THE BEGINNING – ILULA ORPHAN PROGRAM (IOP)
The story of Farm for the Future begins with Berit Skaare, a Norwegian teacher and idealist. In 1998, she founded and led the Ilula Orphan Program (IOP).
Initially, Berit came to Tanzania to support a water project, but she quickly realized that the greatest need lay with young orphaned girls. Many were living in poverty, vulnerable to life on the streets, and unable to access education. Berit decided to act, raising funds and building a safe space for them to thrive.
“I wanted to give them a third choice: Education”
THE BIRTH OF FARM FOR THE FUTURE
In 2011, Berit purchased a 250-hectare former tobacco farm at a favorable price. For several years, the land was rented out to local farmers who grew tomatoes, maize, and sunflowers.
By 2013, some of IOP’s board members began to see the farm’s untapped potential. With the support of Osmund Ueland, a volunteer who had been assisting IOP with strategy and management, Berit envisioned something bigger. In 2015, she asked Osmund to lead the development of the farm as Project Manager.
BUILDING THE VISION
In January 2017, more than 30 key stakeholders, local farmers, students, young single mothers, community leaders, government representatives, and partners such as Yara Tanzania, SUA (Sokoine University of Agriculture), and SAGCOT came together in a two-day meeting.
Together, they identified the region’s pressing challenges:
Unemployment and poverty- Low agricultural skills and poor yields
- Undernourishment
- Social exclusion of young single mothers
This meeting laid the foundation for a unique model: combining commercial farming with hands-on training, all on the same farm.
PARTNERSHIPS AND GROWTH
With support from Yara Tanzania, SUA, NMBU (Norwegian University of Life Sciences), and SAGCOT, and driven by a lean and committed project management team, the vision moved forward. In April 2018, Farm For the Future Tanzania Ltd. was officially registered as a limited liability company. Ownership was shared between IOP (25%) and international shareholders from Norway, Luxembourg, Tanzania, the USA, and the UK. The company leases the land from IOP, builds its own infrastructure, and prioritizes partnerships with professional local institutions.
A TURNING POINT
On February 12, 2018, the Kavli Trust granted NOK 4.6 million, enabling the project to:
- Renovate old farm buildings into warehouses, classrooms, and offices.
- Purchase modern, energy-efficient farming equipment
- Clear 1,600 trees and construct 15 km of internal roads
- Prepare and plant 210 hectares of maize, just five months after taking over the land
Additional support from companies in Oslo and Eigersund, as well as IOP committees in Luxembourg and the USA, further strengthened the foundation for growth.
GREAT CONCLUSIONS – APRIL 27, 2018
A showcase meeting brought together local leaders, farmers, SUA researchers, and community representatives. Key outcomes included:
- A shared commitment to be ambassadors for Farm for the Future.
- Adoption of the vision and slogan: “Empowering People.”
- Support for selling shares in FFF to strengthen local ownership.
- Strong endorsement of the idea of a Children’s Farm, with future potential for secondary school youth and unemployed graduates.
- Agreement on splitting FFF into two arms:
- Recognition of FFF as a model farm for the region, a place where farmers can learn modern, sustainable practices.
- Commitment to bi-annual community meetings and the creation of an Advisory Board with key stakeholders like SAGCOT, RC, DC, and Berit Skaare.
TODAY
What began as an orphan program has grown into a powerful engine for agricultural transformation and community empowerment. Farm for the Future continues to expand its role as a model farm, training hub, and catalyst for inclusive growth in Iringa, Tanzania.