Moshi, TZ – Garden profits invested in small businesses – 30 Sep 2014

The GAM family started their garden in October 2013. Seven people live in the GAM household, the father, the mother, four children, and one grandfather. The grandfather lost some of his fingers to leprosy years ago, so he is dependent on the father of the family for his livelihood.

Throughout the past year the family has worked hard to maintain a productive garden and to engage in all of Tupendane’s activities. The father of the GAM family always comes to community meetings to learn and to help educate new families about the benefits of organic gardening.The family provides an excellent example for others in the community to learn from because they have experienced many benefits from their garden, and have also struggled at times to maintain a productive garden.

After a few productive months of gardening, the family saved enough money to buy four chickens for 15,000 TZS (US$9.38) each. The family’s goal is to start a business selling full grown chickens. So far they have increased their flock from four chickens to ten chickens while selling four fully grown chickens to get their money back. This business should now start to create a steady monthly income for the family.

Father of GAM family and some of his chickens.

After investing in chickens, the family invested in a couple of crates of soda and beer to start selling to neighbors. They purchased two crates of locally made banana beer for 16,000 TZS (US$10) and one crate of soda for 9,500 TZS (US$5.94).

Members of GAM family relaxing at their drink shop.

The family also saved 50,000 TZS (US$31.25) from selling vegetables to invest in larger scale agriculture products. They have used this money to purchase fuel and rent a water pump from a neighbor to irrigate a half-acre plot of tomatoes, which they are hoping to harvest in the coming months.

Water lines running out to irrigate the GAM family tomato field.

The father of the GAM family is interested in continuing to invest in small businesses and agriculture to increase his future earning potential. His ultimate goal is to build a better house for his growing family to live in.

While the GAM family has seen many benefits from maintaining a healthy garden, they have also experienced some difficulties. The father of the family was so embarrassed on the day we visited to discuss the family’s garden, because the garden had recently fallen into disrepair. Previously he had been proud of his garden, and had requested many times for Deo to come and take pictures of it.

Family Garden on September 7.

Family Garden on September 28, after chickens made problems.

The father explained that as he had been focusing on his chickens and tomatoes, he had not been maintaining important details of his garden, like a strong fence. As his chicken flock grew, they began to venture further from their chicken coop to find food, and recently they found the garden and destroyed a number of beds. Because the family has seen so many benefits from the garden, it is their priority to make repairs as soon as possible. They also want to be prepared for the dry season, when the price of vegetables increases as the supply decreases.