By Gregg Rapaport, Senior Program Manager, Development Outreach
and Communications On the highest mountain in Africa one finds
climbers attempting to conquer Kilimanjaro, as well as those who
live in high-altitude villages struggling daily to grow food to
feed their families. Small holder farmers use basic hand tools
to work the land and have only a gambler’s chance of getting the
adequate rain and sun necessary to grow their crops. If all goes
well, they may be able to sell part of their harvest at a
village marketplace or makeshift roadside display to generate
income. This is no small accomplishment, as the tropical heat
and wicker baskets used to transport produce to market spoils as
much as 40% of each harvest. Summiting Kilimanjaro seems an
easier undertaking than farming on its slopes. The challenges
facing small holder farmers are not limited to the mountain
region: low-yields, inadequate storage processes and facilities,
limited transportation infrastructure, and difficulty accessing
credit and market