By Vidah Mahava
Once upon a time, a woman named Felista Mpore was nurturing a dream in the heart of Tanzania. A dream born not out of mere fancy, but from a solid foundation built during her Master's study in Food Science and Technology from 2011 to 2013. A dream she named the Food Production and Processing Complex (FPPC).
Felista is no ordinary farmer. In her academic quest, she unveiled the extraordinary benefits of an everyday fruit - the grape. Her research highlighted raisins’ nutrient-rich nature, low glycemic index, high shelf life, and suitability for diabetics, weight losers, high blood pressure patients, and pregnant and nursing mothers.
Emboldened by these findings, Felista was inspired to venture beyond the traditional role of a farmer. She envisioned FPPC as an entity that would serve not just as a commercial agribusiness but as a cornerstone for community upliftment. A beacon that would prevent the post-harvest loss provide community access to nutritious foods, and enable women and children, especially, to have year-round access to essential nutrients.
From its humble inception in 2018, FPPC became a trailblazer in the agribusiness sector. Under Felista's stewardship, the company diversified into various activities such as grape drying, vegetable production, livestock keeping, and even providing community water supply from a borehole. More than that, FPPC became a source of empowerment for the community, providing training in good agronomic practices, post-harvest handling, and entrepreneurship skills.
In the 8th Africa Agricultural Science Week (AASW8) and CCARDESA General Assembly held in Durban, South Africa, Felista stood among the participants, her heart filled with gratitude and pride. FPPC, once a dream, was now a thriving enterprise with tangible achievements. The company owns state-of-the-art facilities like a solar tunnel drier, processing rooms, two boreholes with substantial yield capacity, and acres of irrigated farmland. But the achievement closest to Felista's heart was the employment her venture had generated for 60 people, including 40 women.
The company is not without challenges. A significant issue was the limited supply of fruits and vegetables during the dry seasons. Yet, Felista remained steadfast, focusing on the bigger picture - her endeavour's socio-economic and environmental impact.
Felista explained how solar tunnel dryers dramatically improved the drying process and increased productivity. The dryers offered an economical solution to small and medium-holder farmers, reducing drying times and labour requirements. Not only did this technology have immense economic benefits, but it also had environmental advantages. The dryers reduced pressure on forests, minimised waste, and decreased pollution, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation.
The vibrant Tanzanian farmer shared her journey at the General Assembly's Gender Side Event with a stirring narrative that captivated the participants. The event provided her with a platform to connect with like-minded individuals and businesses across Africa and the world. Felista's closing words painted a vivid picture of her experience. "I am connected to the world," she declared, expressing her heartfelt gratitude to the CCARDESA team and the invaluable insights she gained from her fellow participants.
Returning home, Felista carried with her the memories of the beautiful South African landscape and a renewed sense of purpose and determination to make FPPC a global symbol of sustainable agribusiness. A beacon lighting the way for a world where agriculture and community development coexist harmoniously, where a simple Tanzanian farmer's dream can indeed feed the world.
The author is the Coordinator of Technology Transfer & Partnerships at the Ministry of Agriculture, and she is also a CCARDESA Information, Communication & Knowledge Management focal point person for Tanzania.
