Stories
Tanzania
13 April 2026
From farm to table: Melina’s thriving restaurant business
Melina Chikumbi is a farmer and entrepreneur in Tanzania’s Dodoma region. She has turned small-scale farming into a bustling restaurant business – bringing fresh produce from her farm directly to market and her restaurant tables.
A mother and grandmother, Melina lives with her two grandchildren. Since working with Farm Africa, Melina has been able to expand her farm, increase her yields and set up a kitchen garden growing a variety of nutritious vegetables.
Growing her restaurant
Melina has built her restaurant from scratch, using the crops grown on her farm.
“In my restaurant, I use ingredients from my farm. I use the sorghum and sunflower seeds to create the oil I use for cooking and vegetables from the garden as well.”
Melina Chikumbi
Farmer and entrepreneur from Tanzania
She has run her restaurant for seven years, using the income to support her family. She adds, “Through that business I have been able to take all my children to school, to secondary school level… and my house is one that I built through this business.”
Long days, big challenges
Melina’s path to success has not been easy. She works long hours, often from early morning until late at night, and hires additional labour to support her farming activities. Much of her land is rented, and the cost of transport to her farm adds further pressure on her business.
Melina Chikumbi, a farmer and entrepreneur from Tanzania selling food. Credit: Farm Africa/ Bertha Lutome
While her business was already established, joining the NOURISH project, led by SNV and Farm Africa, and funded by Norad, has helped her to expand and strengthen her farming.
Learning and expanding through NOURISH
Through the project, Melina has received training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), learning technical skills to help increase productivity. She says “I joined NOURISH through the group and so far I’m seeing a lot of benefits. My way of thinking has changed.”
Melina rolling dough to make chapatti. Credit: Farm Africa/ Bertha Lutome
Since joining, Melina has expanded her farm from 12 to 25 acres and is harvesting more crops. She has also seen similar changes among other farmers who have received training.
The project has helped the farmers to boost their incomes through the sale of surplus vegetables from their new kitchen gardens. A local market has sprung up, attracting buyers eager to buy the fresh produce.
“This area turns into a huge market where people come and sell vegetables because they can now access them throughout the year… which was not present before the NOURISH project came in.”
Melina Chikumbi
Farmer and entrepreneur from Tanzania
Health and community benefits
Access to more diverse and nutritious food has improved health for Melina and her family. She shares, “Even health-wise we have changed. Before, we used to be thinner and not with good health, but now we eat more properly and can see we are much, much better for it.”
Knowledge and skills gained through the NOURISH project are also spreading beyond those directly involved. She notes “Most people use good agricultural practices here now… and other people in the village who are not in the groups are also adopting the practices.”
Chapatti cooking in a pan. Credit: Farm Africa/ Bertha Lutome
Looking to the future
While challenges persist – including high land rental costs, transport expenses and unpredictable weather impacting crops yield – Melina continues to adapt, applying what she has learnt.
She remains optimistic about the future. Melina shares, “My long-term ambitions are to make sure my daughter finishes school and gains employment. And I want to have a better house and make this restaurant better.”
Melina with her daughter and grandchildren. Credit: Farm Africa/ Bertha Lutome
Projects like NOURISH show how access to agricultural knowledge and training can help smallholder farmers build on their success and strengthen their livelihoods.
