VYAHUMU TRUST:

STRENGTHENING RURAL OIL SEED PROCESSING IN TANZANIA

Back in December 1996 the ELCT launched an Oilseed Processing Project with the objective of improving the economic returns of small oilseed farmers by supporting individuals and groups to establish and operate oil mills and provide oil-expelling services to farmers. Earlier studies had shown that the value addition that can be created through the extraction of edible oils from oilseeds is very significant, ranging between 150% to 300%. 

The Oilseed Project has now developed into a trust, the VYAHUMU trust.

The main goal of the current programme is to increase the level of income of small sunflower farmers in selected rural areas of Tanzania through increased returns from their oilseed production. 

The area covered in the first phase included Iringa, Dodoma and Singida. The area has now been widened to include five administrative regions: Iringa, Morogoro, Dodoma, Singida and Arusha.

Main Achievements so far

The transfer and availability of improved technology has unlocked new economic and income earning potentials for rural peasants and entrepreneurs (sellers of oil, mill owners and fabricators). It has also served as a springboard for small-scale industrial development.

The income level of small farmers in selected areas has risen through increased returns from their oilseed production. On top of this the project has contributed to modernising agricultural processing methods and to the establishment of small rural industrie.

Farmers have expanded their production of oilseeds and the consumption of oil has increased. Farmers make better use of formerly uncultivated land. Part of the extracted oil is used for home consumption, which is an important health and dietary benefit.

YAHUMU has facilitated the technology transfer and developed the capability for manufacturing the expeller in three workshops in Tanzania. 

A quality assurance system in expeller manufacturing is in place.

In many of the areas, where mills are installed, small repair and maintenance workshops provide support services to mill owners.

Sunflower growers could increase their income from oilseed cultivation by a net margin of about 75%. From each mill the community of users (probably around 100 farmers) have earned an additional income of 10,000 to 15,000 USD per season.

Farmers who do not use the milling services benefit indirectly through higher prices for their sunflower seed in their areas and lower prices for cooking oil in village shops.

Employment and income generation has been initiated through the presence of mills: tea shops and restaurants next to mills, mechanical workshops that provide repair and maintenance services and the demand for transport services (ox charts) for carrying sunflower to the mill.

Beneficiaries

The primary beneficiaries of the project are and will remain small oilseed farmers and their communities in selected rural areas in Tanzania. 

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last modification  09.05.05