A Tanzanian egg producer named Neema Minja has reaped the benefits of the U.S. Grains Council’s ongoing Food for Progress project in Tanzania, helping her overcome barriers including lack of financing and theft. Now her eggs are in high demand at local supermarkets, but even that process was not simple.

“I started with designing the label,� Minja said. “The next step was getting a barcode and finding a source for the plastic cartons. The materials for my cartons had to come all the way from Kenya. After that, I went to the supermarkets with all the appropriate documents. Later, they call and placed an egg order with me.�

Since then, Minja’s eggs have been so popular some weeks she can’t fill her orders. During those weeks, Minja sources eggs from other Tanzanian egg producers with the same high-quality product, which can be difficult to find.

Minja and a handful of other select poultry producers will continue their USGC training this month when they travel to South Africa to learn more advanced poultry management techniques from a USGC consultant.