Mwasiti Mfaume Sarai aged 37 years, had always dreamed of being a successful farmer, but she never knew where to start. Living with her 2 children in the remote village of Bwagamacho, in the district of Mkinga, Tanzania, she struggled to make ends meet, barely making enough to feed her two children and take care of her elderly mother aged 61 years as a farmer. 

In 2021, Mwasiti heard about Innovating the Cashew Value Chain in Tanzania project implemented by Care International Tanzania. The project aimed to empower cashew nut farmers like her to improve their yields and income by providing them with training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) through the Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS). 

Mwasiti joined the Mtandikeni group, one of the FFBS groups, where she learned about land clearance, pest and disease control, intercropping, and grading of raw cashew nut. She also received a loan from Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) group to finance her farming activities. 

“I used to struggle a lot as a farmer. I didn’t know how to improve my yields, and I often sold my raw cashew nuts at a low price on the streets. I felt like I was stuck and couldn’t find a way out of my situation. But then I heard about the Farmer Field and Business School and the Innovating the Cashew Value Chain in Tanzania project, and it changed everything for me.” – Mwasiti shared about the challenges she faced before the intervention. 

With her newfound knowledge and resources, Mwasiti began implementing GAPs on her farm. She cleared her land, dug holes with appropriate spacing, and controlled pests and diseases. She also intercropped her cashew trees with other crops, which not only provided her with additional income but also helped improve soil fertility. The results were remarkable; In the 2022/2023 season, Mwasiti has harvested a total of 581 kg of Raw Cashew Nut (all Standard Grade) compared to an average of 50kg she had been harvesting in the previous seasons. She was able to sell her cashews at a higher price of TZS1500-1710 per kilo, resulting in a significant increase in her income to TZS 885,150 different from the previous season where she was earning at TZS 30,000.  

Mwasiti sending her Cashewnut to the warehouse for sale. 

With her improved income, Mwasiti was able to take her children to school, take care of her family and her mother and afford the basic needs including food, health services and shelter for her family. “In 2020, my mother fell sick, and I couldn’t manage to take her to the hospital; Fortunately, I received support from my relatives during that difficult time. As a result of the project through participation in cashew GAP trainings and VSLA groups my cashew production have increased and can also access finance to carter for my needs.” Said Mwasiti.  

Now, Mwasiti is in the process of building a house and has also invested in poultry keeping for business. In the future, she plans to purchase an incubator to breed and sell chicks. She no longer has to worry about making ends meet and could look forward to a brighter future. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow as a farmer the training I received from the Mtandikeni group and the loan from the VSLA group gave me the resources and knowledge I needed to improve my yields and increase my income”Mwasiti showing appreciation. Her participation in different project interventions not only has improved her ability to take care of my family needs, but it has also helped her to become more self-aware and see opportunities for the future. Mwasiti declares that, the project has truly transformed her life, and will always be thankful to the project initiatives in Mkinga District.