A 35-year-old woman has shared her journey of growing her tamarind company in Mwanza, stating that during her primary school years, she planted tamarind trees like a garden. It took six years for the tamarind trees to grow and start bearing fruit.
"After completing my secondary education, I fully dedicated myself to planting tamarind trees, with the aim of helping the community combat stomach diseases," she explained.
Shortly after finishing my environmental science course at the University of Dar es Salaam, I began educating people about the importance of planting trees as a crucial way to protect environment against climate change.
"In our village, there was extreme poverty, and many people were unaware of the significance of planting trees. Therefore, I encouraged them to engage in tree planting to create a friendly environment for everyone," she added.
Ten years later, the trees I planted as a garden have increased in production. Now, as a mother of three children, I take ten bags of tamarind to the market every week, and my tree farm currently spans six acres, generating about $4,000 each month.
At 35 years old, earning $4,000 is a significant achievement, and when I reflect on where I started, it was a challenging place that I can hardly describe," she said.
Building a sustainable business requires knowledge and ongoing training to remain independent in a sustainable economic framework.
"Currently, my tamarind farm serves as a center for helping people, especially those with stomach issues, and those who come to buy for making sweet juice in factories."
My tamarind farm has now transformed into a company serving various people, especially the elderly suffering from stomach ailments in hospitals and at home. Every day, I receive numerous orders from different people who enjoy using tamarind as a refreshing juice to heal ailments and enhance digestive health.