Mesula - Meru Sustainable Land Ltd.

Creating a sustainable supply chain for organic products
2014 SEED Africa Award; European Union
Sustainable Agriculture
Arusha
Tanzania

The enterprise creates a value chain for the production and supply of fresh fruit and vegetables to the local market. It provides small-holder farmers with training and support for converting to sustainable farming. Farmers are paid for their produce that is sold at a retail outlet and a supermarket.

As international tourism drives the local economy, higher demand for organic produce is predicted. A farmer’s market held monthly has gathered a network of actors interested in sustainable agriculture.

Mesula – Meru Sustainable Land’s organic produce supply chain has a direct impact on reducing chemical pesticides in agricultural practises. Small-scale farmers are reaping the social and economic benefits of using sustainable farming methods, through increased incomes and reduced health risks.

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
Mesula – Meru Sustainable Land’s organic produce supply chain has a direct impact on reducing chemical pesticides in agricultural practices. Smallholder farmers are trained in best bio-intensive farming practices and receive increased incomes and reduce health risks from sustainable farming methods.
  • Improving producers’ livelihoods by spreading sustainable farming.
  • Reducing health risks associated with over-use of synthetic pesticides.
  • Supporting small-scale food processors to reduce post-harvest losses.
  • Promote production and consumption of honey and wild foods. 
  • Reducing pesticide use, thereby contributing to the protection of the Mount Meru ecosystem.
  • Training farmers to produce bio-pesticides from local plant extracts to help pest control.
  • Sensitising farmers on land exploitation and soil conservation offering free technical advice. 
  • Reducing the vulnerability of the producers by increasing their yields and diversifying the crops.
  • Adding value to the organic product by paying higher market prices.
  • Stimulating the local economy by the creation of a new niche and value chain.

Partners

Mesula – Meru Sustainable Land supports bio-intensive farming by providing Arusha smallholder farmers with technical advice on how to convert to organic farming. Smallholder farmers see increased crop yields and higher incomes. Mesula buys their organic produce and sells it, together with conserves made by a group of local women, at a farmer’s market and a local supermarket.

Tumaini Jam Group is an organised group of women who produce organic preserves and other goods and who are working with Mesula.

Oikos East Africa offers technical support and manages the enterprise’s start-up funds used for auditing, renting of a premise, water and storage provision, and horticultural production materials.

Honeyguide Foundation is a non-profit organisation that provides technical training to farmers and processors with the experience of being involved in a similar initiative with another village.