Stories
Tanzania
15 September 2025
Tanzanian farmers reap the rewards of sorghum
Sorghum is a hardy, nutritious grain that thrives in dry conditions. Despite its commercial potential, until recently many farmers in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania dismissed it as only being suitable for animal feed. They preferred to grow maize and beans to increase their food security and generate income.
However, in July 2024, the Tujitume Farmers Organisation in Sumbawanga District, Rukwa Region, Tanzania, joined Farm Africa and SNV’s NOURISH project to gain new skills in sorghum farming. This included training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and the optimal use of seeds, fertilisers and chemicals.
After receiving support from the project, the Tujitume group planted sorghum on demonstration plots, marking the beginning of their journey in realising that sorghum farming could be successful in their area.
They planted a demo plot covering 0.25 acres, which was divided evenly between a hybrid variety and the OPV variety called NACO MTAMA 1, a type of white sorghum.
The excess seeds were distributed among group members to create individual ‘baby demos’ at their homes. This increased production and gave other farmers a chance to visit, learn and experience the joy of harvesting from their own plots for home consumption.
The farmers were initially skeptical that sorghum would perform as well as maize or beans. However, the improved seeds yielded a significantly larger harvest compared to what they had experienced in the past.
6
bags were harvested from the 0.25-acre plot, with four bags coming from the hybrid variety and two bags from the OPV variety.
This unprecedented bumper harvest was an impressive outcome from such a small plot of land.
"We are thrilled to have gained knowledge on how to plant sorghum using good agricultural practices, resulting in a big yield for the first time."
Member of the Tujitume farmers group
The 400-kilogram harvest from the main demo plot was sold to fellow farmers for a total of 240,000 Tanzanian shillings, which they planned to use to hire two acres of land for the next season. They also plan to establish a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) to generate income through sorghum farming until the end of the project.
Post-harvest management
The Tujitume group also received practical training in post-harvest management (PHM) techniques, including how to separate the grains from sorghum using modern technologies like a multi-threshing machine. This helped farmers to further improve their knowledge of sorghum production.
They were excited to discover that sorghum could be separated using technology, rather than the traditional local practice of beating the grains.
The Tujitume Farmers Organisation is a committed group that aims to lead the way in sorghum farming, inspiring neighbouring farmers to follow their example, with support from the NOURISH project, which is funded by Norad. Their success shows the potential of farming sorghum to boost incomes and nutrition in their region.
