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Case Study

Photo: William Creighton, DAI

A family tends to drying peppers. So far, more than 30 farmer associations with 4,400 members have been formed, and 1,00 farmers have been trained in production.

Challenge

In 2001, the Spanish company EVESA — a major producer and processor of spices — established Tanzania Spices Limited to increase supplies of raw paprika to their EVESA factory. Tanzania's Iringa and Ruvuma regions were chosen as sites to establish paprika as a cash crop for small farmers. To start, Tanzania Spices Limited aimed for the two regions to produce 2,000 tons of paprika a year. But while there was enthusiasm among farmers in the region for a genuine cash crop, progress was slow. Farmers were unsure of the market, and Tanzania Spices Limited had limited resources in its small local office to spend on training farmers in production. By 2003 Iringa and Ruvuma had produced less than 200 tons of paprika.

Initiative

USAID is supporting efforts to help Tanzanian farmers understand the paprika market and learn how to successfully grow this new crop. In close collaboration with Tanzania Spices Limited, USAID is helping establish farmer associations, allowing the Agency to work directly with individual farmers.

Results

So far, more than 30 farmer associations with 4,400 members have been formed. Nearly 1,000 farmers have been trained in paprika production, and another 1,000 farmers will be trained by the start of the next planting season. Due to support from USAID, 2004 paprika production is expected to double from the previous year. The fruitful harvest will also contribute around $400,000 in new income to farmers in Iringa and Ruvuma, which will help reduce poverty and allow the farmers to start making real changes in their lives.

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