Sh4bn scheme set to lift farmers
A new United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) scheme will help Tanzanian farmers expand their access to markets and ultimately bolster their food security.
The agency said in a statement on Wednesday that the nearly $3 million (Sh3.9 billion) project, funded by Germany, aims to help Tanzania’s agricultural sector shift from subsistence to commercial farming.
Smallholder farmers will receive technical assistance in farm management and marketing. The scheme, which will also encourage them join producers’ groups, will have a training package in business management and marketing.
“If greater priority is given to good practices in both production and marketing, decision-makers at all levels in Tanzania will be better able to ensure that agriculture will respond to consumers’ ? and not just individual households? ? demands,” the statement reads in part.
The statement said training materials will be distributed and coaching and monitoring will also be part of the package designed to help smallholders grow beyond the subsistence level.
It adds that the project will provide the quality advisory services that can help smallholders improve agriculture productivity, marketing methods and, ultimately, income.
“A major effort will be made to set up farmer learning groups and, at a later stage, to increase contacts among farmers, and between farmers, banks and market outlets.”
Source: The Citizen