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The Times Advocate, 2004-06-16, Page 14Crossroads 14 Wednesday, June 16, 2004 Exeter Times Advocate Huron -Perth Presbytery hosts visitor from Tanzania By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Makanya Bita travelled from Tanzania to experience life in rural Ontario. Bita said the purpose of his trip was to share information with his Canadian friends so they could learn from each other. During his trip, Bita vis- ited farms across Huron and Perth counties and was taken to points of interest in the area. The Huron -Perth Presbytery of the United Church of Canada hosted Bita from May 29 to July 13 through its mission services fund. Bita, who is married with three daughters and one son, left his family behind to travel to Canada. He is the executive director of the Youth Employment and Food Production Foundation (YEFOFO), an autonomous, non-govern- ment and non-profit foun- dation, which enables people to effectively carry out their own develop- ment destiny by support- ing and enhancing socio- economic and environ- mental development. The program helps peo- ple who have a low quali- ty of life when it comes to education, income, trans- portation, environment and sanitation, housing, water supply, health and diet. Its mandate is to pro- vide training in various skills in social, economic and environmental sec- tors. The organization mainly relies on its own fundrais- ing activities, but also receives support from external sources. It has established and manages a revolving loan fund to keep supporting develop- ment activities started by target groups. Tanzania's economy is overwhelmingly based on agriculture. Most of the country's work force is employed in subsistence farming raising cassava and corn. Sisal, cotton, coffee, cloves and cashews are the major crops which supply the bulk of exports. Bita said one of the main differences he found between farms in this area and those in his country is the scale of the operations. In Tanzania the average farm is between 0.9 and 3 hectares. About 70 per cent of the area is culti- vated by hand, 20 per cent by plough and 10 per cent by tractor. He said the farms he visited were well-main- tained and the landscape in this area was beautiful. "The countryside is well planned," he said. He also noted the bene- ficial effects tree planti- ng and maintenance have had on the land- scape. "We have been careless about the environment," he said of his own coun- try. "I have seen good things here that will stick in my mind." He said while upgrading farms in Tanzania to the technological level of those he saw in Canada would take a consider- able amount of capital not available to most peo- ple, forestation and bet- ter environmental prac- tices would not take as much. "It will require educa- tion and training," he said. Bita said he will share his experience with peo- ple in Tanzania and try to adapt some of the farm- ing skills he learned dur- ing his trip. Bita made a point of thanking the United Church of Canada for the Makanya Bita and Marjorie Johns enjoy the scenery at MacNaughton Park in Exeter. Johns hosted Bita for part of his trip to Canada. (photo/Mary Simmons) opportunity to come to Huron -Perth as well as all the people he met while in the presbytery. "I received a warm wel- come," he said. "Everyone was very friendly." Bita said he hopes to keep in touch with some of the people he met on his trip. "I appreciate what they have done for me and I hope we will continue sharing to meet our com- mon goals for the well- being of humanity," he said. "We need to contin- ue that spirit as Christians." Agreement opens S adier Tract to Ausable River Riders Club ARKONA — The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) and the Ausable River Riders Club (ARRC) have signed an agreement to allow club members to ride dirt bikes and ATVs at the Sadler Tract. This is the only ABCA-owned property where this is permitted. "The goal of this agree- ment is to provide a single property for dirt bikes and ATVs so they do not ride on other ABCA or private properties," said ABCA general manager Tom Prout. Under the leadership of Roger McPherson of Arkona and an executive committee, the ARRC is in charge of all matters dealing with membership, safety, trail maintenance and staying off private property. Prout said the ABCA is happy to be working with the well -organized club. In some areas, ATVs and dirt bikes have damaged the environment and made the trails impass- able for other users. Neighbours have also called the ABCA to com- plain about trespassers. Last year, the re -orga- nized ARRC repaired trails at Parkhill Conservation Area. There's a consider- able amount of work required at the Sadler Tract as well. Prout admits the future of ATVs and dirt bikes on ABCA lands is tenuous. "If this agreement doesn't work out, the riders could face a total ban," he warned. The large property is north of Arkona at Lot 6, 7, 8 BF Conc. West Williams Ward of North Middlesex on the east side of the Ausable River. The property was mostly used by hikers and hunters until ATVs and dirt bikes became a popular pas- time. The property is part of the Ausable Gorge, a provincially significant area, but trails will not go through environmentally - sensitive sites and riders are required to stay on marked trails. The ABCA provincial offences officer will be on patrol and can charge peo- ple riding in the Sadler Tract who are not mem- bers as well as riders using other ABCA properties. The agreement has sev- eral conditions including: • Riders must be mem- bers of the Ausable River Riders Club. • This is a yearly agree- ment, renewed subject to ABCA approval based on ARRC performance in trail maintenance, assist- ing the ABCA with patrol and enforcement, hosting a safety training day and administering the club membership. • Riders must be licenced drivers. Children between the ages of 12 and 17 must be accompa- nied by a licenced driver who is a parent or guardian. Children under 12 are not permitted. • Riders must have pub- lic liability insurance and sign a waiver form releas- ing the ABCA. • Members will have identification cards and machines will have an identification sticker. • Access to the property is from MacDonald Road. The ATVs and dirt bikes are not allowed to cross other properties to get to the Sadler Tract. • No ATV/dirt bike trails will cross the Ausable River. • Trail use is April to October. • Membership fees for 2004 are $150 for new members. As well, all members must provide two $30 cheques. If the member participates in a work day, the cheque is returned. If not, the cheque is cashed. The membership fee covers trail maintenance and administrative costs.