Stories
Tanzania
12 November 2026
From sorghum harvests to a modern salon
At 26, Festo, a young farmer and entrepreneur from Kongwa District, Tanzania, is transforming his livelihood through climate-smart agriculture and income diversification.
Living with his partner and their child, Festo combines crop production, livestock keeping and a hairdressing salon business to improve his family’s economic wellbeing.
Before joining Farm Africa’s Income Diversification and Climate-Smart Agroforestry (IDCSA) project for young people and women in Dodoma in 2025, Festo faced the challenges of unreliable rainfall and low agricultural productivity. The IDCSA project, funded by the Medicor Foundation, helps smallholder farmers improve food security and develop additional sources of income.
On his two-acre farm, he harvested just three bags of sorghum, limiting both his income and opportunities for investment. His salon business, established in 2024, was also struggling to attract customers.
Increasing yields through climate-smart farming
Through Farm Africa’s training and support, Festo learned improved agricultural practices, including the use of quality seeds, appropriate planting methods, conservation agriculture and farmyard manure to improve soil fertility.
Applying these practices, he planted two acres of sorghum using the improved Singida variety and harvested 21 bags, compared with just three bags previously.
The dramatic increase in production boosted his income and demonstrated the potential of improved seeds and climate-smart agricultural practices to increase productivity and generate economic opportunities.
Turning harvest gains into business growth
Rather than spending all his earnings, Festo reinvested around 40% of the proceeds from his harvest into modernising his salon.
Initially equipped with just one shaving machine, the salon now has four shaving machines, a mirror, a glass door and cupboards.
“Before, I harvested only three bags of sorghum from my two acres. After planting the improved Singida variety and applying good agricultural practices, I harvested 21 bags. I used money from the proceeds to modernise my salon. More customers are now coming, and my income has doubled. If it were not for Farm Africa, I would not have this modern salon.”
The improvements have helped attract more customers, and Festo reports that his daily business income has doubled. He has also diversified his income through poultry keeping, creating an additional source of income alongside farming and his salon business.
Looking ahead, Festo hopes to open a second salon while continuing to grow his farming and livestock activities.
Festo’s experience demonstrates how climate-smart agricultural support can create opportunities beyond farming.
Increased sorghum production provided the capital needed to invest in a non-farm enterprise, while poultry keeping further diversified his income sources and strengthened his resilience.
His story illustrates the contribution of IDCSA to youth economic empowerment by linking improved agricultural productivity with entrepreneurship and income diversification. Together, these opportunities are helping young people build more resilient livelihoods and creating pathways to greater economic security for themselves and their families.
