Kitarasa Banana Food Community Strengthening Project
Supported by: Slow Food
Implementation Period: 2022 – Ongoing
Objective:
To strengthen the Kitarasa Banana Food Community by promoting sustainable banana farming, value addition, and market access to improve livelihoods and preserve local food traditions.
Key Activities:
- Provided training on sustainable banana farming practices and post-harvest handling.
- Encouraged value addition through processing banana-based products to increase income potential.
- Fostered community collaboration to promote traditional banana varieties and cultural food heritage.
- Facilitated the establishment of Mangulwa Earth Market, a farmer-managed market for showcasing and selling local produce.
Outcomes:
- Strengthened the capacity of the Kitarasa Banana Food Community to sustainably manage their production and marketing.
- Enhanced market access for farmers through the Mangulwa Earth Market, boosting incomes and economic resilience.
- Promoted the conservation of traditional banana varieties and local food culture in Kilimanjaro.
Impact:
The project has empowered farmers by creating sustainable economic opportunities and preserving biodiversity, while fostering community-driven initiatives like the Mangulwa Earth Market to support local food systems.
