Tanzanian women farmers emerge as leaders in quality seed production and higher rice production

Good quality seed leads to good yield and produce, but it can also be a form of empowerment for others. In the coastal region of Pwani in Tanzania, the Twaweza (which means “we can” in Swahili) Women Group (TWG) is making waves in the Bagamoyo Irrigation and Development Project (BIDP) scheme.

Comprised of 15 women rice farmers from Sanzale Ward, Magomeni Division, Bagamoyo District, TWG has significantly improved Bagamoyo’s rice production under the leadership of its chairperson, Ms. Barce Shabani.

Tanzania is one of the countries in Eastern and Southern Africa leading the region to quality declared seeds (QDS self-sufficiency, recording an annual production of 2.8 million tons in 2022. Despite this, yield gaps remain persistent due to limited access to quality inputs, poor agronomic practices, inadequate market linkages, and a heavy dependence on rainfed agriculture.

Traditionally, Tanzanian farmers rely on rice landraces like the Supa variety in rainfed lowland ecologies that produce only about 1.5 to 2.5 tons/hectare. Rice landraces are also late-maturing and susceptible to drought and other environmental stresses.

Climate change threatens the region’s food security since Tanzania produces over 80% of the rice produced in East Africa. Although Supa is favored by consumers for its long and bold grain size and aroma, it yields much less than newly released improved rice varieties. Farmers in BIDP continue to plant Supa mainly because they lack awareness about improved varieties and have limited access to quality seeds.

A group of women farmers emerged as pivotal players in this challenging landscape, particularly in seed management and crop production. Their involvement became crucial in community seedbanks dedicated to preserving and improving crop varieties.

In 2023, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) facilitated the formation of TWG and supported the group’s registration with…