In Iyela village just outside Mbeya, Magreth Antony Magubila once saw agriculture as something she simply grew up around — not something she could build a life from. “I didn’t take farming seriously,” she admits. “It was just something people did to get by.” Everything changed in 2023 at the Nane Nane agricultural exhibition, where Magreth met representatives from Rikolto, an AGRA partner. That moment connected her to the YEFFA program — and it shifted the course of her life.
Through YEFFA, Magreth received hands-on training in modern farming practices, agribusiness development, and value chain opportunities. What she once dismissed as a fallback became a future full of possibility.
“AGRA opened my eyes to the business side of farming,” she says. “Now I’m not just growing crops — I’m running a company.”
Magreth began with just two acres on her family’s land, installing drip irrigation and hiring a team of 19 young workers, whom she personally trained in advanced tomato farming techniques. Her first full season yielded a profit of TZS 24 million (USD 10,000) from tomatoes alone.
With that success, she reinvested — purchasing two greenhouses for colored bell peppers and expanding her reach to markets as far as Dar es Salaam. The journey hasn’t been easy. Magreth faced steep startup costs — nearly TZS 9 million for a solar pump, and millions more for fencing and irrigation. But with determination and a clear plan, she secured financing and gradually paid off her debts.
She has since diversified into maize farming, milling and packaging her own flour for sale directly to consumers. By the end of 2025, she plans to expand to 15 acres, tapping into growing regional demand.
Today, Magreth is more than a farmer — she’s an employer, a provider, and a role model. Her success means her children’s future is secure, and her story is helping others see agriculture not as a last resort, but as a path to dignity, independence, and impact.
“I found my confidence in the soil,” she says with pride. “And now, others see what’s possible too.”