Dar es Salaam. When Esther Shebe began growing mushrooms in 2016, she never imagined that her small garden in Goba would one day lead to a thriving agribusiness.
But thanks to the Skills Development Fund (SDF), implemented by the Tanzania Education Authority (TEA) in collaboration with the World Bank, her business journey took a major turn in 2021.
During the ongoing Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), Shebe’s story was shared at the TEA pavilion, where the Chairperson of TEA’s Board, Dr Leonard Akwilapo, described her as a clear example of the SDF program’s success.
He said the initiative, which is overseen by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, plays a key role in helping Tanzanians build skills that lead to employment and entrepreneurship.
Dr Akwilapo noted that SDF does not only focus on technical training but also supports informal sectors such as sports and hairdressing.
He added that the program aligns with the country’s new 2024 education curriculum, which requires secondary students to acquire vocational skills.
“We will continue expanding infrastructure and skills development in all selected secondary and vocational schools across the country,” he said.
Shebe, 43, is among 400 Tanzanians who benefited from the SDF program in 2021.
A former nurse who worked in the public health sector for six years, she shifted her focus to mushroom farming and, after training through the fund, moved into value addition.
Today, she is the founder and CEO of Goba Mushroom Zone, a company that produces a variety of mushroom-based products including wine, biscuits, cakes, oil jelly, soap, shower gel, samosas, and chilli sauce.
Her company currently employs ten people; eight women and two men.
Shebe says the technical and business skills she gained have helped her move from being a basic grower to an innovator in mushroom-based products.
She even uses mushroom waste to make alternative charcoal, a move that reduces environmental impact. As a mother of four and breadwinner for a household of ten, she describes the SDF program as life-changing.
Her entrepreneurial journey has attracted local and national recognition.
In 2022, she won the Malkia wa Nguvu award by Clouds Media Group, which celebrates women who bring positive change to society.
In 2023, she was named Best Farmer in Dar es Salaam Region, followed by another milestone in 2024 when her company received the Best Agricultural Company of the Year Award from the Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC).
That same year, Shebe was selected by Sokoine University of Agriculture to join a three-week training course in China.
In China, she learned how to cultivate Ganoderma and oyster mushrooms and adopted Juncao grass technology to improve production methods.
She later formed a group of six women and secured a TZS 40 million loan from the 10 percent fund offered by district councils. Her business capital now stands at TZS 80 million, and she has plans to expand further.
However, Shebe faces a major obstacle in reaching wider markets due to the lack of Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) certification for her mushroom wine.
She has already constructed a laboratory to support her production, but says she needs at least TZS 10 million to complete a processing room that meets TBS requirements.
At present, she has produced 120 litres of wine, though her full production capacity exceeds 5,000 litres per month.
“The market is there, both local and international. I have the knowledge, skills and capacity. What limits me now is the TBS label,” she says.
She is now appealing to individuals, institutions and development partners to support her efforts to scale up and formalize her operations.