“When women have access to resources, they can break free from poverty and contribute to the development of the entire community.”
ZANZIBAR: The morning sun barely peeks over the horizon when Fatuma Seif Juma begins her day in the lush green hills of Pemba Island, Zanzibar, in Tanzania. Her weathered hands expertly milk her two dairy cows – beloved animals that represent far more than just livestock. For this 47-year-old mother of four, they symbolise her triumph over generations of cultural barriers and her family’s escape from poverty.
“There was a time when I couldn’t even dream of owning anything,” Fatuma says, her eyes distant as she recalls darker days. Like many women in her community, she grew up in a culture that restricted women’s access to education and economic opportunities. The weight of providing for nine household members weighed heavily on her, and the pain of watching three of her daughters enter early marriages – a desperate response to their family’s poverty – still haunts her.
“It was heartbreaking to see my children’s future cut short because we couldn’t afford school fees,” she says quietly, pausing in her morning routine. “As a mother, you never forget that kind of helplessness.”
But in 2018, an unexpected opportunity knocked on Fatuma’s door. Through the Jitihada Primary Cooperative Society, she learned about Heifer International’s dairy project. The program offered more than just a loan to buy animals – it provided comprehensive training in dairy husbandry, seeds for fodder production, and support for building a cowshed. For Fatuma, it was a glimpse of possibility for a life that had known little but limitation.
“The loan to buy animals was my opportunity to start building a better future,” she says, her face brightening. “It wasn’t just about receiving the loan; it was about gaining the knowledge and confidence towards improving my life.”
Despite being one of only three women among twenty farmers in her producer organisation, Fatuma quickly proved the power of giving women access to resources. Today, her two cows produce 20 litres of milk daily at 2,000/- per litre – vital income. The transformation has been remarkable. Her family’s annual earnings have more than tripled, jumping from 800,000 to 2,5m/-.
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The impact extends far beyond the numbers. Pemba is known for its large-scale farming of cloves – a critical cash crop in the region. With her earnings, Fatuma has diversified into the clove business and purchased an ox cart for transporting farm produce. More importantly, she’s gained something priceless: independence and respect within her household.
“I feel proud that I can support my family now,” she says, standing tall in her cowshed. “My children can stay in school, and I no longer feel powerless.”
Empowering women; building societies
Despite being only three out of twenty farmers in the project Fatuma and her two female colleagues appreciably excelled in adopting improved dairy production practices that resulted in increased productivity.
“Women like Fatuma have shown that when given access and ownership to production assets, they can transform not just their households but the community as a whole,” said Abdullah Hamad Khamis, the Chairperson of Pemba Dairy Cooperative Union (PEDACU).
In 2024, under the Tanzania Inclusive Processor-Producer Partnership in Dairy (TI3P) Project, 55 women out of 153 smallholder dairy farmers on Pemba Island received good-quality heifers through a financing arrangement with Tanzania Agriculture Development Bank (TADB). Five women, including Fatuma, benefited in her cooperative.
Fatuma’s success has created ripples throughout the community. Each morning, as women gather to deliver their milk, Fatuma’s story inspires conversations about possibility and change.
“Fatuma’s journey shows us that when women have access to resources, they can break free from poverty and contribute to the development of the entire community,” said Khamis, who also doubles as the Head of the Livestock Department in Pemba.
As the sun climbs higher, Fatuma tends to her cows with practised care. She is now navigating new types of challenges, particularly in accessing larger markets, but her determination remains unshaken. “I hope to increase my herd and continue providing for my family,” she said. “This journey has taught me that with hard work and the right support, anything is possible.”
In the end, Fatuma’s story is more than just a tale of economic success. It’s a powerful testament to the transformation possible when women are given the tools to succeed, one woman, one family at a time.
