tanzania agriculture productivity program (tapp) quarterly...
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TANZANIA AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTIVITY PROGRAM (TAPP)
QUARTERLY REPORT # 8
July - September 2011
This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID). It was prepared by Fintrac Inc. under contract
EDH-I-07-05-00007-00 with USAID/Tanzania.
Fintrac Inc.
www.fintrac.com
US Virgin Islands
3077 Kronprindsens Gade 72
St. Thomas, USVI 00802
Tel: (340) 776-7600
Fax: (340) 776-7601
Washington, D.C.
1436 U Street NW, Suite 303
Washington, D.C.20009USA
Tel: (202) 462-8475
Fax: (202) 462-8478
Tanzania Agriculture Productivity Program (TAPP)
Plot No. 86, Block “KK” Olorien
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 27 254 5325
Email: [email protected]
Cover photo: Female farmers transporting harvested beans to a cool store in Kilimanjaro. Photo by Fintrac
Inc./Antonia Coello
Back cover photo: Proud farmer from the Upendo Women’ Group in Mlandizi who receives training from USAID-
TAPP to improve the productivity of her vegetable crops. Photo by Fintrac Inc./Kimberly Flowers
TANZANIA AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTIVITY PROGRAM (TAPP)
QUARTERLY REPORT # 8
July - September 2011 The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States
Agency for International Development or the United States Government.
CONTENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................... 5
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 6
Project Description ................................................................................................... 6
Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................. 6
1. PRODUCTIVITY .................................................................................................. 7
1.1 Trainings ............................................................................................................. 7
1.2 Technologies ....................................................................................................... 8
1.3 Crops ................................................................................................................. 9
2. MARKET AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT ........................................................ 10
2.1 Fresh ................................................................................................................ 10
2.2 Processed ......................................................................................................... 11
2.3 Export .............................................................................................................. 11
2.4 Domestic .......................................................................................................... 12
3. OTHER CROSSCUTTING THEMES ................................................................ 13
3.1 HIV/AIDS .......................................................................................................... 13
3.2 Gender Issues & Youth ...................................................................................... 14
4. PARTNERSHIPS AND CAPACITY BUILDING .............................................. 15
4.1 TAHA ............................................................................................................... 15
4.2 New Partnerships .............................................................................................. 16
Biovision Africa Trust (BAT) .............................................................................................................. 16
Zanzibar Mental Health Hospital Garden ........................................................................................ 16
4.3 Capacity Building ............................................................................................... 16
UWAMWIMA General Elections ...................................................................................................... 16
Blue Rhino Consult Ltd.’s assessment of USAID-TAPP Partners........................................................... 17
ANNEX I: PERFORMANCE AGAINST PMP INDICATORS .............................. 18
ANNEX II: PARTNERS .......................................................................................... 21
ANNEX III: SUCCESS STORIES........................................................................... 22
Tanzania Agriculture Productivity Program, EDH-I-07-05-00007-00
USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
USAID-TAPP is working to increase smallholder income, improve nutrition and expand markets. Life
of project achievements include:
Productivity
To date, USAID-TAPP has worked with 10,788 smallholder beneficiaries across Tanzania
and the Isles of Zanzibar.
The average USAID-TAPP beneficiary is earning $2,297 a year in profits (gross margin) from
growing nutritious horticultural crops.
4,812 hectares of smallholder farmland are now being operated using improved technologies
thanks to trainings and technical assistance provided by USAID-TAPP.
Farmers working in the program who established low-cost greenhouses made nearly one
million Tshs (or US$585) from their first month of tomato harvest alone.
Nearly 60,000 participants have benefitted from USAID-TAPP sponsored trainings on
agricultural sector productivity training, health, nutrition and business management.
Market and Trade Development
The TAHA/TAPP Market Information System is providing up-to-date price information to an
average of 188 farmers and buyers a month.
6 new value-added products have been introduced to smallholder farmers including high-
value vanilla and organic spices.
Project partner TAHA Fresh is now providing ground-trucking services to Tanzanian
growers- expanding the availability of cool chain services in the country.
Crosscutting Themes
Over 26,000 people have participated in trainings on HIV/AIDS education and prevention
sponsored by USAID-TAPP.
Two associations of people living with HIV/AIDS are now providing agricultural support and
services to their members for the first time with assistance from USAID-TAPP.
More than 650 individuals are benefiting from home and community gardens established by
the project.
