Issue No. 18. April– June 2014 ADVOCACY ISSUES: 

Land for agriculture

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Agriculture financing

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Produce Cess

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Availability of agricultural input

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Agricultural crops insurance

“African agriculture should be about growing farmers, growing nations, creating wealth and

Exhibiting Agricultural Products / Services Agri-Hub Tanzania is a consortium of institutions / organizations with a stake in horticultural crops. Among its major activities is to promote farmer entrepreneurship skills. In this regard, the Hub organized an Agri-business Show on 25th to 26th April 2014 at the World Vegetable Centre, Tengeru, Arusha. TAHA was among key organizers. The event was a success story as it attracted over 500 people who are engaged in various enterprises related to agriculture: Farmers, traders, importers, exporters, wholesalers, retailers, business executives, and potential investors. The Agri-Hub is a platform or a market-place where stakeholders form linkages, learn from one another, exchange notes and experiences, offer updates, do business, develop joint ventures, and showcase their products and services. ACT was represented at this event.

managing poverty not just ”. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Exhibiting Agricultural Products / Services Farmers Mobilization Workshop

TAP’s Field Evaluation Exercise Post-Harvest Management Workshop Improving the milk industry

KILIMO KWANZA– AGRICULTURE FIRST

Some of the agri-business admirers eager to see and learn new technologies that cab be applicable in their own environment.

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Farmers Mobilization Workshop EAFF is implementing a project titled: “Strengthening Capacity of Eastern Africa Farmers Organization through Knowledge Management and Institutional Development”. The overall objective is to strengthen Farmer Organizations’ institutional development by supporting the development and integration of an efficient Knowledge Management and Learning – KM&L system in the organizations. This project seeks to promote sharing of knowledge and information among FOs focusing on the four pillars: The use of high technology in agricultural production is the answer to increased production.

i.

Membership satisfaction and commitment,

ii. Sustainable funding and professional management, iii. Viable and quality services to members, iv. Leadership and good governance.

“ We can win the battle of eradicating poverty and hunger. It is very possible to produce enough food for ourselves and have huge surplus for

For the past three years EAFF has conducted a series of training for potential trainers in its ten member countries. In Tanzania there are three FO members: ACT, TFC and Mviwata. ACT is focusing on 50 Nronga Women Dairy Cooperative Society members. The first training was held in last February in Moshi Municipality. The second round was in May. Since the first training, Nronga women have made vivid progress. 

The membership has increased by 23, i.e. from 420 to 443.

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More income from milk sale, Tsh. 550/= per litre, thus increased by 50/=.

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Increased individual shares in the organization, from Tsh. 25,000/= to 40,000/=.

export to the outside world, ’’Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, The President of Republic of Tanzania

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Yoghurt is among milk products that Nronga Women Cooperators produce and sell

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TAP’s Field Evaluation Exercise In April 2014 TAP officials visited Mbozi, Sumbawanga and Mpanda districts to evaluate the progress of partnerships activities. The emphasis was on assessing the impact of the “Farm inputs promotion activity, and how related innovations are implemented in the farmers’ fields”. The TAP team also attended two Farmers’ Field Day – FFD at Mwenge and Urwira villages. At such events, participants share knowledge and skills, they also exchange experiences. The FFDs attracted stakeholders from all works of life: inputs suppliers, financial institutions, officials from the public and private sectors and farmers. During the field days, participants are exposed to innovations, recommended approaches, results and challenges in the agricultural enterprises . Under TAP Programme, farmers are trained in modern farming techniques, post-harvesting storage, warehouse receipt system and agri-business skills. To-date, this programme has supported establishment of 3,426 demonstration plots of paddy and maize crops.

Enock Mkumbwa of Mbimba village, Mbozi district demonstrates his prime maize crop.

