Consolata Petro lives in Mwangika village in Kwimba District; she is a member of Nguvu Kazi group, the group supported by the MUVI programme in Mwanza region. In addition of being a cassava farmer, she is also engaged in food vending business. In April 2014, MUVI Mwanza conducted a training on quality food processing to PMGs members, whereby they were trained how to produce various products from cassava flour including; cakes, chapatti, buns (maandazi) and bread. For Consolata, the knowledge and skills gained was an amazing opportunity which she utilised in transforming her life. She started baking buns (maandazi) from cassava flour since June 2014 and is still continuing with this business to date.
During the interview with Consolata, she indicated that, the income earned from selling buns has significantly led to the improvement in her standard of living. Consolata bakes at least 60 buns per day and sells each bun at TZS 200, resulting in daily income from selling just buns of at least TZS 12,000. Her monthly and annual income from selling just buns is at least TZS 360,000 and TZS 4.3 million respectively. From the income earned from selling buns, she has managed to pay school fees for her children, renovated her house and increase house renovation and increased herds. Below is a testimony from Consolata.
“At first, I tried to bake few buns as a practice from the training offered to us by the MUVI programme, just for home consumption with my family. Later on, I decided to transform this skill into business and many people (customers) liked much the buns from cassava flour. I am sure of selling all my buns baked per day as such I am reasonably assured of continuous income. Through this business, I have managed to pay fees for my two sons who have already graduated. The house you see here was renovated and roofed with much support from this business. I am proud that this year, I have managed to buy one cow and two sheep and therefore, I see the tangible profit from this business and really thank the MUVI programme for giving us this knowledge’’