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6 USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
INTRODUCTION
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Tanzania Agricultural Productivity Program (TAPP) is increasing smallholder farmer
incomes through enhanced productivity and improved domestic and export marketing of
agricultural products. It is a five-year program supported by the American people through
the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The overall goal of USAID-TAPP is to raise rural incomes, improve nutrition and expand
markets. The program will benefit 19,000 rural families by effectively transferring technology
and business skills to farmers, attaining sustainable increases in rural incomes, and enhancing
institutional capacity in the public and private sectors. Efforts to address the impact of
HIV/AIDS in rural communities are integrated into activities and there is a strong emphasis
on encouraging women and youth to better understand the potential of horticulture as a
business. The principles of good agricultural practices (GAPs) guide all cropping programs to
ensure that the environment will be protected and enhanced.
Photo by Fintrac Inc.
Farmers in Arusha receive training on how to use seed trays, an easy and affordable way to ensure the
right amounts of soil and water are used during seedling production.
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USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011 7
1. PRODUCTIVITY
This quarter, USAID-TAPP staff trained over 14,000 participants on topics relating to
income generation, health and nutrition and improved markets in Tanzania and the Isles of
Zanzibar.
For the second year in a row, USAID-TAPP highlighted its smallholder-driven technology
package at the Nane Nane agricultural show. Nane Nane (Eight Eight) is a Tanzanian
farmers’ holiday. In conjunction with the holiday, agricultural and livestock exhibitions are
held every August in major towns throughout Tanzania. USAID-TAPP developed a
demonstration plot on the Nane Nane fair
grounds in Arusha and Morogoro where
they displayed technologies such as drip
irrigation, proper plant spacing, and sack
gardens.
The USAID-TAPP plots in Arusha and
Morogoro created a lot of excitement
among visiting farmers and stakeholders; so
much so that the Tanzania Agricultural
Society (TASO) awarded the project first
prize in the “Technology Development
Transfer” category for the Arusha plot.
The Arusha Regional Commissioner, Mr.
Isdory Shirima, visited the USAID-TAPP
demonstration plot and commented on the applicability of drip irrigation and the other
technologies shown for small Tanzanian
farmers.
1.1 TRAININGS
Record keeping has been a focus of trainings on Zanzibar with assistance provided to eight
farmer groups in Fuoni, Mfenesini, Kianga, Kisakasaka, Dimani, Unguja Ukuu and Meli Nne
villages on how they should record activities, expenditures and sales. USAID-TAPP
developed its own record keeping book and distributed it to participating farmers so that
they can better record their planting activities and costs of production. USAID-TAPP
partners and staff will assist farmers in analyzing the data kept in their record books so that
they can better realize the profits they are making from their production activities.
In August, 262 farmers from Arusha Region were trained on land preparation, seedling
production and proper transplanting practices. Farmers from Mbyuni, Migungani Mbuyuni,
Oloigerruno and Kipande villages were trained on proper spacing, starter solution, raised
beds, live barriers, drench fertilizers, hybrid seeds and proper weed control. A
demonstration plot was established in each of the four villages to reinforce the training.
Demonstration plots remain the key focus of our training program and at the time of
writing, the project and its partners have established 169 demonstration plots throughout
Tanzania. The agricultural techniques promoted on these plots include the use of drip
Photos by Fintrac Inc.
USAID-TAPP staff members accept first place trophy in
“Technology Development Transfer” for their drip irrigation
demonstration plot in Arusha.
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8 USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
irrigation, carrot and onion sowing techniques, MoneyMaker pumps, organic spice
production and mango tree pruning, amongst others.
Five new technical manuals and bulletins were prepared in this quarter to support USAID-
TAPP extension activities at the Nane Nane shows in Arusha and Morogoro. The technical
manuals provide instructions on sack garden preparations, community nutrition, nursery
management, compost manure preparations and factors affecting plant growth. All
publications are translated in Swahili and form a key component of USAID-TAPP extension
activities with rural communities.
1.2 TECHNOLOGIES
USAID-TAPP staff attended a workshop in Arusha on agronomy which included a visit to
Rijk Zwaan Afrisem, a leader in breeding vegetable varieties (tomato, African eggplant, and
Chinese pepper) who is also working on producing reliable and affordable seeds for the
Tanzanian agriculture sector. USAID-TAPP staff were able to learn about up-and-coming
varieties of hybrid seeds that they will be able to introduce to their producer groups to
significantly increase yields.
