NutriHarvest: Transforming Lives and School Meals Trough Iron Beans in Iringa

26 February 2026, USA: When Ushindi Usukwa planted her first acre of iron beans in Mfindi District, Iringa, Tanzania, she was sowing more than a crop. She was planting a pathway to for an improved livelihood and greater nutrition security—for herself, her children, and her community.

Before the NutriHarvest project began, farmers in Iringa like Ushindi—who often rely on recycled grain and have limited agronomic training—produced lower than optimal yields on their farms, limiting their food security and income. Beans are a staple food in Iringa and a cornerstone of school meals, yet new varieties of nutrient-rich iron beans were not integrated into school meals because of limited supply.

In 2025, HarvestPlus partnered with the Iringa Farmers’ Cooperative Union to sustainably introduce certified iron bean seeds. (Certified seed meets minimum seed certification standards and is produced by public and/or private seed companies for farmers.) Through NutriHavest, Cooperative farmers were able to purchase high quality seed on credit, and received agronomy training and extension support, catalyzing improved production. 

For Ushindi, a 42yearold widow and mother of two, the difference was immediate and visible, “The crop was uniform in size. There were no gaps in the farm because all the seeds germinated. The bean crop was full and healthy.” Ushindi harvested 960 kilograms from 30 kg of seed planted on one acre—more than doubling her previous productivity.

Through NutriHarvest, the Cooperative then linked Ushindi and other iron bean farmers directly to nearby schools to sell the beans for a premium price to a reliable market—one that could make an important difference in local children’s lives. 

Across Iringa, participating farmers are earning more, schools are sourcing these locally produced nutritious grains, and children are receiving meals rich in iron. “HarvestPlus is not only solving nutrition issues in the Iringa community through our cooperative system,” said Petro Mwinuka, Cooperative Chair, “but also solving economic issues—our farmers are happy, enjoying nutritious meals with money in their pockets.”

Thanks to the sustainable credit model introduced by HarvestPlus, the Cooperative now provides nutrient-rich seeds on credit with a 100% payback rate after harvest and sales. This success triggered further investment in seed production: by the end of 2025, the Cooperative produced 20 tons of iron bean seed—four times the original amount. The model strengthens the local food system and ensures that more farmers and schools can benefit in the seasons ahead.

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