Feature: Elephant attacks give hard times to Tanzanian farmers

Agnes Taki is one of women farmers in the southern Tanzania's district of Kilolo who for many years rely on farming.

Agnes's dreams to improve her livelihoods through farming were recently shuttered after her three-acre farm was completely destroyed by elephants.

The elephants are believed to have strayed from Ruaha, Udzungwa and Mikumi national parks.

Agnes lives in Ruaha Mbuyuni ward, one of the areas in Kilolo District, which is highly affected with elephant invasion.

Being a mother of three, Agnes has nothing to do as the money she invested into the destroyed farm was loaned from one of the Tanzanian-based banks.

"I took the loan from the bank for farming. And now everything in the farm has gone, I don't know how I'm going to repay the loan after elephants destroyed all of my crops."

Rashid Ramadhani, the ward executive officer of Ruaha Mbuyuni, admits that in just few weeks ago, five people have been trampled to death and others injured after wild elephants stormed into their farms.

The people were killed in separate incidents, which occurred in just one week and in most cases, incidents happened when people were trying to scare them away from their farms.

"Most of the killed victims were trying to chase the largest mammals from their farms," the official says, noting that more than 30 hectares of farmland in the area have been destroyed by the elephants.

Ramadhani suggests the need to review laws on compensation, so that it can be meaningful to the people who lost their beloved ones and those whom their farms were destroyed.

"I urge the government to build a rangers' post in the area to reduce incidences of elephants storming into people's farms," he says, adding:

"We want this post which will have rangers all the time."

Issa Mwishombe, a Ruaha-Mbuyuni ward councilor, says: "We have been informing responsible authorities on compensating those people who are being victims of elephants attack."

Rukia Muwango, the Kilolo District Council executive director, also asks the government to allocate enough rangers in areas which are notorious with elephants attack.

Tanzania's Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Ramo Makani landed into the district and consoled families of the victims including one family in Mtandika village whereby one man was killed a few days ago.

The affected area is close to the wildlife corridors where the largest mammals cross from Mikumi, Ruaha and Udzungwa national parks to drink water in Lukosi and Great Ruaha rivers.

Eng. Makani said the government was aware of the small amount of money issued to the victims of wildlife attacks "and we're working to review the law."

"I agree, it's high time we review the amount of money paid as compensation." Endit