Shamba Darasa Imara na Ustadi

Tackling climate vulnerability, boosting incomes, improving nutrition, and transforming gender norms in households

© Edward Charles | CARE Tanzania
Our Projects

Climate vulnerability affects about 58% of the farming population of Tanzania. In addition, social norms, and cultural practices, hinder economic gains to marginalize women in decision-making, including access to and use of resources. This project aims at building household resilience to climate shocks, increase household food and nutrition security, increase household income, and promote empowerment for women and girls through integration of Farmer Field and Business School, Village Savings and Loan Association and Social Analysis and Action.

© Mohammed Gojo | SUGECO

About the Project

Shamba Darasa Imara na Ustadi (SADIFU) is an innovative, evidence-generating project. It addresses the high climate vulnerability faced by small-scale farming households in Tanzania, where female-headed households (19% of the population) are often the poorest and most affected.

The project integrates three powerful approaches:

  • Farmer Field and Business Schools (FFBS) — Hands-on, participatory learning on demonstration plots focused on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices for soybean, sunflower, and potatoes value chains.
  • Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) — Group financial inclusion to enable investments in inputs, value addition, and resilient farming.
  • Social Analysis and Action (SAA) — Community-led dialogues to challenge harmful gender norms and promote equitable decision-making.

Implemented as a randomized controlled trial (RCT), SADIFU compares FFBS+VSLA with the full package (FFBS+VSLA+SAA) to generate rigorous evidence on cost-effectiveness and impact for potential national scaling. 

Our Integrated Approach

SADIFU combines learning, finance, and social change through demonstration plots, Farmer Field Days, value-addition training, market linkages (including via E-Mazao platform), formation of Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS), and nutrition integration.

of agricultural labor in developing countries is provide by women.

Stories and News

Success Story: Vegetables are a hidden treasure

Tuhuvilage Myenda, a vegetable farmer from Iringa, transformed her household after receiving a small packet of seeds through a Farmer Field and Business School training. What began as a simple home garden quickly became a reliable source of nutritious food and income.

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News: Farmers Field Days

A series of impactful Farmer Field Days (FFDs) across four villages in the districts of Kilolo, Iringa, and Wanging’ombe to foster learning, innovation, and stronger market linkages at the grassroots level.

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