By Vidah Mahava
Farming, to me, has never been just about growing crops or raising income. It has always been a journey one of resilience, innovation, and transformation. My name is Shamsa Kileo, and I am a Tanzanian entrepreneur with a deep passion for sustainable agriculture, market-driven innovation, and community empowerment. Since 2014, I’ve walked a path fueled by curiosity, necessity, and a relentless desire to make a difference.
My journey began with a vision to tackle challenges I saw around me every day, malnutrition, environmental degradation, poverty, and limited opportunities for women and youth. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management from the Sokoine University of Agriculture, and currently advancing my expertise with a Master’s degree from the Institute of Accountancy Arusha, I knew that change wouldn’t come from big speeches, but from practical, grassroots solutions.
I started small, cultivating Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) vines on a coconut tree farm. It was a blend of what I had, land, knowledge, and passion,and what my community needed: food, health, and hope. Over time, I adopted an integrated farming approach that not only ensured efficient use of resources but also opened new doors for agro-processing.
Today, through my company IMARA Care, I add value to what others might overlook coconut waste becomes charcoal briquettes for clean energy, oil from the coconut is transformed into chemical-free mosquito repellents and natural skincare products, and aged OFSP vines are processed into nutritious food for children. I am a certified seed producer under TOSCI, and I proudly stand as one of the few women in Tanzania actively working to bridge agriculture, health, and environmental sustainability.
My inspiration came from real, pressing problems. I saw how expensive Vitamin A supplements were for children under five, so I created affordable, nutritious foods using crops rich in Vitamin A OFSP and butternut squash mixed with zinc-rich beans, millet, and yellow maize. I noticed increased skin irritation linked to climate change and global warming, so I formulated natural skincare solutions using coconut, castor, and moringa oils. I witnessed the persistent threat of malaria and responded with an effective, chemical-free repellent made from coconut oil and essential oils.
But this work isn’t just about products it’s about people. I want to create systems that last. Our plans for IMARA Care include expanding OFSP and butternut squash farming on 10 acres, partnering with farmers in Gairo (for potatoes) and Kigamboni (for coconuts), investing in processing equipment, and launching a full product line that includes food, personal care items, and clean energy briquettes.
Through IMARA Care, I’m not just running a business I’m nurturing a movement. We work closely with women and youth, providing job opportunities, skills training, and support that encourages economic participation and financial independence. From coconut farm workers to youth retailers, every product we sell has a story behind it of someone empowered, of waste turned to value, of a future grown with care.
The training I’ve received has been instrumental. I’ve learned seed certification and disease-free OFSP production through TOSCI and TARI-Mikocheni. I’ve honed my food processing and branding skills through SIDO, explored green entrepreneurship through UNITAR, and participated in the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) funded by the U.S. government. My work has even taken me to the BecA-ILRI Hub, where I focused on developing micropropagation protocols for the African baobab tree.
I’ve seen the results firsthand. Our coconut shell charcoal is gaining popularity in Dar es Salaam, used in homes and restaurants as a clean energy alternative. Our natural mosquito repellents and virgin coconut oil are trusted staples in homes looking for safer, healthier choices. And our OFSP products? They’re not just food, they’re nutrition solutions that combat childhood malnutrition daily.
As a woman in agriculture and agro-processing, I stand for something bigger than business. I stand for a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future. I stand for every girl who dreams of leading, every mother who needs a solution she can afford, and every youth looking for a reason to stay and build instead of leaving and hoping. Let’s grow more than crops. Let’s grow change. Let’s grow opportunity. Let’s grow a future together.
The author is the Coordinator of Technology Transfer & Partnerships at the Ministry of Agriculture, and she is also a CCARDESA Information, Communication & Knowledge Management focal point person for Tanzania.
