Neema Ally is a farmer in Songwe, Tanzania, a region bordering Zambia and Malawi in the country’s south. The northern and western arms of the Great Rift Valley extend southward here, reaching north of Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi). This landscape shapes Songwe’s tropical climate and fertile lands, making it an agricultural hub.
For most of her life, Neema worked as a laborer on other people’s farms, always dreaming of one day working her own land. That dream started to take shape when she learned about Solar Sister and saw an opportunity to grow her business and increase her income.
Her first goal was clear: support her family and ensure her children could attend school.
With farming in her blood and the land around her full of potential, Neema began looking for ways to expand. As her income grew, she invested in renting a five-acre plot to grow maize. Little by little, she cultivated the land, buying fertilizer and planting crops.
Today, working as a laborer on other farms is a thing of the past. Neema now manages her own farm and provides jobs for others in her community.
Watch this 30-second video to hear from Neema.