Stopping at Kilolo

After leaving Lulanzi we drove down the road back towards Iringa.  We took a “short cut”, which actually was a shortcut; there are times when a shortcut seems pretty long.  Last year we were at Kilolo for a meeting with this group.  At that time they were discouraged since they had been struggling to collect money and still were far short of what they needed for a SACCOS.  We felt that this was an area that could use some help, so we partnered with a farmer from Wendell, MN and together we came up with the funds required. $4,600 pays for all of training and trip costs, registration fees, co-op visits fees, etc. leaving the SACCOS with 4,200,000 TZS ($2700) for their capital – all they would need to raise was 800,000 TZS.  There was a lot of excitement at that meeting.  They wound up raising 2,100,000 TZS and started their SACCOS!

Right now they have 27 members – 14 men and 13 women.  We think they will have their final registration in about 3 months.  In the meantime we have opened a bank account for them and they have made their first batch of loans.  They gave out 24 loans averaging $130.  This was a little over half of what people asked for, but it was all they had-so they decided to divide things up.  They already have 10 people waiting to join and told us there were many more waiting to see if this SACCOS works.  We are thinking that they could easily have 80-100 members by next year if there is enough capital. (We suggest that the SACCOS limit membership to twice the number of loans they can make.  Some are more conservative than this and some are more liberal.)

Following greetings and introductions, Peter and Request gave the seminar.  As in Lulanzi, there were many good questions like “Why have all of the other SACCOS around here failed?”  “Can we organize to buy seed and fertilizer to avoid problems with the middle men here?”  “Can we get more capital – how does this work?” 

At one point Request asked if they had an agricultural demonstration plot here.  They do, but when they were asked if anyone was following the CVP methods most answered  “no.”  Why not?  They don’t have the money to buy the right seed, fertilizer, and spray.  Their current loans allowed them to buy some of this, but they will probably use less fertilizer than recommended.  We’ve heard this time and again; people know what they should do, but without a loan they can’t afford to do it.   (This happens in America too, doesn’t it?)

The Pastor thanked us for coming and for helping them start their SACCOS.  He said we have given them hope for the future.  We are just sorry that we can’t do more.

Today we interview two of the members about their loans and their hopes for the future.  Our first interview was with one of the evangelists, Alex Mhele, age 50, married and the father of five.  He has borrowed $130 to grow beans on his shamba.  He hopes that after all expenses he will have increased his profit on this land by $100 or more.  He told us that he would like to borrow $400.  If he could get this much he could use fertilizer and better seed for his maize.  “If I can do this and get the same yields that our demonstration plot is getting I would get over $1,500 for my crop and earn a profit of $1,000!”  And what does he plan to do with his profits?  Pay school fees.

Our second interview was with Anna Sala, 55, married with 2 children.  Anna has also borrowed $130.  She plans to use half of this to buy fertilizer for her peas and half to buy more chickens.  She estimates that she will make $150 in profit after she repays her loans and expenses.  Her children are grown now so she plans on using her profit to improve her duka (a good investment!).  She would like to borrow $260 so that she can afford to buy the right amount of fertilizer for her crop.

Everyone here is very grateful for the help they have gotten so far.  They are looking forward to their SACCOS growing and developing further.  They have heard about some of the other SACCOS and are very hopeful that theirs will be a great success.

On the way back toward Iringa from Lulanzi you come to Kilolo.

You take a small road off of the main path to the church.

The Pastor and some members and officers were waiting.

Sandy showed the group one of the calendars we make. (We are running out so we could not give them one.)

This is a new SACCOS with 27 members.

While the talks were going on Tom went out and found this basketball court.  Can a goat cause a foul?

After the meeting Sandy talked to some members.

One of the evangelists, Alex Mhele, age 50, is married and the father of five.  He has borrowed $130 to grow beans on his shamba.

Our second interview was with Anna Sala, 55, married with 2 children.  Anna has also borrowed $130.  She plans to use half of this to buy fertilizer for her peas and half to buy more chickens.

We decided it was time we took a picture of our team!

After the meeting it was back to Iringa.