Why women are venturing into fresh maize business in Njombe

Njombe. The fresh maize business, once dominated by men in the Njombe region, has seen an increasing number of women joining the trade. 

Initially, men handled both the roasting and selling of maize, but over time, women identified the opportunity and started their own businesses.

The maize is mainly sold for roasting and for preparing Makande, a popular dish in the region.

Women have largely taken up roasting and selling maize, while men now focus on purchasing maize directly from farmers and transporting it to town. Despite challenges such as seasonal shortages and transportation difficulties, traders say the business remains profitable.

Speaking to The Citizen on March 3, 2025, maize traders in Njombe said they currently enjoy a steady supply of fresh maize. However, they noted that from August, during the dry season, maize becomes scarce, leading to high demand and increased competition.

“At times, traders travel to farms to source maize for roasting, but due to high demand, they may return empty-handed,” said Beatrice Mahenge, a resident of Njombe and a maize roaster.

Mahenge noted that while men initially dominated the trade, women eventually recognised the financial benefits and joined the business.

“Our male counterparts started this business, but as it became more profitable, we saw that we could also do it,” she said.

According to her, fewer men now roast maize, as many have shifted to buying directly from farmers and reselling it to roasters and food vendors. Roasted maize currently sells for between Sh500 and Sh700 per cob, allowing traders to earn a steady income to support their families.

Lucy Nyato, a trader who purchases maize from farmers for resale, said she often buys in bulk by negotiating a price for an entire field before transporting it to town. However, she highlighted challenges such as unexpected shortages at farms, which lead to financial losses when transport arrangements have already been made.

“You have to keep searching until you secure at least some stock to take back. Otherwise, you risk making losses,” said Nyato.

She urged the government to establish a designated marketplace for fresh maize traders, as unsold maize often leads to losses.

Njombe Town Council Trade Officer Mathew Mkongwa said that the government has not banned the sale of fresh maize. However, he noted that when stocks are low, authorities regulate sales to ensure food security.

“There is no ban on selling fresh maize. What happens is that when stocks are low, we regulate sales to protect food reserves. But when maize is abundant, it remains an open market,” said Mkongwa.

He added that selling fresh maize yields higher profits than selling dried maize. For instance, an acre producing 40,000 cobs can generate significant income if each cob is sold at Sh300.

Shabani Ramadhani, a Njombe resident and regular consumer of roasted maize, said he enjoys the snack, particularly in the evenings, as it helps keep him warm.

“The weather here is cold, so when I eat maize in the evening, it helps warm me up,” he said.