Personal Insights from Dar es Salaam and Morogoro, Tanzania

By Betty Mntambo, Ombeni Swai, Mariam Genes

A female farmer in her vegetable garden in Kibamba, at Dar es salaam.

Credits: Ombeni Swai

A female farmer in her vegetable farm in Kibamba at Dar es salaam.

Credits: Ombeni Swai

Farming has had a great impact on my life and my family. I can pay my children's school fees. It has become the main source of income in my household. I am no longer financially dependent, I recommend other people to start farming. My plan is to have a big area for cultivation and even start cultivating perennial crops.

A female farmer working in her vegetable garden in Dar es salaam.

Credits: Ombeni Swai

A female farmer working in her vegetable garden in Dar es salaam.

Credits: Ombeni Swai

Generally, urban and peri-urban activities have had a great impact on my life and my family. Farming has enabled me to pay my children’s school fees, among other expenses. It has become the main source of income in my household. I am no longer financially dependent.

A female farmer with her Poultry business

Credits: Ombeni Swai

I am a widow. Through poultry keeping, I paid for my children’s school fees and supported them until university. I have built my own house and I can take care of my basic needs.

A female farmer watering her vegetable garden in Kibamba at Dar es salaam.

Credits: Nabil Abdallah

People should engage in urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) because, based on my experience, these activities are payed highly compared to being employed. This is mainly because no human can live without food. Therefore, by practising UPA, you are sure of earning an income on a daily basis.