Bubwini Commercial village in North B district was formed in 2015 as a result of commercialization campaigns conducted by Farm Concern International (FCI) under the Cassava Village Processing Programme funded by USAID through Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. It has 4 Commercial Producer Groups (CPGs); Saa Njema, Tamaa Ipo, Masikini ndio mwenyewe kazi and Tumwambie nini with 100 members. It is led by a Commercial Village Trade Facilitator (CVTF); Maulid Othman famously known as Jesh (Army).

This Commercial Village has been very strong and motivated and has always been driven by the passion to improve each and every day, they have been attending the Pre and post harvest cassava management and blended cassava nutritious foods training by FCI and Zanzibar Research Institute (ZARI).

The CV became innovative and started milling cassava to get cassava flour and make chauro, cassava crisps and chips using local cutting knife and made profit. Their efforts were noticed by other development partners including ASSP who facilitated a training on the use of a cassava processing machine by Intermech Engineering ltd and the machines were installed after they pulled their resources together and build a machine house.

Since they started using the processing machines in November 2016, they have milled 3,075kgs of fresh cassava into flour and made TSh 800,000 (USD 400) in sales. 

The Commercial Village decided to diversify their value added products by making and packaging chauro which they sell to shops at Tsh. 400 (USD 0.4) per packet.

They plan to finish up the processing enterprise by constructing a toilet, buying of processing kit wear and clearing the debt they incurred in the construction of the building.

Mr. Amor Juma Mohamed is a 45 year old farmer and trader in Donge Commercial Village in Donde Vijibweni North B Dstrict – Zanzibar where he lives with his wife and 2 children.

Mr. Amor joined the CV in 2015 after commercialization campaigns conducted by Farm Concern International under the Cassava Village Processing Programme funded by USAID through Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. The campaigns focused on awareness on the commercial value of cassava agri-business, training on good agronomical practices (planting in ridges, proper spacing, use of improved seeds –Kizimbani, use of manure and weeding), market linkage and processing of fresh cassava for value addition. 

“I took the challenge from Farm Concern International (FCI) and Zanzibar Research Institute (ZARI) and planted my one acre with cassava where I harvested 45 bags of 25kg each and sold at TSh 15,000 (USD 7) then increased to 2 acres where I harvested 70 bags of 25kg of fresh cassava and sold at Tsh 15,000 (USD 7) earning TSh 1,050,000 (USD 525) every season.”

The commercialization campaigns and Village Business forums made a lifetime transformation in the life of Amor since they helped him see the commercial value in cassava farming and trading. He initiated a cassava business where he would buy cassava from the Commercial Village and sell to wholesalers in the nearest markets. “The business has changed my life for the better. In a season I trade 400bags of fresh cassava and obtain Tsh 3000 (USD 1.5) of profit for every bag which makes a total of TSh 1,200,000 (USD 600),” remarks an elated Amor

Amor has been able to build a house and support his family as a result of cassava farming and trading.

Mr. Ali Saleh Machano is a 64 year old farmer and trader in Donge Commercial Village (CV) in Donde Vijibweni North B District- Zanzibar. He is married to 2 wives and a father of 10 children. 

Donde joined the CV in 2015 after commercialization campaigns conducted by Farm Concern International under the Cassava Village Processing Programme funded by USAID through Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. The campaigns focused on awareness on the commercial value of cassava agri-business, training on good agronomical practices (planting in ridges, proper spacing, use of improved seeds –Kizimbani, use of manure and weeding), market linkage and processing of fresh cassava for value addition. “I did know that I could make money from cassava farming. I never used to practice the things we were taught by FCI and Zari;, I used to weed just once, no use of manure and I used traditional seeds which yield very little, not drought tolerant and easily affected by diseases unlike the new improved seed- Kizimbani.

“After the campaigns, I started with an acre and harvested 45 bags of 25kgs each sold at Tsh 15,000 (USD 7) and increased to 2  acres realizing an harvest of 70 bags of 25kg of fresh cassava which I sold at Tsh 15,000 (USD 7) earning a total of Tsh 1,050,000 (USD 525) every season,” reports Mr. Ali. The harvest declined in 2016 due to drought that affected most parts of the Country.

The commercialization campaigns and Village Business Forums opened his eyes and he started to trade in cassava; buying cassava from the Commercial Village and selling in town at a profit. In a season, Ali trades 200bags of fresh cassava making Tsh. 3000 (USD 1.5) in profit for every bag which earns him a total of Tsh. 600,000 (USD 300).

Ali used proceeds from cassava agri-business and trading to build a second house for his family.

Bi Kazija Hamis, a 41 year old single mother of 4, lives in Kiombamvua District in Unguja and is a member of Kiombamvua Commercial Village (CV) in Zanzibar. “Before the introduction of the cassava project by Farm Concern International, I used to grow cassava on a small plot of half an acre mainly as food crop and not commercially. I would harvest 7-10 bags of fresh cassava from the 0.5 acre farm and sell at TSH 12,000 (USD 6) per 25kg,” said Bi Kazija.

She lamented that the little money she earned from the sale was not enough to meet the basic needs of her family as well as pay school fees for her children. However, introduction of the Cassava Village Processing Programme by Farm Concern International with support from USAID transformed her life from subsistence to commercial farmer.

Yistina also shares her transformational story through Cassava farming after adopting the Good Agricultural Practices taught by Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) and market linkages by FCI. “I joined Kiombamvua CV in 2015 and was educated on collective purchasing of inputs & marketing and good agronomical practices like planting in ridges, use of improved seeds (Kizimbani), use of manure and crop rotation and weeding by Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) and FCI linked us to markets in Unguja through Village Business Forums (VBF). I was assured of markets for my cassava even before I planted. I now cultivate cassava on 1 acre farm and harvest 20-35 bags of 50kgs which I sell at Tsh 25,000 (USD 12.5) per bag earning Tsh 8,750,000 (USD 437.5).

Yistina has managed to build a two roomed-house and pay school fees for her children using proceeds from cassava farming. Moreover, she has made savings worth TSh 500,000 USD 250.