Post-Harvest Management Workshop

Improving the milk industry

Agricultural Non-State Actors Forum – ANSAF in collaboration with HELVETAS Swiss Intercoperation, organized a multi-stakeholders workshop to deliberate on Post Harvest Management of the main grain and pulses in Tanzania (the loss lingers between 30 and 40 percent). The workshop brought together participants from the public and private sectors, including policy makers and implementers, inputs suppliers, processors, transporters, researchers, development partners, and farmer organizations. ACT was represented at this workshop. Issues that emerged in the course of discussing challenges impeding our zeal to reduce post harvest loss, include: Existing policies and strategies do not address this issue adequately, existing data regarding post harvest lose is not reliable, research on post harvest management is under-funded and uncoordinated, and poor infrastructures for storage and haulage. Therefore, participants urged responsible instruments to look into ways and means of removing these obstacles. 3 ACT NEWS—ISSUE NO. 18

Close to the end of May 2014, Tanzania Milk Board in collaboration with several stakeholders observed a Milk Day at national level in Musoma. The main objective of this annual event is to sensitize the Tanzania community on the importance of milk in their diet, and encourage them to make this item part of their regular menu. Incidentally, the Milk Day in Tanzania coincides with the World Milk Day. The Musoma event was attended by milk producers, processors, traders, policy makers and administrators. Major activities during the milk week, included: display of hardware used in the milk industry, a visit to a milk processing plant, a symposium, and the stakeholders’ Annual General Meeting. This year’s theme is: Keep dairy cows, improve your income and nutrition – transform now. Khalid Ngassa presented ACT at this event.

ACT NEWS VISION 

OBJECTIVES

To be the leading private sector apex

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organization, pursuing the prosperity of

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To be the most effective sector

apex

organization

ACT’s

evidence–based

advocacy work on key policy issues agricultural sector.

all Tanzania agricultural stakeholders. 

MISSION

Strengthen

lobbying

and

impacting the

Strengthen ACT’s ability to develop and deliver organizational, technical and management capacity programmes and services to ACT members.

private pursuing

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Increase members awareness of ACT’s programmes, capacity building services, and financial resources, to

a modernized and commercialized agriculture in Tanzania

retain at least 85 percent of membership base by 2018. 

members, while doubling

Diversify financial resources enabling ACT to attain 20 percent budgetary sustainability by 2018.

Editorial Board 1.

Ms. Janet Bitegeko—Board Chair

2.

Mr. Mark Magila—Member

3.

Cleophas Rwechungura—Member

4.

Milly Sanga-Member

Wish to know more about ACT ? Please contact:

Executive Director

THIS IS TAP Tanzania Agricultural Partnership – TAP is an inclusive public-private-partnership, with partners at district, national and international levels. It started as a fertilizer fast track pilot project in 2006 in five districts. It was upgraded to a program in 2008, by expanding the area to 13 districts and since 2013 it has been operating in 29 districts, and responsibilities to include stimulating private sector investments and improving output market linkages. Major partners include: The Government of Tanzania, Norfund, YARA, AGRA, FIPS, CNFA/TAGMA, NMB, Bytrade, Minjingu Mines & Fertilizers, SUBA Agro and Tanseed International. TAP uses Value Chain approaches to enhance agricultural production and productivity and agri-businesses. It looks at the whole chain of commodities and provides the necessary support along the value chain. In collaboration with other partners, it facilitates accessibility of inputs (e.g. seeds, fertilizer, pesticides). TAP builds on existing structures and systems of other partners on the ground. The principle is to maximize utilization of local capacities, knowledge and resources. The ultimate goal is to improve technical skills and business practices of farmers, agro-dealers, and warehouse operators. TAP II (2014 – 2018) is expected to operate in 45 districts.

Agricultural Council of Tanzania P.O.Box 14130, Dar es Salaam

For details, contact: The National Coordinator Tanzania Agricultural Partnership P.O. Box 14130, Dar es Salaam

Tel. +255 22 2124851

Tel. +255 22 2128032 & +255 0 754 263 934

Fax +255 22 2128032

Email:

Email: [email protected] Website: www.actanzania.or.tz 4 ACT NEWS—ISSUE NO. 18

[email protected]

Website: www.tapartnership.or.tz

TAP is responsible to ACT Board of Directors