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Over 100 women in Arusha, most of them engaged in small-scale farming have received training on ways to deal with the challenge of climate change.

Most of the trainees were from five wards of Arumeru District in Arusha Region.
"The women were empowered with different skills on how to address the challenges related to climate change, as well as understanding key issues related to weather patterns in their day-to-day farming activities," said Jackson Muro.

Muro is the director of Community Economic Development and Social Transformation (Cedesota) which organised the training.

According to Muro, the training was designed to ensure that women who were empowered with skills, after the training would teach their fellow women on the effects of climate change and how to cope with them.

"Each of the trained women cooperative leaders is expected to further deliver same training to 100 other women in their communities."

"This workshop targeted rural women farmers and rural leaders not only because they are a more vulnerable group, but also to make them know options for managing climate change in agriculture," he said.

He added: "Our studies carried out in Arumeru and Kilindi districts last year proved that women are susceptible to challenges related to climate change."

The expert said the training had also meant to bridge the gap, where women and young girls walk long distances looking for water and fail to engage in productive economic activities.

"It is our hope that the training will become an eye-opener to many of them, so that at the end of the day they can be able to engage in other socio-economic activities."
Cedesota plans to reach out to more than 500 women in the northern zone regions.