Farm Africa wins top prize at Tanzania farmers show

14 August 2013

Photo: Farm Africa farmers celebrate their victory

Farm Africa is thrilled to have won first prize at the annual Nane Nane farmers show in Arusha, Tanzania. The show, held between 1 and 8 August, features over 300 exhibitors including government ministries, non-government organisations and large and small-scale businesses exhibiting agricultural and livestock products and services.

Nine farmers from Farm Africa’s sesame marketing and forest management projects in Tanzania took part in this year’s show. Farm Africa bagged the trophy for the number one exhibitor in recognition of its achievements in training these and many thousands of other farmers to use improved farming techniques and methods to transform their livelihoods.

Among the Farm Africa trained farmers at this year’s show was Constantine Martin, a sesame farmer from Babati, exhibiting his simple idea for planting sesame seeds. Following seed multiplication training from Farm Africa, Constantine was inspired to develop a tool to simplify sesame seed planting.

“I had an opportunity to attend Farm Africa training in sesame seed planting and the knowledge I gained was really useful. However, on my way home after the training, I was thinking more and more about how I can build on the training to simplify the planting process,” said Constantine.

He developed the “Costa Planter”, a tool which cleverly distributes sesame seeds at a more rapid and even pace than by hand. It has dramatically reduced the time it takes him to sow a hectare of sesame seeds from six hours to around an hour and a half. It has also enabled him to increase his yields, now harvesting around 30kg of sesame per hectare, instead of the 15 to 20kg per hectare he used to get when using conventional planting methods.

Photo: Constantine demonstrates the Costa Planter

Further agricultural success for Farm Africa farmers

Another sesame farmer at the show was Musa Ali from Babati who sold 200kgs of sesame, along with 20 bottles of sesame oil. The money he earned from these sales will go to his co-operative society to be distributed among its members. He plans to use his share of the money to prepare his farm for the next planting season.

Also at the show was beekeeper Joseph Khufo from Bermi, Babati. Thanks to Farm Africa training Joseph has been able to achieve a five-fold increase in his honey production. He sold twenty five of his 500 gram cans of honey at the show.

“This was a great opportunity as I was able to sell honey and interact with potential customers who have taken my contact details and will order more honey in future,” said Joseph. 

Photo: Joseph explaining his beekeeping methods

Another selling her products at the show was Marcelina Sule from Mbulu. Marcelina has received Farm Africa training in raffia weaving, and managed to sell 5 of her raffia woven baskets and 2 raffia woven mats at the show.  

“Now, after selling the baskets and mats, I am able to clear the school fees balance that I owed the school for my children,” says Marcelina.

All in all it was a hugely successful show for Farm Africa and its farmers. We’re now looking forward to trying to repeat this success at next year’s show.

Read more about our work in Tanzania

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