Braving the Odds: Dr. Mary Mgonja's Journey to Empower Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania Through Plant Breeding 

In the Same district of Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region, where Africa's highest peak- Mount Kilimanjaro rises, is the birthplace of Dr. Mary Mgonja—a renowned Tanzanian agricultural scientist, plant breeder, and founder of Namburi, a private agricultural enterprise.  

 Growing up in the shadow of this majestic peak, Dr. Mgonja considered her dreams to be as lofty as the mountain itself- if not even higher. At an early age, she was determined to excel in a field viewed as challenging, particularly for women.  

" I didn't want to pursue something considered easy or simple. There's a saying that women have to work twice as hard to be seen as half as good. So, I chose plant breeding and genetics—the most challenging fields in agriculture—because I knew I was capable of excelling, no matter how difficult the path."  - Mary Mgonja

And that’s exactly what she did. Her academic excellence got her into a PhD in plant breeding and genetics.  She later held senior roles at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa- AGRA, and Tanzania's Ministry of Agriculture, focusing on agricultural transformation, supporting smallholder farmers, and enhancing food security through the breeding of maize and sorghum varieties for Eastern and Southern Africa- crops which are essential in this region.  

Dr. Mgonja has been a vocal advocate for plant breeding and plant variety protection, highlighting its importance for both breeders and farmers.   

 Improved plant varieties lead to higher yields, better resistance to pests and diseases, and greater resilience to environmental stresses such as drought. These advancements are crucial, especially in countries like the United Republic of Tanzania, where agriculture is the backbone of the economy and the primary source of livelihood for much of the population.  

Plant variety protection upholds breeders' rights, fostering innovation and investment in new crop varieties, benefiting breeders with more options and profits, while providing farmers access to high-quality seeds to boost productivity. 

The United Republic of Tanzania joined the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) in 2015, aligning its Plant Breeders’ Rights Act with UPOV's 1991 Convention. This legal protection for plant breeders promotes resilient crops, boosts profits, and enhances food security and productivity. 

Dr. Mgonja highlighted a success story of licensing public-sector maize hybrids, which allowed her company- Namburi to produce high-quality, affordable seeds, making improved hybrids more accessible to farmers. 

“Because the seed production is being done in the country, this hybrid seed is half the price of others being imported.  Our selling price is $2, per kg, while the others are being sold at $3 or $3.5. This is the impact of having this variety being protected and licensed to local seed companies.  Most of these local seed companies do not have varieties of their own, so they can access these varieties through licensing.” 

Her maize hybrids – protected varieties licensed through public-private partnerships - have been a game-changer, and are used by over 15,000 farmers, spanning over 30,000 acres of farmlands. These hybrids have led to significant increases in productivity, directly contributing to improved food security and economic stability for thousands of families.   

She also developed drought-tolerant sorghum hybrids, reaching 23,000 farmers and offering a climate-smart solution against climate change. Her protected sorghum varieties have also been valuable to the brewing industry, benefiting 8,000 smallholder farmers through guaranteed commercialization of their harvests. 

"Plant variety protection helps me ensure that farmers I’m working with receive the authentic varieties they pay for, safeguarding them from counterfeit seeds. This protection not only preserves the integrity of my work but also guarantees that farmers benefit from the high-quality, resilient crops they rely on."- she shared. 

Central to Mary's plant breeding approach is understanding farmers’ needs and market demand, while ensuring crop varieties meet both agricultural and industry requirements. Her partnerships have enabled more than 40 demonstration fields to be established in different regions of the country for farmers to see and learn how her varieties perform.  

Today, Namburi produces 300 metric tons of maize seed annually, reaching 15,000 farmers, and 50  tons of sorghum seed benefiting 23,000 farmers, including farmers contracted for certified seed production.   

Her vision is to expand her business further and train smallholder farmers to utilize improved varieties for the evolving market. 

Dr. Mgonja's journey in plant breeding demonstrates perseverance, the power of education, and the impact one person can have on an industry. Her work has empowered Tanzanian smallholder farmers, set standards for innovation, and continues to transform the country’s agricultural landscape, securing a brighter future.