USAID-TAPP has also been collaborating with Rijk Zwaan in Tanzania on its low-cost
greenhouse production program. Rijk Zwaan has given high-quality seedlings to some
USAID-TAPP smallholder farmers who are using greenhouses. This collaboration speaks to
the strengths of USAID-TAPP’s greenhouse program since Rijk Zwaan traditionally only
provided these seedlings to larger, commercial greenhouses.
The greenhouse program continues to expand with construction of two new greenhouses
in the villages of Yoghoi and Magamba in Lushoto. A 52 meter long greenhouse in Yoghoi
village will be handed over to 25 members (12 male and 13 female) of the Yoghoi Youth
Group who will primarily be growing tomatoes. The other 52 meter greenhouse in
Magamba village will be used by a lead client and a producer group that will also grow
tomatoes. Farmers in the Lushoto district have been quick to adopt greenhouse
technologies and Malindi and Kwekangaga villages have been identified for future
greenhouses.
Harvesting of the first crops
in the greenhouses has
begun and levels of
production have been high. Marurani and Miwaleni
greenhouses started
harvesting first. From the
third week of August, 1,902
kilograms of tomatoes were
harvested from Marurani
greenhouse and 1,205
kilograms were harvested
from Miwaleni. There is a
purchasing agreement with
a local retailer for the
Marurani greenhouse, who
Farmers working in the
program who established
low-cost greenhouses
made nearly one million
Tshs (or US$585) from
their first month of
tomato harvest alone.
Photo by Fintrac Inc.
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USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011 9
buys the tomatoes at 500 TSh. per kilogram. The greenhouse has made 951,000 TSh. thus
far and there are still several months left in the harvest season.
USAID-TAPP recognizes the opportunity and potential that low-cost greenhouses present
to smallholder farmers in Tanzania. In order to fully take advantage of this opportunity, the
project hired full-time greenhouse specialist Boniface Daniel. Boniface will provide weekly
support to all the greenhouse growers who participate in the USAID-TAPP project until
they reach a point where they can graduate from the program.
1.3 CROPS
Vanilla is a crop of rising importance in the international market due to increased demand.
Thanks to efforts made by USAID-
TAPP this month, hundreds of
smallholder farmers will soon benefit
from their integration into the vanilla
production value chain. A cooperation
agreement was facilitated between
two vanilla producing organizations -
the Kilimanjaro Vanilla Growers
Cooperative Society (CHAWAVAKI -
Chama Cha Wakulima wa Vanilla
Kilimanjaro) and the Farmers’
Development Association (MAYAWA-
Maendeleo ya Wakulima) in Bukoba,
Kagera Region. This partnership will
see over 98,000 kgs of vanilla being processed and sold over the next five years by 530
smallholder farmers.
Carrots are a key crop in many of districts where USAID-TAPP works and the project has
been working hard to introduce improved production practices around this commodity. In
the last few months, the hard work has started to pay off. A recently completed carrot trial
in Oldonyosambu, Arusha Region placed the project’s basic practices squarely aga inst the
traditional way of growing carrots. The USAID-TAPP technology package included raised
beds, drip irrigation, planting in multiple rows per bed and the use of plastic sheeting to
improve the germination process. Local practices did not include any of these basic
technologies. Comments were made at the beginning that a lot of space had been wasted on
the USAID-TAPP plot since crosp were only planted on beds. One result of this planting practice was that the USAID-TAPP plot used less seed (150 grams rather than the 250
grams used on the normal plot).
When it came to harvest, the results spoke for themselves. The plot with local practices
yielded 4.5 bags (each bag weighing about 80 kilograms), of which one bag was ‘grade 1’
carrots, three bags ‘grade 2’ carrots and half a bag were unusable. Meanwhile, the USAID-
TAPP plot yielded eight bags, of which five bags were ‘grade 1’, three bags were ‘grade 2’,
and rejects were negligible. Harvesting was also easier on the beds and overall water usage
was far less. When it came to sales, the 250m2 USAID-TAPP plot made 210,000 TSh.
compared to the local plot of equal area which made 90,000 TSh.
TAPP will help
integrate 530
smallholder
farmers into
the high-value
vanilla value
chain.
Photo by Fintrac
Inc.
