By Kilimokwanza.org Team
Raha Aloyce, the dynamic director of Raha Farm, has become a beacon of success and inspiration in Tanzania’s agricultural sector. Her journey in agriculture began a decade ago, fueled by a vision that farming was viable and potentially lucrative. Over the years, Raha has proven that vision true through hard work and strategic partnerships, particularly with the Tanzanian government and various agricultural agencies.
“My name is Raha Aloyce, and I am the director of Raha Farm, which initially started in Models but today is opening a new branch in Dumira, right next to the wildlife police station,” Raha begins her story. Agriculture has been my life for the past ten years, and all my achievements have sprung from this fertile ground.”
“SAGCOT recognized my potential when Raha Farm was just a fledgling venture, barely finding its footing. They stood by me through those early, challenging days, offering steadfast support long before others took notice.,” she says.
Raha Farm’s expansion and success story is significantly tied to a pivotal moment in March 2023, when Raha was among ten young entrepreneurs to receive substantial financial support through the Building Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative. This event marked a turning point, enabling her to scale her operations significantly.
“I am one of the beneficiaries of the input fund through BBT, and I was one of the youths who received a check for 200 million from Mama [President Samia Suluhu Hassan]. First, I would like to thank the government of the United Republic of Tanzania through the Ministry of Agriculture. This money has helped me, and I will use it well. I will provide feedback, but the funds are indeed there, and we have received excellent cooperation from the ministry. We believe that we will do what we have been funded to do with the money, and I believe we, the youth, will prosper from where the ministry has brought us, and we promise to perform even better,” Raha passionately explains.
This financial boost was not just a monetary gain but a catalyst for growth. Raha used the funds to enhance her farm’s productivity, focusing on three essential areas she believes are the pillars of successful agriculture: “To increase agricultural productivity at the farmer level, three things are a must: (i) good quality seeds/seedlings, (ii) good plant nutrition through taking care of the health of the soil, and (iii) a well-informed farmer. The rest is a good policy environment to allow for market access.”
Thanks to her strategic use of the funds and her in-depth knowledge of agricultural practices, Raha Farm now supplies tomatoes and other vegetable seedlings to farmers across 20 regions of Tanzania. This expansion has solidified Raha Farm’s reputation as a leading agricultural enterprise and positioned Raha as a key player in the national agenda to boost food security.
Reflecting on her philosophy and what she advises other young people, Raha states, “As a young person myself, I advise other youths to enter agriculture because it pays. It pays because I have been in farming for the last ten years, and all my successes are from agriculture. I possess many things that did not come from anywhere else but from agriculture. So I highly encourage youths as I said earlier, no salary makes a person rich; nobody gets rich through a salary as I said, a salary is just a small amount that your boss gives you to keep you serving on his journey to wealth. Welcome to agriculture; the opportunity is still vast and needs young people, the government wants us to be the food store, I think the time is now and because our government supports agriculture let’s race for this opportunity.”
Her advice resonates with a deeper understanding of agriculture’s transformative power, not just as a means of livelihood but as a substantial economic driver. Raha continuously emphasizes the government’s role in facilitating this transformation: “This is why the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners work with youth entrepreneurs like myself at Msowelo Village, Mvomero, in the Morogoro Region. We are proud of the development being achieved at Raha Farm.”
The collaboration between the SAGCOT Centre, TAHA, and local leadership in the Morogoro Region underpins the supportive ecosystem that has enabled Raha and others to thrive. These partnerships reflect a broader strategy to harness the potential of young entrepreneurs in agriculture, empowering them to drive forward Tanzania’s agricultural and economic development.
Aloyce’s journey from a young woman with a vision to a leader in Tanzania’s agricultural sector is a profound narrative of empowerment, innovation, and success. Her story highlights the critical role of government support and effective policy and showcases how individual determination and strategic use of resources can lead to substantial achievements in agriculture. Raha Farm continues to grow, as does the influence of Raha Aloyce, who remains dedicated to mentoring the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. Her life and career are a testament to the power of combining passion with opportunity, setting a fertile ground for future leaders in Tanzania’s agriculture.