For three generations, Mwinyikambi’s family have farmed the same four acres of land in rural Tanzania. But despite reduced rainfall and yields they continue to farm as they always have.
It was a privilege to be a guest in the village of Zinga over the past two days. Zinga is a village in the region of Bagamoyo, 50 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam. As outsiders our group was welcomed into the home of a local elected government official, Mwinyikambi. He is a leader in the community, a solver of local problems, a mediator in local disputes, a husband to two wives, father of six and an incredibly hospitable host.
After serving us lunch, we take a thirty minute walk to Mwinyikambi’s farm. One of our group quietly described what we saw as chaos cropping – a random planting of cashew trees, cassava, coconut palms and rice. There are signs of soil degradation, over cropping and top soil erosion.
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Polly sat awkwardly on my soft and comfy sofa but dealt so confidently with the stream of media that passed through my home. It was an unusual situation even for me…I am not accustomed to radio and newspaper journalists lining up at my door!
Ocola Apio Polly is a Ugandan farmer. She describes to the journalist her home.
My homestead is just grass thatched houses…and around it I have animals…..I have 10 acres of land….
What she doesn’t mention is that the land belongs to her husband but he does not tend it, or that she must walk 20 minutes each morning and afternoon to her farm.
“Polly, what do you hope to achieve through your visit to Australia?” the journalist asks.
Wow. What a big question! ActionAid have brought Polly to Australia is to highlight the role of woman farmers in developing countries and build connections between them and our rural community.
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Why is a 44 year old wrinkly female farmer from Australia sitting in the middle of this swarm? What’s my “buzz”? Where do I fit in here?
The other swarmers…..an inspiring group of young activists from around the globe….places as exotic and captivating as their names…..Afrin from Bangladesh; Anjana from Nepal; Emilia from Brazil; Kodili from Uganda; Collins from Kenya…are all here with a cause! Not just any cause but a cause so close it makes their hearts throb and their eyes glisten when they talk about it – women’s rights, land rights, political systems, the inalienable right to food.
And, as is indicative of swarm behaviour, I look for my place to settle in this milling mass….for there is a place for me here!
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