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10 USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
Maize is not a crop normally reported on in a horticultural project. Nevertheless, one of
USAID-TAPP’s farmers has had great success by applying one of the core practices from the
project’s horticultural extension package to his maize crop. Proper plant spacing is key for
optimal vegetable production; it also works with maize. USAID-TAPP agronomists
encouraged a farmer in Chekereni village, Kilimanjaro region, to practice crop rotation by
planting maize to give his soil a break from only vegetables. In making this recommendation,
the agronomists also recommended that the farmer plant the maize in rows using a spacing
of 15 centimeters by 75 centimeters. The results were impressive; the farmer increased his
yields from five bags an acre to 20 bags an acre and made a good profit due to increased
market prices after a poor production year in northern Tanzania.
2. MARKET AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT
2.1 FRESH
Cool storage facilities constructed by USAID-TAPP are helping to minimize postharvest
losses throughout Tanzania. USAID Interim Mission Director Karen Turner recently visited cool storage facilities at Mkunazini in Stone Town, Zanzibar, where she was shown how
farmers are now able to store produce for up to three days before taking it to market,
minimizing losses and streamlining harvest to market efforts. Ms. Turner was impressed with
how low-cost charcoal cool-stores constructed for client farms In Meli Nne and Fuoni
enable the farmers to keep harvested produce cool and fresh on-site before being taken to
market the following morning.
As mentioned above, the USAID-TAPP greenhouse program is up and running. The first
harvests began over six weeks ago and already the greenhouses have produced impressive
volumes. In full production, the greenhouses can produce 300 kilograms of tomatoes per
week from a 308m2 greenhouse. For a greenhouse to be profitable, it is imperative that the
vegetables grown are high quality and that they all sell. Market linkages are fundamental to
success and USAID-TAPP stresses the importance of establishing buyer commitments long
before the first harvest. The project assisted in linking the greenhouses in Arusha and
Kilimanjaro Regions with Rotian, a fresh produce distribution company that supplies
Shoprite in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, lodges and hotels in Northern Tanzania, and the high-
end community in Arusha town. For the greenhouses in Lushuto, the farmers’ association,
Usambara Lishe Trust, agreed to buy all the coloured peppers and tomatoes to supply their
markets in Dar es Salaam. USAID-TAPP agronomists are also developing other market
outlets so there is not an over-reliance on one buyer.
Arusha Blooms, one of USAID-TAPP’s clients, is an ex-flower farm that has turned to
vegetables and other diversified activities. As part of their activities under the partner Fund
agreement, Arusha Blooms rehabilitated some of their metal greenhouses for the
production of high value crops. In this quarter, they began supplying melons, coloured
peppers, tomatoes, cucumber and eggplant to traders who supply high end outlets such as
hotels in the Arusha region. The company is also in the process of negotiating with the Dar
es Salaam Corridor Ships Chandelling Ltd to give access to the Dar es Salaam markets.
USAID-TAPP has worked with VSO to strengthen the capacity of the farmers’ association, UWAMWIMA, in Zanzibar. Due to internal conflicts that surfaced late last year, association
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USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011 11
farmers had halted deliveries to the hub in Stone Town, resulting in a shutdown of the
supply of fresh produce to the hotels involved. USAID-TAPP conducted group leadership
training which helped stimulate an internal decision to hold general elections in August.
With a new executive board in place, farmer confidence was restored and the delivery of
fresh produce was renewed. In August, over 800,000 TSh. were sold to the hub by the
farmers. A fresh produce distributer from Arusha approached the USAID-TAPP project for
a linkage with UWAMWIMA. He wanted to negotiate an agreement whereby he could use
the facility on a fee-paying basis to allow him access to the Zanzibar market.
2.2 PROCESSED
USAID-TAPP partner Golden Food Products has undertaken activities to bolster its capacity
for drying herbs and spices; for creating energy through biogas production; and for cold
storage of seasonal fruit in its Arusha-based jam making facility. In May, 2011, a key purchase
was made for perforated aluminum sheets to dramatically increase the drying capacity for
the cardamom harvest at the end of the year. Because no manufacturer produced aluminum
sheets in East Africa, the product had to be sourced from abroad. Although the commodity
has arrived at Mombasa port, it has languished for months without being released. These are
the challenges faced by companies in Tanzania who try to develop higher order processing
capabilities to add value beyond primary production. Fortunately, dryer screens from the
solar dryer funded by USAID-TAPP were suitable for use in the dryer so that Golden Food
Products can proceed to dry the cardamom harvest.
