T.C.F.D. was founded in 1993 in the U.K. by Gordon and Phyllis McCormick to do God’s work in Tanzania. Work began in Tanzania
   during September 1993 on what is now a 300 acre site in the village of Ndevelwa near Tabora. Tabora is approximately 700 miles in land
   from the capital Dar es Salaam, located in the central region. This property was mostly forest and was allocated by the government for
   the development of a school to teach agriculture and other trades.

• To build a farm compound.
• To build a school.
• To develop improved breeds of animals.
• To develop vegetable growing.
• To teach people land use skills and animal husbandry.
• To evangelise and teach the wider community in Christian faith.

    ACHIEVEMENTS

    Progress during the past years has seen many of the above aims implemented. The farm has accommodation for a missionary family
    and farm workers; also there is housing for animals. A large store has been erected to store food for the local people and the animals.
    The site is large and provides us with raw materials for building, e.g. rock, sand and timber. The one shortage was a water supply. Well
    digging proved futile as the water table is below rock strata that would not yield to hand digging. A surface dam was proposed and work
    began in 1995 to cut out a pond, clear the catchments area and build a wall with the sub soil.

    On Boxing day 1995 the dam wall had its first test when a severe storm struck, the water level rose to near the top of the unfinished
    wall. There was no damage done although the water drained away through two 4 inch pipes for two days even after the rains had
    passed. This situation proved that the dam site is receiving an underground supply from a wider area than that cut for the pond. The
    rains at the end of 1997 completely filled and it maintained that level for several months. Although the water level is greatly lower during
    the dry season the dam usually retains some water until the rains return. In addition to the water there is a large quantity of fish in the
    dam.

    Goat breeding is continuing with our aim to obtain a cross breed which will produce 1 litre of milk per day. This is many times more than
    the yield of the local breeds. This work began with the sanaan breed but we are now trying to breed with Nubian. Progress is slow as we
    are gaining very few female off spring, a large percentage of the kids born are males.

    Work with pigs began in 1995 with 1 sow and 2 young females, breeding commenced when a boar was located in September 1996. The
    work with the pigs has progressed well, at present there are around 10 breeding sows and 2 boars. The total number in the herd would
    reach 60 with other sows soon due to pig. The pigs are accommodated in four separate buildings with ample space for expanding in the
    future. Feeding the pigs is relatively easy as much of their diet is rice husk which is mainly dumped as waste in Tanzania.

    Many experiments have taken place with growing different vegetables in varied conditions both during wet and dry seasons. Many of the
    young plants are raised in the tunnel house which protects them from the strong sun and the numerous insects. The project has now a
    good supply of vegetables for most of the year from its own plot.

    The first school building has been erected, this provides accommodation for 24 students, facilities for sleeping, washing, cooking and
    eating. There is one additional room which can be used as a temporary classroom.

    A large building was built as a workshop and now awaits the installation of equipment, most of which has already arrived from the UK.
    When completed, the workshop will be used to teach trades such as, furniture making and mechanics. In 1997 a large generator (60
    KVA) was donated to supply the whole compound including the workshop. It has been recently installed and is now supplying the
    project electricity needs. A source of income is essential to run this machine and ways of generating this finance within Tanzania are
    being investigated.

    In August 1998 we were granted a registration for the work in Tanzania, it is now recognised as Tanzania Christian Farm Development
    Trust. Also in 2000 we received charitable status with the Inland Revenue in the UK.

    There are currently 18 people from the local community working on the projects. The general lack of understanding of mechanical and
    electrical principles makes the breakdown of equipment a regular occurrence, and the progress slower than expected. We need wisdom
    in the selection process we devise to find future students with genuine aptitude to the tasks and technology that our projects need.
    Future training courses have the potential to raise the standard of life for the whole community. Contact with our neighbours has
    continued well. The maize milling machine offers a regular meeting point and the need for aid of various kinds continues. The potential
    areas of friction have been minimal and the only on-going problem is that of theft from the compound in our absence on mission work.
    This has reduced by employing day and night watchmen.

    Use of the Jesus film began in 1995 after the donation of this film in the Swahili language and all the necessary equipment to show it.
    There are many opportunities to show this Jesus film. The local Churches are eager to present the gospel to others by this medium.
    Viewing numbers of 200 and over are regularly attained both near and far with many showings reaching as many as 500 people in the
    bush areas. Most of these bush areas have no Churches or workers available near them. Some Churches have been planted through
    this ministry and others continue to grow as we work together. A new Church building was erected in November 2001. This is a large
    concrete structure and will hold around 200 people. It was built on a site opposite the farm project and is a beacon to the community.

    This began in January 1998 when we were given funds for this purpose along with the donation of a 20ft container filled with tinned food.
    The need for food came about after heavy rains destroyed most of the crops in many parts of Tanzania and the price of maize and rice
    rose extremely high, making it impossible for local people to purchase. The funds were used to purchase mainly rice and maize which
    was distributed with the tinned food from the container to the elderly in three villages surrounding the project for three months.
    Afterwards we supplied food for a further four months to the local primary school where about 350 children attended. Again aid has been
    given each January through to April, the extent of the aid depends on the funding available. The latest development in this area of aid is
    the opening of a shop to supply the basic food needs of the village. The food is sold to the villagers without a profit, this was a request of
    the village, it was approved and arranged through the government officials in Tabora.

    We need further accommodation for the school, this will include another accommodation block, teacher housing and classrooms. These
    structures are required to enable the main aims of the site to be effected, namely the transmission of knowledge for the general good of
     the community and country as a whole.

    We plan to be involved in some business activities to do with agricultural produce which will help raise some of the income locally,
    whilst this would also provide work in the area and set an example in hygiene. Being involved in such ventures helps relations with locals
    and most importantly with the government of Tanzania.

    Development in business has begun with the purchase of an old dairy property in Tabora. The dairy was owned by the government, and
    closed in 1995 after going into receivership. Our offer to purchase the property was agreed at the end of 1998. During the next couple of
    years we acquired equipment, also the funds to refurbish the property. At the beginning of 2002 the finishing touches were put to the
    dairy, it is now known as the New Tabora Dairies. A team of local people have been trained to work the new equipment and the first milk
    was processed at the end of March 2002. Meat processing is another avenue being investigated, some trails were made with making
    burgers and sausages using a store of the dairy in 2001. In April 2001 a small factory building was built in the village on the farm site,
    the premises are now ready to be equipped and begin production. Also a shop premises in Tabora has been rented giving a market
    place for the products of these projects.

    To fulfil the plans of the future, people are needed, those called by God with the necessary skills and trades in agriculture and building
    etc.

• One couple to oversee the farm school project, a background in animal husbandry would be helpful as the position will involve working with goats, pigs, poultry and cattle. Also the ability to deal with general maintenance work would help.
• A person with experience in mechanics to work with diesel engines.
• One person experienced in the butchery trade to help develop the meat processing business.