Training on leafy vegetables processing by solar drying. A case study of Nzasa Women Food Processors group of Charambe Ward Temeke Municipality Dar es salaam Tanzania

One of the major problems in horticultural sector is value addition of raw products by processing as horticultural crops are perishables. On average less than one percent of vegetables produced are processed as most of the processing takes place by the traditional method and for the traditional use as results vegetables are processed at the very small scale. The goal of the project is to improve livelihood opportunities through vegetable processing. The objectives of the project was value addition in fresh leafy vegetables by processing through solar drying method; upgrade the technical knowledge and skills of improved vegetables processing techniques, and increasing food security in the community. The researcher used multiple research methods and techniques including Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodology with various research tools such as conducting interviews with key informants, organizing Focused Group Discussion (FGD), observation, questionnaires and interviews in data collection, secondary data in form of published and unpublished documents for each of four assessments i.e. Community, Socioeconomic, Environmental and Health. The findings include the fact that leafy vegetables losses is very high as majority of community members lack knowledge and technical skills in food processing, lack of market for processed vegetables and inadequate capital for investment. However, the income generating activity identified to improve livelihoods was leafy vegetables processing by solar dryer method. Vegetable processors group implemented the project which was designed based on the specified objectives. Participatory monitoring and evaluation realized project output at 86.4% for the enhancing knowledge of vegetables processing techniques. Then project report recommended the importance of using participatory approach in building the sense of ownership of the project paralleled by the use of Logical Framework Approach as an essential for project planning tool