Makunza Mihayo Makunza (64) lives in Sojo Village, Isugule Ward, Nzega District. He is a married man with 7 children (4 Female, 3 Male) and 5 Grandchildren. He is one of 45 Project affected Households affected by East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) where he lost his 1.52 Acres of land parcel. His main Livelihood is farming and livestock keeping. He owns 17 Cows, 18 goats and more than 50 chicken. He also owned a mud house but he has demolished it because it had become old. An extent of 1.52 acres of land was acquired from Mr. Makunza by EACOP. In 2021, he was paid monetary compensation and chose an area of 1.52 acres of alternative land where his livelihood could be restored. He attended and participated in training and capacity building activities aimed at restoring his land-based livelihoods through improved farming skills using modern agricultural techniques.
2022.
He also gained important experience in modern rice production techniques namely, System of Rice Intensification (SRI) focusing on use of improved seeds with high yield, transplanting single and young seedlings, proper plant spacing, proper farm management (weeding and application of fertilizers, seedbed preparation and transplanting). During practical training he was provided tillage skills and learning tools including improved variety of rice seed (SARO 5/TXD 306), fertilizer for planting, top dressing, grain filling and herbicides to control insect. Mr. Makunza applied the skills and techniques he learned during training on his farm. He harvested 3.6 tons of rice from the 1.52 acres of alternative land which is equivalent to the one acquired by the project. Before EACOP support he harvested from the same piece of land, 0.7 tons. He kept 0.18 tons for his household consumption and sold 3.42 tons. He accrued TZS 4,560,000/= (USD 1958) from rice sales. He has spent this money on construction of a new dream house.
Makunza said: ‘’I’m very thankful to EACOP for the enormous support, I initially thought it was a scam project that wants to grab land and destroy environment, but I can testify that EACOP has changed my life by supporting me to realize my dream’’
