Group of farmers poses in front of cassava fields

Muhogo Bora

Better cassava for all

Muhogo Bora means “Better cassava” in Swahili

We provide support to develop and expand cassava seed systems in Tanzania with targeted outreach to the Western Zone, Central and Southern Highlands regions.

Muhogo Bora logo shows cartoon person holding cassava roots with words "Muhogo Bora Better Cassava for All"

Muhogo Bora Objectives

Tanzanian women, youth and rural farmers have increased participation in and benefit from cassava seed markets and value chains

Muhogo Bora farmers stand with cassava plants

Women, youth and rural farmers have increased participation in and knowledge of cassava markets

More women, youth and rural farmers from geographically-underserved regions participate and benefit as cassava seed entrepreneurs (CSEs)

Best agronomic practices and digital knowledge assets reach more women, youth and rural farmers to increase efficiency in seed multiplication and root production

Our reach

12

districts

120

communities

200

seed entrepreneurs over three years

Why focus on women farmers?

  • There are weak linkages within the cassava value chain, which is highly gendered
  • Women were mainly involved in cassava harvesting, processing, and farm gate sales
  • Men played a prominent role in the control of resources, marketing, and income
  • Women were not well integrated in high-value urban and cross-border marketing nodes
  • Policy could target female resource ownership and high-value node participation
Women sit next to piles of cassava

Our partners

International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)
Tanzania Official Seed Certification (TOSCI)
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)
Building an Economically Sustainable and Integrated Cassava Seed System
NextGen Cassava
African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI)

Our team

Chiedozie Egesi
Chiedozie Egesi, Co-Principal Investigator
Hale Ann Tufan headshot
Hale Tufan, Co-Principal Investigator
Woman stands in greenhouse wearing labcoat
Kiddo Mtunda, Technical Lead
Heneriko Kulembeka stands in a yard
Heneriko Kulembeka, Lead Scientist
Canaan Boyer
Canaan Boyer, Project Manager
Steven Cole headshot
Steven Cole, Gender Specialist
Millicent L. Liani headshot
Millicent Liani, Gender Researcher
Muhogo Bora logo shows cartoon person holding cassava roots
Contact Us

Latest news

A hand touches cassava stacked in basket

News

Gift supports Cornell’s Tanzanian cassava efforts
An anonymous gift of $2.65 million to support Cornell and partner research in Tanzania will improve distribution of new and more resistant varieties of cassava while empowering women and marginalized groups in the East African nation. Cassava is...
  • Department of Global Development
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics Section