ABDUL Majid Emmanuel of Tanzania turned adversity into opportunity with the support of the Development Support Initiative (DSI).
After struggling with poverty and the devastation of banana wilt disease, he adopted sustainable farming practices that transformed his livelihood and empowered his community. Now leading the Tushirikiane Village Community Bank, Abdul Majid is driving efforts toward food security and economic stability, showcasing the power of resilience and grassroots collaboration. This transformation was made possible with the support of Feed the Minds.
Abdul Majid Emmanuel, a 63-year-old man from Kamwani hamlet in Nyakahama village in the Kagera region of Northwest Tanzania, lives with his wife and their three children. The Kagera region in Tanzania is primarily rural, with 75% of its population engaged in subsistence agriculture and 29% living below the nationally defined poverty line (URT, 2005). The region has been grappling with prolonged droughts, diseases, and infestations, which have adversely affected productivity per acre.
Abdul Majid’s family farm was impacted by ‘banana wilt,’ also called Panama disease, a fungal disease in the soil that specifically destroys banana trees. This was a huge challenge for Abdul Majid, as his family relied heavily on bananas as a source of nutritious food and income. Abdul Majid’s loss of income caused his family to collapse economically and struggle for food.
In 2010, Abdul Majid began searching for a way to earn an income in and around Nyakahama village.
Abdul Majid said:
“I decided to provide labour power to those who wanted to do farm preparation and weeding. I was earning 1 dollar per day. This was not enough to feed my family or pay tuition fees for my children.”
In 2023, the Development Support Initiative (DSI)—a Tanzania-based NGO that promotes sustainable agricultural practices—approached Abdul Majid as part of the Nyakahama Farmers Business School Project. He received training on environmentally sensitive farming techniques, crop management, post-harvest handling, compost manure, and alternative pesticide-making techniques, among others. The training targeted members of Tushirikiane Village Community Bank (VICOBA), who were strong enough to move toward collective marketing of products. Following the training, Abdul Majid established a half-acre farm and planted it using good agricultural methods and improved seeds from suppliers. By the end of the harvesting period, Abdul Majid harvested 40 kg of beans. He sold 15 kg and kept the rest for family use.
Abdul Majid said:
“DSI has had clear, huge impacts on turning our group members’ lives around and providing them and their families with hope for a better future—socially and economically. For example, my family now generates multiple incomes from horticulture, sugarcane farming, maize, and beans farming, which means we can make good, nutritious choices. This is because of the support we get from Feed the Minds and DSI.”
Abdul Majid is currently the chairperson of Tushirikiane Village Community Bank (VICOBA), a group with a net worth of 12,000,000 Tanzanian Shillings. In March 2024, he obtained a loan of 500,000 Tanzanian shillings from the group. He spent the money on buying a farm plot in Nyakahama village. This has improved his social status and provided him with plenty of opportunities to increase his agricultural and financial capital.
The DSI-supported project has proved that by providing technical know-how, capital, and facilitating access to local markets, farmers can be encouraged to engage in sustainable farming and lead their lives with dignity.
Written by: Bhagirath Yogi.
