Utete, TZ – RKM family – 17 Jan 2014

Three of four family members outside their home in Kindwitwi.

The RKM family has started growing a beautiful vegetable garden in the Utete area, even though the ground is not naturally suited for growing vegetables. The soil is not fertile, the dry seasons go on for months, and vegetables will wilt under the intense sun if they are not well tended.

When you see the family’s garden in person, it is an oasis of green in a hot, brown environment. They have a direct water connection on their property and they have taken advantage of this to make their garden continuously productive. Twice per day all of the garden beds are watered using a water can.

Hard work is paying off for the RKM family. In the past month the family has regularly enjoyed mchicha (amaranth), eggplants, and okra with their meals. They have also sold 13,000 TZS ( US$8.13 ) of amaranth and 6,000 TZS ( US$3.75 ) of beans.

The RKM family garden during the dry season in January.

In addition to their garden, the family also farms corn and runs a small shop. The family sells excess vegetables out of their shop, which allows them to keep a higher percentage of the profits than if they sold to a middle man who would take the vegetables to the market. The shop also sells household items and foodstuffs like sugar, salt, flour, pens, bags, and soda. The father of the family also works as a security guard for the local guest house in Kindwitwi.

Many of the most successful families we see follow this pattern of taking part in as many income generating activities as possible. For families with minimal capital, it is rare for a single venture to take them out of poverty. Rather, the climb requires perseverance and a willingness to take advantage of every opportunity. The RKM family saw an opportunity when they had the chance to create a garden. They have worked hard to make this opportunity pay off.