Mt. Hanang in the background.
What are Mulbadaw Farm - CMSC –Waterworks, and where are they located?
Mulbadaw Farm is a part of the earlier 'Hanang Wheat Complex'. The whole complex consisted of 7 farms producing wheat on roughly 40,000 decares. In addition a ‘Central Maintenance and Service Centers(CMSC) complex was established during the early part of the 1970’s by the Tanzanian State with support and good help from Canada. The Canadians contributed both economically as well as providing professional personnel. When production was at its peak these farms produced almost ¾ of wheat needed in Tanzania.
In 1993, Canada pulled out of the project leaving the Tanzanian state with the sole responsibility for the farming operation. Production continued until the fall of 2003 when the Tanzanian government decided to sell off and privatize the whole complex.
Haydom Lutheran Hospital, HLH, had at this point been in operation for over 50 year. During this period HLH had shown itself to be one of the best run hospitals in the country, in addition to being very active in numerous types of community building projects in the region. HLH established schools, built roads, bridges and airports. During periods of drought HLH was responsible for distributing food. As a thank you for their considerable contributions to the community they received several agricultural properties where they produced their own food. It was not purely incidental that HLH received an enquiry from the Prime Minister asking if HLH was interested in taking over one of the larger wheat farms. The distance between Haydom and Mulbadaw is 45 kilometers about a 1 hour drive – was not considered a deterrent. In 2004, a small portion of the Mulbadaw farm was leased and 4000 dekar wheat was sown.
In February 2005 a contract was drawn up for the purchase of the entire Mulbadaw Farm, a total of 53 000 dekar. Earlier this farm had produced wheat on 41 000 dekar. The farm also included several houses/apartments for the employees.
In 2006, a contract was drawn up to take over the Central Service Center, CMSC, which consists of a large workshop center and a practical learning/school center. Also included on the property of 2500 dekar is a primary school, church, 40 houses of varying sizes and standards as well as a nice guest house with 6 double rooms, kitchen and living room. In addition, an entrepreneurial department with a contractor’s license includes 3 trucks, 2 Road Graders, 1 Bulldozer, Wheel Shovel and a Crushing plant. The road graders and trucks are in continual use. The other machines need more extensive reparations before they are operational.
The Canadians also built a waterworks to supply all the farms with water. The water comes from a source located at the foot of Mt. Hanang (3418 meters ASL), with two good water sources, however, only one is used at present. This one source produces roughly 2000 m3 per day. The waterworks has now also been bought.
Haydoms Friends foundation has for many years supported the operation of HLH and it is this foundation that bears the economical responsibility in connection to acquisition and farm operation and associated activities.
[T.R. 21.04.2009]