In the areas where Lyra is active, 90% of households are subsistence farmers with average land of 2 hectares per household. Over 80% of women in the VSL groups are farmers. Maize yields in Tanzania are 10% of those achieved in Europe. Many rural families face a hungry season, and cannot produce enough food for the family or surplus to sell.

For many members, the opportunity to save through VSLs changed their lives: they have bought more land, planted trees, bought better seeds and more fertilisers and seen their yields increase.

LAZARO'S STORY

"Agriculture is my main economic activity, farming maize and beans. I've been using my loans to buy modern seeds, fertilisers and agricultural chemicals. Through the VSL, I have improved my yield 5 times of what I was harvesting in 2011! I now harvest 500kg compared to 100kg before. I want to continue with the VSL and expand to other crops." – Lazaro Kalenga