NaneNane (or the 8th of August) – literally translated into Eight Eight – is an important day in Tanzania as it recognizes and celebrates the contribution of farmers to the economy of the country. As over 70% of the population is either directly or indirectly involved in agriculture, this gives reason to celebrate accordingly. Therefore, all over the country, including Morogoro, one of the centers of agriculture of Tanzania, week-long agricultural fairs take place, culminating on the actual holiday, the 8th of August. SAT, for the 5th time, could not be missing of course and was present on-site.
SAT’s stand at NaneNane this year included 
an information pavilion, a demonstration garden with different technologies as well as hutches with rabbits and chickens. A total, and record number, of over 2500 registered people visited the exhibition stand to get information about organic agriculture. The competent and motivated facilitators guided the visitors around the demonstration garden, explaining the functionality of different types of gardens, like Sack gardens, ground cover plants and double dug beds. The integrated collecting net for the rabbits manure for later producing organic fertilizer, also made for some astonished looks. After an informative tour through the demonstration garden, 
the visitors could finish off convincing themselves of the power of organic farming, by trying and purchasing some of the produce exhibited by SAT Organic Shop. The carrots, tomatoes and leafy vegetables among others, directly coming from our farmer’s fields, were able to convince the visitors with their fresh and sweet taste.
The highlights of this week included the visit of Tanzania’s Prime Minister Hon. Kassim Majaliwa who passed by on Monday, 1st of August and let himself be introduced to the world of organic agriculture. Another, not less meaningful, visit came from 593 farmers (2015: 543 farmers) from 32 different groups that we work with. All of them were invited to the exhibition site and were shown the innovative technologies at the SAT demonstration garden. It is not only a highlight for them to come and get inspired by the yearly exhibition but also a big pleasure for SAT.
After eight eventful and intensive days, the NaneNane 2016 exhibition came to an end. It culminated in the award ceremony where at the SUA Pavilion, including the SAT stand, won a trophy as overall winner. SAT is proud to be a part of this recurring exhibition and to represent organic agriculture to a broad and mixed public. SAT was not only present in Morogoro, but also sent some of its team members to three other regions, namely Arusha, Lindi and Dodoma. Mkulima Mbunifu, the small-scale farmers magazine, based in Arusha, won the exhibition price too.
We’ll be back next year!
