Remarkable journey of charcoal trader turned climate champion

Morogoro. In the village of Ngerengere, Morogoro District, lives Ally Mikola, a 76-year-old elder whose life story is one of true transformation.

For 20 years, Mr Mikola earned his living as a charcoal trader, transporting the commodity to Dar es Salaam and other areas for income.

Today, instead of continuing that business, he is actively encouraging fellow villagers to adopt clean cooking energy and alternative charcoal as a way of protecting forests and improving community health.

“I started the charcoal business in 2005. I made profits and was able to support my family. But later, I saw its negative effects. Forests were disappearing, the environment was being destroyed, and the smoke from charcoal caused health problems,” explains Mzee Mikola.

The elder, who also serves as a Ten-Cell leader in his neighborhood, adds that he now uses alternative charcoal.

“I encourage my neighbours to do the same, for the benefit of future generations,” he says.

He points out that the alternative charcoal is produced using crop residues, wood by-products, and other sources such as maize stalks.

This, he says, not only helps conserve the environment but also turns what could have been waste into an economic opportunity.

Mr Mikola emphasizes that his transformation did not come overnight. It was after receiving training and witnessing the real impacts of climate change and environmental degradation that he made the shift.

This awareness and education came through a group of young people from Ngerengere General Supplies, led by Yustino Chiwaya and Alexander Msowela.

These youths received training in 2024 through the Community Empowerment Project on Sustainable Forest Management and Alternative Energy (USEMI).

Using agricultural residues such as sugarcane husks, coconut shells, maize cobs, and sawdust, the group produces alternative charcoal while teaching villagers how it can replace traditional wood-based charcoal.

The threat of environmental degradation

Like many other areas in Morogoro Region, Ngerengere has suffered greatly from deforestation caused by firewood collection and charcoal production.

For years, residents of coastal regions and Dar es Salaam relied heavily on charcoal from this belt, as it was once rich with large, fertile forests.

But things have changed. Forests have declined rapidly, and the environmental consequences are increasingly visible.

Mr Chiwaya explains that their group produces more than one ton of alternative charcoal per day using specialized machines they received after their training. However, he admits the challenges remain significant.

“We struggle with low community awareness, poor infrastructure, and the lack of a reliable market. All these factors slow down the spread of alternative charcoal,” he says.

He also details the production process: “We collect the raw materials, burn them in a kiln, then grind the carbonized remains. We mix the powder with sawdust and cassava porridge to bind it together. After drying for three days, the charcoal is ready for use.”

Another leader of Ngerengere General Supplies, Maimuna Lupesa, highlights a different challenge: weak enforcement of forest protection laws.

“People cut trees indiscriminately because there’s little close monitoring. The laws exist, but their enforcement is still weak,” she explains.

A ray of hope

Despite these challenges, the group’s efforts have begun to bear fruit. Several families in Ngerengere have already switched to alternative charcoal and are witnessing its benefits.

One of them is Hidaya Shabani, a villager who says traditional charcoal used to cause eye irritation.

“Whenever I cooked with wood charcoal, my eyes burned. But since I switched to alternative charcoal, that problem is gone. I encourage my fellow women, especially those who suffer most from kitchen smoke, to adopt clean energy,” she advises.

For Ally Mikola, the early successes of the group bring great satisfaction.

“Now, when I see people saving forests and protecting their health, I feel far happier than when I was running the charcoal business,” he says.

Partnership with government and stakeholders

According to Dalali Venge from USEMI, the work of Ngerengere General Supplies is a living example of the implementation of the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy 2024–2034.

The plan sets a goal of ensuring that 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean cooking energy by 2034.

Environmental Officer at Morogoro District Council, Rosemary Semiono recognizes these community efforts. She says the council has been conducting seminars and workshops in villages to educate residents about alternative energy, including the use of biogas.

“We have seen that when people are given the right knowledge, they don’t need to be forced. About 75 percent of our residents are farmers and livestock keepers. They already have crop residues and animal waste that can easily be used to produce biogas at home,” says Semiono.

She stresses that they are continuing to partner with various experts to extend this knowledge to schools and the wider community.

“Every household can use resources available around them to generate clean energy. If we succeed, we will save forests and improve public health,” she adds.

The road ahead

Chiwaya notes that for such initiatives to succeed on a larger scale, stronger collaboration is required between the government, private sector, and communities.

He explains that laws against tree cutting must be strictly enforced, community groups promoting alternative energy should be given financial and technical support, and clean energy should be integrated into a stable market system to ensure reliable supply and affordable prices.

For Ally Mikola, life has become a lesson worth sharing. From a charcoal trader to a clean energy ambassador, his story is proof that change is possible and that everyone has a role to play in protecting both the environment and community health.

This story is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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