From Struggles to Success: The Postcode Lottery and BUFADESO’s Journey to Sustainability

From One Cent to Lasting Change: How Postcode Lottery Helps Farmers Build Sustainability 

Morning light filters through the trees as pigs grunt softly in their pens, a sound that now carries a promise of stability for farmers in rural Tanzania. For members of Bunda Farmers Development Support (BUFADESO), what began as a handful of piglets has grown into a lifeline for hundreds of families, thanks to support from the People’s Postcode Lottery. 

BUFADESO’s story stretches back to 2015 when Vi Agroforestry shifted from direct implementation to a partnership model. Seeing this as an opportunity, local farmers mobilized to form an organization that could work with Vi Agroforestry in the future—a dream that became reality. Today, BUFADESO is a member-based organization with 1,269 farmers, providing training and production support across the region. 

“It is very impressive to see how the Postcode Lottery funds are turning a farmer organization into a sustainable enterprise,” says Charlotta, Secretary General of Vi Agroforestry. “This initiative validates our approach to empowering communities to lead their own development.”

In July 2024, BUFADESO received a five-month Postcode Lottery project aimed at helping the organization become sustainable and develop an enterprise model that would also serve as a learning center for farmers. Within the first month, 42 pigs were purchased, and by the end of the year, the herd had grown to 92, signaling that the vision was taking shape.

“We started with just a few piglets, little experience, but a big dream,” says Baraka Kamese, BUFADESO Coordinator. For Aisha, a mother of three, that dream has changed everything. Once dependent on seasonal farm work, her family now enjoys steady income and a sense of security. “This wasn’t about handouts,” she says. “It was about building something real for our children.” 

The journey, however, was far from smooth. In early 2025, global feed prices soared, threatening the project’s survival, and a disease outbreak wiped out several piglets. “It felt like everything was falling apart,” Baraka recalls. Yet, instead of giving up, the farmers adapted by sourcing affordable local feed alternatives and improving hygiene standards to control disease. By Easter, six pigs were sold for an average of USD 120 each, generating income that covered feed costs and funded a critical investment—a feed storage facility that allows for bulk purchases when prices are low, shielding the group from market volatility.

Today, BUFADESO is more than a farm; it has become a training hub where farmers from neighboring villages learn practical skills in pig care, feed management, and shelter construction. Farmers like Neema, who once doubted the viability of pig farming, now run their own pens after attending these sessions. “Their success gave me confidence,” she says. 

Every shilling earned is reinvested to strengthen operations and diversify income streams. Plans include monthly pork sales at local markets and introducing improved dairy goat breeds to boost nutrition and revenue. These steps position BUFADESO as a resilient rural enterprise, reducing reliance on seasonal crops and external aid. 

In just one year, the project has delivered more than livestock—it has delivered economic security and a blueprint for community-led development. 

“We never thought the funds we received from the Postcode Lottery could mean so much to a rural farmer organization,” notes Leif Newman, Vi Agroforestry Regional Director. “The transformation of BUFADESO is a testament to the power of community investment.” 

With modest support from the Postcode Lottery, farmers are proving that sustainability is not charity; it is smart economics.