Chilli farming project expands to support more farmers

Farm Africa and Harris Spice have announced plans to extend support to a further 200 chilli farmers in Tanzania.

The new Scaling Climate‑Smart Chilli Production & Traceable Trade project builds on the two organisations’ previous work together in four regions: Morogoro, Manyara, Singida and Dodoma.

The project will create new opportunities for smallholder farmers producing chilli peppers to increase their incomes and build more resilient livelihoods.

While climate change continues to pose significant challenges, farmers will learn climate-smart agricultural practices to boost their productivity even in the face of extreme weather.

Through the project, farmers will gain knowledge and skills to improve crop management, reduce post-harvest losses and produce higher-quality chillies that meet market standards.

The new scaled up project will introduce a Village-Based-Advisor (VBA) model where lead farmers share farming skills with other local farmers and help them to sell their chillies together in bulk.

Digital tracking with fast mobile payments will be introduced and farmers will be given the flexibility to sell either fresh or dried chillies sales to ensure reliable sales, reduce side-selling, and ensure a steady, high-quality supply.

The experiences of Gilbert Mbesere and Halima Bakari, who took part in the previous chilli farming project. illustrate how resilience, determination and the application of good agricultural practices are helping farming families achieve better livelihoods.

Gilbert Mbesere: harvesting success  

Gilbert handling chilli peppers post-harvest

During the 2025 production season, Gilbert Mbesere cultivated one acre of chilli in Babati District in the Manyara region under particularly difficult weather conditions.

Prolonged cold temperatures created ideal conditions for fungal diseases, affecting chilli crops across the area.

Despite these challenges, Gilbert remained committed to applying the improved production techniques he learnt from Farm Africa.

He carefully managed his nursery, transplanted seedlings at the appropriate time, followed recommended spacing guidelines, regularly monitored his crop for signs of disease and applied recommended fungicides where needed.

Gilbert paid equal attention to post-harvest handling. By harvesting carefully, drying his chillies correctly and controlling moisture levels during storage, he was able to minimise losses and maintain the high quality required by markets.

His efforts paid off. From a single picking cycle, Gilbert produced 1,000 kilograms of dried chilli, equivalent to around four metric tonnes of fresh chilli, which he was able to sell at a healthy profit.

His success demonstrates that even under challenging climatic conditions, adopting sustainable farming practices can help farmers protect their crops, improve quality and generate strong returns.

With continued technical support and effective disease management, Gilbert has the potential to increase both his production and income in future seasons.

Halima Bakari: strength through adversity 

Halima picking chilli peppers, during a successful harvest

For Halima Bakari, the 2025 chilli season brought more than agricultural challenges. Alongside plant diseases affecting her crop, she also faced personal health difficulties that could easily have prevented her from completing the season.

Instead, Halima remained determined. She continued to monitor her crop regularly, responded promptly to disease outbreaks and followed the recommended agronomic practices introduced through the project.

She also prioritised careful harvesting, drying and handling to ensure her chillies met market quality standards.

Her resilience delivered impressive results. From one picking cycle, Halima produced 600 kilograms of dried chilli, equivalent to approximately 2.4 metric tonnes of fresh chilli.

She sold 350 kilograms to Harris Spice and the remaining 250 kilograms to other buyers, generating a good income.

Halima’s story highlights how determination, combined with practical agricultural knowledge, can help farmers succeed even when faced with both production and personal challenges.

Building stronger livelihoods together

Chilli peppers from Halima’s harvest

By improving crop management, reducing post-harvest losses and producing high-quality chillies for the market, both farmers increased their incomes despite difficult circumstances.

As more farmers adopt these practices, the potential for increased productivity, stronger household incomes and more resilient farming systems across Tanzania continues to grow.