Bertha, an agrifood entrepreneur who owns a trading company in Tanzania, faced a challenge after years of trying to make ends meet. Despite women making up 66% of the agricultural workforce in her country, they received little economic benefit due to deep-seated gender discrimination. Bertha was no stranger to this dynamic; she faced a lack of support from her husband and family, scarce business resources, and limited financing options. As a young mother of two, she felt forced to choose between her marriage and her business aspirations.
Bertha’s path was filled with obstacles, but she tackled them head-on with determination, and with support from MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates). Through MEDA’s Strengthening Small Business Value Chains (SSBVC) program, Bertha received crucial assistance such as financial products, market information, and an improved business environment tailored for gender-specific needs. This support was vital in helping her overcome the initial hurdles of her business.
Her collaboration with MEDA and the Feminist Entrepreneurs Growing Green Economies (FEGGE) program focused on economic empowerment and climate-smart business practices for female entrepreneurs. This partnership enabled Bertha to expand her business operations and access new markets. She supported more than 1,000 farmers by providing them with improved seed varieties, essential farming equipment, and training on good agricultural practices, gender equality, and climate change adaptation.
Bertha’s hard work paid off. Her annual rice production capacity increased to 800 metric tons, nearly four times her previous output. Her company expanded its market reach to international customers in Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi, achieved a new milestone by exporting rice to Turkey.
Beyond her own business success, Bertha has made a substantial impact on her community. By providing resources and training to local farmers, she has helped foster economic growth and stability in the region. Her story underscores the importance of Small and Medium Social Enterprises (SMSEs) in driving economic development and creating opportunities for marginalized communities.
This story was originally published by MEDA and was edited for alignment with the Missing Middle campaign.