Procurement is underway on a pasteurizer and juice filling machine for Nature Ripe
Kilimanjaro. The project’s support of the company revolves around increasing their
processing capacity so that they can develop a larger supply base of smallholder farmers.
The objective is to get the machines installed and operational for the up-coming mango
season that starts in November and finishes in March. Nature Ripe uses mangoes grown on
their farm and also buys from smallholder farmer who have been trained by the company on
increased production. Once mangoes are received, they are turned into pulp and converted
into a number of products. With the help of USAID-TAPP, the company will add mango
juice to its product line.
2.3 EXPORT
In August, Arusha Blooms started consolidating all of Finlays’ produce from its Tanzanian
growers. Finlays’ (formerly known as
Homegrown) is a market leader in the
growing, purchase and export of fresh
produce from East Africa. Under the
present arrangement, the Finlay-
harvested produce is collected by
Arusha Blooms and brought to the farm
before being sent to Kenya for grading,
packing and shipment to Europe.
Previously, the Kenyan company used
its own truck to visit all its contract
farmers to collect produce; now it sub-
contracts this service to Arusha
Blooms, a sign of the trust that has
Under a new
agreement with
Finlay’s (formerly
Homegrown),
Arusha Blooms
will be responsible
for consolidating
produce in
Tanzania.
Photo by Fintrac Inc.
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12 USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
developed between the two companies. Arusha Blooms has quickly become Finlays’ most
important grower and business partner in Tanzania, despite only having recently entered the
export vegetable business. Export beans and baby corn were the first crops planted after
Arusha Blooms re-established itself with help from USAID-TAPP in 2010. Based on the
consistent supply of quality produce and a willingness to help Finlays’ with its Tanzanian
operations, there is likely to be further strengthening of the business ties between the two
companies. This is a development that will have significant benefits for the entire export
vegetable sector in Northern Tanzania and one that USAID-TAPP is excited to be part of.
Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) is also making moves to stay at the front of
developments in the export of fresh produce to Europe. Since 2009, when USAID-TAPP
first started, there have been many companies and farms that have begun exporting or
producing vegetables for export. Entities such as Home Veg, Arusha Blooms, Floresta, and
East African Growers have worked with large numbers of smallholder farmer groups to
grow crops such as fine beans, peas, baby corn and hot peppers for buyers in Europe. The
recent diversification of the sector is thought to have led to increases in export volumes but hard data is not readily available. This is a real challenge for TAHA and its partners as they
plan on how to best support future growth of the sector. When, for example, are volumes
forecasted to reach levels that can sustain regular air freight flights out of Kilimanjaro
airport again? Before these volumes are reached, TAHA will want to lobby the government,
airport management and growers to ensure that JRO becomes the preferred option for
exporters out of northern Tanzania. To obtain data on which strategic plans can be made,
TAHA (with assistance from USAID-TAPP) has begun collecting information on export
volumes from exporters. They are acquiring weekly records from the last three years and
are also setting up a collection system that will facilitate the continued collection of this vital
information. Firms were initially a little hesitant in giving this information, but TAHA has
used its central position in the sector to convince the stakeholders of the importance of this
data to the continued growth of the fresh produce export sector.
With assistance from USAID-TAPP, Project partner Africado is completing its second
harvest season since establishment of operations of their farm and out-grower program in
Western Kilimanjaro. As with the first harvest, the yields this year have not yet reached a
level that can sustain a large supply contract with buyers in Europe. For this reason,
avocados are being sold to a large exporter of avocados in Kenya. It normally takes avocado
trees four years to reach full production. With mature trees and an ever expanding out-
grower program, Africado anticipates to be exporting directly to Europe in the next year or
two. The out-grower program has expanded significantly under the support of USAID-
TAPP. Africado had 81 out-growers before USAID-TAPP began its assistance in 2010. By
August this year, there were 438 smallholder farmers with around 14,000 trees planted.
2.4 DOMESTIC
USAID-TAPP, in collaboration with TAHA, conducted a five day market and information
focus group survey to collect feedback from farmers who have been receiving short
message services (SMS) from TAHA on market prices of fresh produce. On a weekly basis,
TAHA compiles and sends market price information to its members (famers and
stakeholders) to inform them of price trends at various markets in Tanzania and Kenya. The
survey interviewed 50 farmers from villages in Kilimanjaro and Tanga, captured the
usefulness of the market information being provided, and assessed whether farmers would
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USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011 13
be willing to contribute to the costs of the service. A report of the findings will be made
available in the near future.
