Climate change resilient farming and better nutritional health through mushroom farming.
Kilimo Bora | Smart farming: Agricultural business projects
Kilimo Bora means Smart Farming in Swahili and revolves around farming, entrepreneurship, climate change, and environment.
Our first project under the Kilimo Bora banner is the establishment of mushroom farming. This includes growth, drying methods, nutritional benefits, business skills and export agreements.
Supported by international experts, we will be growing mushrooms locally in Tanzania. Mushroom farming is new, and we are pioneers in the area.
Through this project we are addressing a range of social, economic, and environmental challenges. These include providing skilled training for vulnerable groups such as young women and people with disabilities and their household members.
Why Women and why mushrooms?
Tzippora Nusbaum from Fix the Chain explains that to us in the video below. Tzippora and Fix the Chain has been a highly valued partner and consultant in developing this project.
Tzippora points out, when women living in extreme poverty are granted financial opportunities, they tend to reinvests this into their children’s education and family’s health. This leads to longterm financial benefits for future generations as well as sustainable improvements in health and education. This is a great way to break the poverty cycle!
Mushrooms are a perfect fit for women and people with disabilities because:
Mushrooms are grown indoors rather than in the field, and you do not need to own land or be physically able to work the land.
Mushrooms are climate resilient - they are not a rain-fed crop.
Mushrooms can be grown year-round, with a quick return on investment with a harvest time of 8-10 weeks.
Mushrooms are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals which will greatly boos the diet in the communities where they are grown.
Mushrooms needs much shorter cooking time than fx traditional beans leading to less trees being cut down to use for firewood.
Teaching people they can make a difference in their own lives and in their communities is powerful. Empowering a person, who has never had anyone believe in them or in their abilities, is inspiring and uplifting.
Future ideas for Kilimo bora
Cedar Tanzania is currently researching and planning new initiatives for Kilimu Bora.
These include:
Tree planting and plant nurseries,
Community vegetable gardens and conservation education,
Bee keeping,
Fish farming and fish leather production
Some of these projects are ready to launch pending funding whilst others are still under development.
If you want to be involved in any of these projects please contact us here.
Please contact us for more information: