies, amaranth, pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon, cauliflower
• Fruits: Jackfruit, bananas, avocados, mangos, papayas, oranges, guavas, coconuts, cardamom, cinnamon, pineapple, peaches, lemons, limes, grapes, tangerines, plums, pears
• Cash crops for export: Coffee, tea, cocoa, cashew nuts, bananas, avocados, fiber plants such as sisal and cotton
• Lifestock: Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, donkeys, rabbits, aquaculture

Agriculture remains the foundation of Tanzania's economy. Approximately 80% of the population works in agriculture, with 85% involved in food production. Traditional family-run small farms dominate, employing basic technical means: 70% of farming is done using hand plows, 20% with oxen plows, and only 10% with tractors. Rain is the primary source of irrigation in most cases, making agriculture highly seasonal and dependent on weather conditions. The income of agricultural enterprises is low, as farmers bring the same products to market simultaneously. Droughts can be devastating for farmers.

Educational institutions like the Kilacha Production and Training Center (KPTC) contribute to professionalizing agricultural production in Tanzania, improving food security, income, and development.

The Training Center

The Kilacha Production and Training Center (KPTC) near Holili, on the Tanzania-Kenya border, about 45 km outside Moshi, has been operated by the Catholic Diocese of Moshi since 1971. Graduates of secondary school can gain knowledge of modern agriculture at KPTC. On the 500-hectare KPTC site, agriculture is conducted by 150 permanent and up to 200 seasonal employees for educational purposes and to generate income for the institution through sales.

Around 500 students are enrolled in the agricultural faculty. There are diploma and certificate courses in agricultural production, livestock health, and livestock management. In addition, there are short courses and seminars targeted at farmers from the region. The hospitality faculty at KPTC teaches food production, hotel management, tour guiding, and tourism.

KPTC cultivates maize, vegetables, and forage crops such as desmodium and napier grass on its grounds. Part of the cultivated area is irrigated with drip irrigation. The forage crops are sold as animal feed.

There is also a fish farming facility for popular and relatively easy-to-keep food fish such as milkfish, catfish, and tilapia. Additionally, cows are kept on-site, milked by hand, and their fresh milk is sold at the center. There is also pig farming, laying hens, and broiler chickens. The chickens roam freely in large halls, and eggs and chicks are sold.

KPTC's stone crusher crushes rocks into gravel, sorted into different grain sizes and sold as building materials. Concrete blocks and paving stones are also manufactured and sold.

Your impact at KPTC

KPTC offers volunteer opportunities and supervised internships for trainees and students with agricultural backgrounds. You will live on the KPTC grounds in staff housing and work in various areas of agricultural production and teaching. You can also be a guest student and attend courses held in English.

In the case of supervised internships, a team member with appropriate professional qualifications will guide you and dedicate time to your internship supervision. Staff members have various BA and MA degrees.

Working hours are generally Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.