During the survey, one farmer in Malindi village, Lushoto district, shared how he was already
using the market price SMS to make money. In addition to using the wholesale price
information from Kariakoo market in Dar es Salaam to negotiate with the traders who buy
for that market, he also compares prices between Dar es Salaam and Lushoto and gets the
transporters to bring back produce with a high price differential that he can sell at a profit.
Match Maker Associates (MMA) submitted the Tanzania Fresh Service Network (TFSN)
feasibility study to USAID-TAPP and TAHA this month. The vision for TSFN is that it will
create market linkages, infrastructure and services connections between production areas
(initially those serviced by USAID-TAPP such as Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Pwani regions
and Zanzibar Isles) and market centres such as Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. The network
would also be able to offer logistical services for exports to airports (and eventually ports)
in Tanzania or Kenya. Match Maker Associates concentrated on six ‘entry points’ as outlined in the last quarterly report. The next step is to hold a series of stakeholder meetings to
bring private enterprises and donors together to develop a road map for the development
of the network.
3. OTHER CROSSCUTTING THEMES
3.1 HIV/AIDS
Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS education and prevention activities continues to be a focal point of
the USAID-TAPP program this quarter. In the Coast Region, a three day training session
was held in conjunction with program partner, UMATI. The trainings targeted small-scale
farmers in two districts (Kibaha and Mkuranga) and a total of 25 farmer groups totalling 370
participants (140 male, 230 female) were reached with HIV/AIDS mainstreaming messages.
The training covered several issues including defining HIV and AIDS, prevention, common
myths and misconceptions, stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS, and prevention of
mother to child transmission.
In Arusha, there was an integrated series of trainings for 169 farmers on nutrition, food
security and income generation. The participants in the training were from the Patandi
Farmer Group and showed particular interest in the sack gardens, in part because many of
the group’s members are involved of the Village Care Initiative. This initiative trains
OVC/PLHIV caregivers to equip them to support OVCs and other people in need in their
village. The farmer group has requested that the training on sack gardens is given to all the
trainers of the Tengeru Village Care Initiative.
USAID-TAPP also assisted Zanzibar Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (ZAPHA+)
in conducting a Training of Trainers (ToT) for two ZAPHA+’s farmer groups. The ToT
session was given to 50 members from Mahonda village. Training topics included cropping
plans, nursery establishment, land preparation, tomato transplanting techniques and other
good tomato production practices. This has been an exciting quarter for ZAPHA+ with the
establishment of their entrepreneur plots that use the latest drip irrigation technology. The one acre plots are divided into two, with half being used in the same way as USAID-TAPP’s
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14 USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
Positive Kitchen Gardens, growing a mix of nutritionally rich vegetables, root crops and
legumes. The other half of the plots will be used to grow crops for market production and
income generation. These plots are the first from USAID-TAPP to receive one acre of
pressurized drip under a new initiative that will see a number of these systems installed
across the country.
3.2 GENDER ISSUES & YOUTH
The partnership between USAID-TAPP and AVRDC to train youth in market-orientated
vegetable production is now entering its second year. Youth have been trained in four
villages (Manyata Lake Tatu, Mikungani, Uwiro and Olkungwadu) and are producing crops
that are sold to local vendors. They are also growing fine beans for exports. Support from
AVRDC has not just been of an agronomic nature, as they also work with youth on group
dynamics and responsibilities. One area that will need further emphasis is record keeping,
which is something the groups have struggled to do well.
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USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011 15
4. PARTNERSHIPS AND CAPACITY BUILDING
4.1 TAHA
TAHA recently hired Ms. Cyrila Mlay as its new Market and Information Officer. Cyrila has
strong IT and project management skills and is a great fit for the exciting new developments
under this department. Market price data for the TAHA-TAPP market information and
price reporting system was previously gathered by a subcontractor. In order to save costs
and bring these skills in-house, TAHA will now be managing the system of market
enumerators reporting wholesale prices from 13 markets three times a week on 12
horticultural commodities. TAHA also has taken on the job of collating, analyzing and
disseminating the information through SMS to various stakeholders. This information will
continue to be used in monthly market price bulletins. Ms. Mlay will also be intimately
involved with the renovation of TAHA’s web-site and the up-grading of the market
information system. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Felix Maganjila, Freddy
Mumbuli and Mary Haule from RENTC for all the hard work that they have put in to get
this initiative off the ground.
