From employee to employer “I became a member of TAHA (Tanzania Horticultural Association) in November 2015, as I was inspired of the good harvest results of my brother who was already a member and whose farm I used to work as a casual laborer. I acquired a quarter of an acre of land and started planting tomato with the guidance from TAHA’s agronomist. After the first phase of harvesting, I planted sweet pepper and expanded my farmland. I also made investments and bought a new water pump and engaged 4 casual laborers for assistance. I went from being an employee to an employer within a very short period of time. The sweet pepper was planted using new technologies utilizing hybrid seeds, raised beds, correct spacing, correct use of fertilizer, pests and diseases control strategies and pruning. With these practices, I managed to harvest a total of 17,122 kg from weekly harvests for five months and I earned an overall income of 16,230,000 Tanzanian shillings (around 6500 euros).
TO TAL NU MB ER OF BEN EFI CIA IRE S
ME N
WO ME N
132 598
67 840
64 758
%
51%
49%
TAHA
Women play a vital role in agriculture and sustainable forestry, yet their role is seldom visible. Women’s role and participation varies depending on the commodity, activities and culture. The FFD’s projects have strengthened women’s participation either through activities directed to them or by engaging them as part of the household. As an example, the forestry project in Tanzania has succeeded in increasing women’s participation by delivering trainings to their members on gender and also on land rights. As a result, women have started demanding for their rights and many women have managed to acquire their own land and possess own woodlots. In the forestry project in Nepal, in addition in acquiring skills in sustainable forestry through community groups, women have also been exposed to other trainings and information, thus their knowledge about their rights, as well as of reproductive health, has increased. In Zanzibar, household trainings ensure that women and girls participate actively in in horticultural practices and also in household record keeping.
TIINA HUVIO
Gender
With the increased income, I’ve been able to buy a motorcycle to assist me with the transportation of goods to markets and to visit clients. TAHA has been a big part of my success, since I received so much useful technical information. I have now further expanded my farmland to an acre and I have increased the variety of crops. I am also acting as a TAHA Community Based Facilitator, and I’m recruiting other farmers to become TAHA members. All this is like a miracle, I didn’t expect this- it is a big step in my life.” Mr. Suleyman Rashid, a 28-year-old farmer living in Bambi Matora village in Zanzibar.