Tanzania: Valentina Moi, a young farmer facing prejudice

Valentina Moi, a 24-year-old Tanzanian, has established herself in the agricultural and commercial sector after refusing to wait until the end of her studies to launch her projects. According to BBC Afrique, she began her journey as a broker at the Tandale market, near Dar es Salaam, before diversifying her activities.

Determined not to depend on family capital, she invested her own savings to get started. Her initial experience managing a fruit and vegetable warehouse, gained after high school, allowed her to understand the inner workings of the market, from production zones to final distribution.

Today, Valentina is no longer content with just brokerage. She rents land in the Southern Highlands and in northern Tanzania, specifically in Manyara, to grow rice and onions. She now masters the entire value chain, from farming to marketing.

Despite her success, Valentina faces virulent criticism on social media. Some internet users question her actual involvement in working the land, accusing her of using her physical appearance to attract attention or engaging in prostitution. She firmly rejects these claims, emphasizing that her commitment is the result of hard work and a constant search for information.

Faced with what she identifies as a lack of technical knowledge among many aspiring farmers, she now shares her expertise online. She insists on the importance of research and training to succeed in agribusiness, thus transforming her experience into an educational tool for her community.

Our perspective

Valentina Moi's journey illustrates the resilience and boldness of African youth who refuse to wait to start a business. However, the sexist attacks she endures serve as a reminder of the persistent obstacles linked to gender prejudice. Defending the dignity of African women also means recognizing their central role in food sovereignty and their legitimacy to occupy all economic spaces without being reduced to their appearance.