From Struggle to Success: Advera Chrizestom’s Journey in Tanzania

Amos Mate, Senior Programme Programme and Partnerships Manager writes

Advera Chrizestom is a 53-year-old woman living in the rural village of Rugando in Tanzania. She has seven children: two are married, one is in secondary school, and four are at home, depending on her. Before joining the Nyakahama Farmer’s Business School (NFBS), run by Feed the Minds, in collaboration with grassroots partner Development Support Initiative (DSI), she struggled to make ends meet and provide for her children, facing challenges many other small-scale farmers do. Poor crop yields, lack of market access, and limited knowledge of modern agricultural practices were few of them.

DSI selected Advera to participate in the Farmers’ Business School project. Advera was an ideal candidate for DSI, as the Farmers’ Business School aims to empower small-scale farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to improve their agricultural practices, increase their crop yields, enhance nutrition, and access markets to sell their produce. Through the project, Advera received training on sustainable farming techniques, crop management, post-harvest handling, and marketing strategies. She also learned about the village community bank (VIKOBA), gaining knowledge of financial management, record-keeping, and saving. Advera currently has 370,000 Tsh in the village community bank. VIKOBA has supported Advera in meeting her family’s needs, solving economic challenges, and helping fund her children’s education.

Advera has applied the farming techniques she learned to her farm. She expects a significant yield from her half-acre farm, which she planted with beans, using modern agricultural strategies, sufficient manure, and good seeds provided by DSI. Advera has also generated income by making mats and selling them in the market to further support her family’s needs. She has purchased two goats through VIKOBA to increase the availability of manure. Advera’s activities demonstrate how, with help from DSI, it is possible to diversify income sources in rural communities.

Through the Farmers’ Business School project, Advera has improved her farming skills and gained the confidence and knowledge needed to advance her small-scale farming. She is now seen as a role model in her community, inspiring other women to take charge of their agricultural ventures and work towards a better future for themselves and their families.