Asia Athumani Gudo from Ilunda Village, a widow and mother of three, experienced this firsthand when she was denied the right to cultivate the land she had farmed for years.

“When my husband passed away, I was stopped from planting, harvesting or producing anything. Without land, I had no income and no way to sustain my children,” she recalled.

Losing access to the land had a devastating impact. Farming was her main source of income, and without it, she struggled to feed her children, earn an income, and meet essential needs such as school expenses. The emotional stress and financial uncertainty were overwhelming.

Asia’s life began to transform in 2023 when the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress Towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE) introduced a series of integrated interventions in Ikungi District.These included gender-responsive land governance support, training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Climate-Smart Agriculture, and community dialogues aimed at challenging harmful gender norms.

Asia describes the programme as transformative. Through newly formed women’s groups, she and others received training on women’s rights, land governance, and the value of secure land tenure.

A rural women from Tanzania is proudly showing her Customary Certificate of Right of Occupancy (CCRO).

Ceremony of distributing CCRO. 

Through community dialoguesled by trained gender champions, village committees, and land officers, who work together to resolve disputes and ensure that women’s rights are upheld at the community level, the programme has reached more than 26,827 community members. As a result,families and communities have begun to reflect on and challenge long-held beliefs about women’s rights and roles.

“For the first time, I understood my rights. These awareness sessions changed mindsets in our families and our whole community.” she said.

With enhanced understanding, her family agreed to allocate and measure the land she had long depended on. Conflicts eased, and the support of trained Gender Champions helped mediate discussions and promote peaceful resolution within the household.

“After these dialogues, my in-laws finally understood that I also have rights. For the first time, my family allowed the land I had depended on for my survival to be formally measured for my ownership”, said Asia.

The land-certification process itself was transparent and inclusive. District officials trained the groups and later conducted field measurements. Three months after the assessment, Asia received her Customary Certificate of Right of Occupancy (CCRO).

“Holding my certificate in my hands was one of the happiest momentsof my life. I knew it was the end of conflict and the beginning of a new chapter”, she said.

With secure land rights, her life has transformed profoundly. She now farms confidently and consistently. Over the past three years, she has cultivated sunflower and sorghum without fear of eviction. Her increased income has allowed her to resume construction of her house, which had previously stalled due to disputes, and purchase an additional plot within the municipality. She has also managed to buy five cattle and hopes to expand into commercial livestock keeping.

With land finally in her name, Asia could invest confidently in her farm. Today, she has expanded and increased her agricultural investments, adopted improved seeds production, and expanded production systems.

Ceremony of distributing CCRO. 

A rural woman is proudly showing her CCROs.

Asia also benefitedfrom modern agricultural training provided through the programme. Before JP RWEE, most women in her community farmed using traditional methods without access to improvedseeds or productivity-enhancing practices. Through the training, she learned how to use certified seeds, plant in rows, apply fertilizer correctly, and manage soil health.

“Before, we farmed by tradition. Now I know how to use certified seeds, plant properly, and manage soil. My harvests have improved, and I am farming with knowledge, not just hope”, she added.

In addition to agricultural skills, she also gained entrepreneurship and financial-management skills.

“Before, I ran my business without budgeting or tracking expenses. Now I can prepare budgets, plan purchases, manage income, and analyse profits. My confidence as an entrepreneur has grown”, she added smiling.

With secure land tenure, she increased her sunflower and sorghum production, directly improving her family’s nutrition and resilience.

Land ownership also transformed Asia’s position in her household and community. Asia notes that women landowners in her village now receive greater respect.

“Attitudes among men have changed. People now see that when women have secure land rights, they contribute to economies,” said Asia.

Building on this progress, she now serves as a facilitator of a VICOBA group, mentoring other women who seek guidance after witnessing her transformation.

Looking ahead, Asia hopes that these interventions and awareness provided through the project will continue to reach more communities, especially where cultural norms still restrict women’s rights. She urges leaders and local authorities to expand efforts to inform widows and vulnerable women about their rights.

“Many women lose everything when their husbands pass away, this knowledge must reach them”, she stressed.

Asia firmly believes that securing land ownership has reshaped her life. She has become economically independent, strengthened her businesses, and improved her ability to care for her children.

“Today, women are more active,businesses are growing,and agricultural production has increased because of the knowledge and confidence this programme has given us”, she added.

Asia remains profoundly thankful for the transformation that secure land rights have brought into her life.

Originally published at jprwee.org