“Agriculture Helps Me to Reach My Ambitions”

Through the project, which is funded in part by Global Affairs Canada, Juliana was encouraged to join a Village Community Bank (VICOBA) in her community. This small step opened up several opportunities for her.

Juliana had a dream of being able to support her family and maybe, one day, even being able to build and live in her own house instead of a rented one. Through the VICOBA, she received an initial loan of 50,000 Tanzanian shillings (about $23 USD) in 2012. She decided to use the funds to grow potatoes. Her first attempt was not successful. Juliana was not aware of the appropriate variety of potatoes to grow on her farm. Disease and a shortage of rainfall reduced her harvest significantly, but she didn't give up.

In 2013 the AICT Diocese of Geita provided training for Juliana on how to grow sweet potatoes with appropriate spacing from one plant to another. She also learned about other potato species that can be grown in her area, which produce a high yeild and are also more resistant to disease and drought. Juliana decided to focus her attention on growing Kabode and Polista varieties of potatoes. Each of these are orange-flesh potatoes which grow well in her local enviornment.

Juliana’s potatoes grew so well, that her neighbor farmers have become convinced that they want to grow potatoes as well. Juliana has sold potato cuttings to several of her neighbors and has shared what she learned from World Renew and AICT.

From the sale of her potatoes and potato cuttings, Juliana earned enough money to buy a sewing machine. She started to make clothes for her family and for other community members as an additional source of income. This became a good business. Today, she can not only meet her family's immediate needs, but she's also been able to start building her house. It has reached the roofing stage and she is confident that by the end of 2016, her house will be complete.

“Many people think that agriculture cannot improve life," she said. "But, for me, agriculture has enabled me to reach my ambitions.”