Highlights

Connecting the Dots; Building Market Linkages for Tanzanian Farmers

For a long time now the different players in the agricultural sector have been working in isolation. The farmer, trader, wholesaler, government and the development agencies have been working at cross purposes; this has greatly affected the efficiency of various value chains in Africa. The broken chain has led to many smallholder farmers not reaping the full benefits of their agricultural enterprise. Most have been exploited by middlemen who buy their produce at lower prices during off peak seasons and sell the same at exorbitant prices during peak seasons. 

This was until Farm Concern International under the Agri-Nutrition for Coffee Zone Programme in Tanzania funded by European Commission and HIVOs came up with an intervention to fill the gaps. The Programme aimed at bringing the different value chain actors together for full optimization of profit in the industry. The 3 year Programme targets 6,000 household farmers as direct beneficiaries in Meru, Arusha, Hai and Siha regions of Tanzania. This programme focuses on ensuring that farmers’ income increases and market linkages are created through input companies.

FCI held a market and trade forum that focused on unlocking market opportunities for smallholder farmers in Hai, Siha, Meru, and Arusha districts. The forum was conducted at Papa Motel at Bomang’ombe town in July 2014. The trade forum brought together market players including smallholder farmers, traders and buyers, input suppliers, non-governmental organizations, and the government.

The outcomes of this forum were amazing! The 572 smallholder farmers (142 Meru, 138 Arusha, 144 Siha and 148 Hai) who attended the forum had the opportunity to meet and market their products to the participating stakeholders. Smallholder farmers will now be able to access markets for the maize, beans, and millet value chains out of the trade linkages made during the forum. Two out of the major buyers; Monaban and Ivaeny Saccoss Lawate will be able to take up 4000 MT of maize, 5800 MT of beans and 2000 MT of millet.

Additionally, farmers will now have access to input supplies like seeds, fertilizers and farm equipment. Input supply companies including Kibo Seed Company and Suba Agro, which operate across the Arusha region and who attended the market forum indicated their willingness to partner with farmers to ensure that farmers get quality agro inputs and hybrid seeds.

Case Studies

Tanzania’s Mbuyuni market traders form trade group to improve their business

Traders are important partners to smallholder farmers. They often offer an important and cheaper outlet for farmers who want to dispense their produce rather than wait for the consumers to visit them. However, by operating individually, traders limit their opportunities towards business development in terms of capital growth, purchasing power and access to quality and required volumes..Read More