Three meals a day in Tanzania

07 February 2013

“I’m so happy for this opportunity to provide a better life for my children,” Martin Constantine says.

A sesame farmer from Babati, Tanzania, he heard about the improved seeds and co-operative way of selling that Farm Africa had introduced and, impressed, he decided to get involved.

By storing farmers’ produce and then selling collectively, groups of small-scale farmers like Martin can get higher prices for their crops, helping reduce poverty.

Higher profits

Since joining the project, Martin has seen a dramatic change in his fortunes. Last year he sold six bags of sesame through the co-operative, making a profit of 475 Tanzanian shillings per kilo.

That’s 40% higher than the profit he makes from other crops such as cotton, and is enough to provide three meals a day for his family.

Saving money

Not only that, he’s used the extra money to buy a bicycle and some goats – and even had enough to buy a plot of land for a house and put some money aside for next season.

Another important aspect of our work is spreading the word to farmers we’re not directly working with. Martin has encouraged ten more farmers to join the co-operative and learn the new techniques.

Read more about our sesame project

More about our work in Tanzania