Forty years of impact: meet Anna

As Farm Africa celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025, we reflect on the millions of people we’ve empowered to build brighter futures. For themselves. For their families. For their communities.

People like Anna from Tanzania, who took part in a Farm Africa revolving goat scheme in 1996 and is still breeding Toggenburg goats today.

“Before I joined the project in 1996, I was a normal farmer. I worked on my land and I had some local breed goats. My biggest challenge at that time was lack of money. I reared goats but I didn’t realise it was possible to do this in a commercial way.

“When Farm Africa came to Babati, they chose eight livestock keepers to join the project and I was one of them.”

Anna received five Toggenburg goats, known for high yields of milk, along with training on profitable goat rearing. In exchange, as her herd grew, she agreed to pass on eight young goats to other local women in need, creating a cycle of opportunity.

Anna still breeds Toggenburg goats today.

“After I took part in training I realised that I could make a lot of money from the goats. I learnt to plan how many goats I would breed, how many I would sell and I learnt about record keeping. I realised I would not have needed to struggle for money if I had known this before.

“I also learnt how keeping goats could benefit my farming, for example by using manure to improve the soil.

“Through the Farm Africa project, I was lucky enough to travel to Kenya and Uganda to meet other livestock keepers. They shared their knowledge with me. I saw what they were doing and I copied it here at home.

Anna feeds grass to her goats.

“My life has changed massively thanks to Farm Africa. My farm is the same size as it was back then, but my soil is much more fertile now and I am able to grow much more.

“I also used to have a small house. In 1998 I sold ten goats and used the money to build my new home. When I sold more goats, I used the money to build a toilet to replace my pit latrine.”

Then Anna heard about biogas, which can be produced from goat manure. “I used more money from my goats to have the biogas system installed in my house. I’ve had gas for 12 years now.

Anna and her mother outside their house.

“Thanks to goat rearing, both my sons have been able to finish their education. One graduated from university and the other did vocational training and now runs a business.

“Before I started working with Farm Africa, I didn’t have any confidence. I didn’t think I could do anything. But now I know I can do anything I want to do. I have the confidence to share my knowledge with others. I have taught a lot of people! They call me ‘professor’!

“In 2019, I was recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for my work as a Trainer of Trainers. They gave me the opportunity to share my knowledge at an exhibition in Nairobi. I met other farmers and livestock keepers from all over eastern Africa – South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. It was the first time I had ever been on a plane!”

“If I hadn’t been part of the Farm Africa project, I would have just been here with no purpose. Today I am a happy woman.”

This story is from Farm Africa’s Annual Review 2024. Find more case studies from our projects and download our annual review below.

Photos: Farm Africa / Michael Goima