FARM-Africa started work in Tanzania in 1990 with the Babati Agricultural Development Project. This tackled the agricultural and natural resource constraints in Northern Tanzania.

We supported the project in 2006, which aimed to ensure small-scale farmers had access to certified seed and new technical training for both vegetable and staple crop production. The training focused on areas such as nursery preparation, composting and marketing, and farmers worked in groups to test different varieties of seeds. Crops grown included cabbages, carrots, mangoes and pears. Further activities focused on producing quality assured maize, bean and potato seeds.

Achievements:

The project had a great impact. Thirteen vegetable production groups involving 260 farmers were established and supported.  Groups received training in savings, deposits and shares; basic record keeping; formulation of rules and regulations on credit; loan screening criteria; and project planning. All villages have set up demonstration plots and farmers have since seen the benefits of increased vegetable production. Eight groups have also received training in raising fruit seedlings and local exchange visits were organised between the groups of Ayamango, Kwaraa, Tsamas and Arri villages so that they could learn from each others' experiences.

Nine seed multiplication groups (145 families) have been formed and trained, and three groups have established seed shops in their villages, marketing both home grown and commercially available improved maize and vegetable and bean seeds.

The project evaluation showed that maize yields improved by more than 120% and incomes increased from less than a dollar a day to an average of $4.96. Farmers have been spending the extra income from activities on day-to-day domestic needs such as the purchase of clothes, food, medicine, school fees and uniforms, as well as goats, cows, bicycles and mobile phones to order seeds and link with markets.

Lea and her experience at FARM-Africa's Farmer Research Group

Lea, a mother of five, joined one of the Farmers' Research groups in a village in the Babati region of Tanzania. She farms on three hectares and before joining the group could only manage to feed her family 80% of the time. In hard times, she would work as a labourer or even beg for additional money to support her family.

Now, as part of the group, she tests new varieties of seeds introduced by FARM-Africa. These have improved her yields so much that there is a surplus even after the family's needs have been met, and she now sells pigeon peas for a profit. This has helped her to replace the straw roof with corrugated iron. Lea is now sharing her findings with other farmers so they can benefit too.

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