Steffen Krueger, Fintrac’s Contracts & Grants Manager, conducted a participatory capacity
assessment of TAHA earlier this quarter. This assessment was undertaken to help guide
USAID-TAPP in preparing TAHA’s Year 3 Partner Award agreement but also for use by
TAHA as it reviews its organizational structure, operational systems and objectives. The
assessment focused on four areas: strategic management; financial management; human
resource management; and service delivery. Using a total of 65 indicators that were
assessed through various stakeholder interviews and meetings, the findings reported that
TAHA could be considered an association in the consolidating phase of its development.
This is encouraging as it shows that TAHA has largely passed through the start-up and
developing phases of its growth, and is well on its way to attaining the functionality of a
mature association.
The revolving credit fund for inputs that was set up by USAID-TAPP through Financial Crisis
Initiative funds has given new life to a flower farm. Tanzania Roses was the first recipient of
a loan from this fund and the farm’s managers, East African Growers, have made some
impressive gains. The farm went from teetering on the brink of bankruptcy to employing 67
permanent staff and 173 part-time staff. Rose production has gone from 0 stems to over
1,000,000 per month. From January to June, 2011, 5.3 million stems were exported at a
value of over 734 million TSh. The company has also diversified into vegetables. It is growing
local market vegetables on the farm and has also started an outgrower program for fine
beans with smallholder farmers in the surrounding areas. October, 2011 represents the
start of the repayment of the loan and the Tanzanian Agricultural Development Fund
committee, which manages the fund, is making preparations for future disbursements but
also looking for financial partners to help diversify the financial products that can be offered
to the sector by the fund.
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16 USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
4.2 NEW PARTNERSHIPS
Biovision Africa Trust (BAT)
This quarter USAID-TAPP begin its partnership with
Biovision Africa Trust (BAT) to produce a Swahili
language farmers’ magazine titled “Mkulima Mbunifu”. Biovision is a Swiss foundation for sustainable
development that funds The Organic Farmer (TOF) in
Kenya. TOF is principally known by the magazine it
produces by the same name, which has a strong following
among farmers due to its informative, visual presentation
of practical information. The organization also has a radio
show and extension service to disseminate information.
The key to the success of TOF is the importance it
places on getting the magazine into farmers’ hands. It
manages extensive networks, using a multitude of
partners, to ensure delivery of the monthly magazine.
USAID-TAPP looks forward to taking advantage of this
network to broaden the information on agricultural
production provided to smallholders.
“Mkulima Mbunifu” or “Innovative Farmer” is a magazine specifically for the Tanzanian
smallholder farmer. The first edition of 5,000 copies was launched at the Arusha Nane Nane
fair; Arusha’s regional commissioner attended the launch event. The magazine will run
articles appropriate for the time of year and that follow the cropping seasons. The Market
Information Bulletin produced monthly by TAHA will also be included in the magazine to
broaden the availability of this information to further smallholders around Tanzania.
Zanzibar Mental Health Hospital Garden
In August, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between USAID-TAPP and Barclays
Bank to help fund an agricultural program at the Mental Health Hospital. The joint effort
allows for the construction of vegetable gardens onsite that will provide highly nutritious
vegetables for the hospital kitchen and excellent occupational therapy for patients who will
learn how to work the gardens and care for the plants. Additionally, a formal nursery will
be established at the hospital for the provision of fruit tree seedlings. Under the agreement,
Barclays Bank Tanzania will donate 4 million TSh while USAID-TAPP will provide training
and technical support to hospital staff and patients.
4.3 CAPACITY BUILDING
UWAMWIMA General Elections
In August, USAID-TAPP and VSO supported the general elections of the executive
committee of UWAMWIMA, the farmer association on Zanzibar that is helping hundreds of
farmers with their production and marketing of fresh produce. UWAMWIMA is a farmers’
association established in 2004 with around 600 members on the isles of Zanzibar. These
farmers produce vegetables to sell through the UWAMWIMA market hub in Stone Town.
The “Innovative Farmer”
magazine was launched in August
2011 at the Arusha Nane Nane
fair.
.
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USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011 17
Prior to the election, it was decided that the delegate system would be used so that there
was fair representation of all the members from all of the districts of Unguja. There was also
representation from Pemba. In total, 100 members voted for the new executive committee.
The committee consists of a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, assistant secretary
and treasurer. The last general elections were held in 2007 and only two of the original
executive committee were still active. Earlier this year, USAID-TAPP asked its partner, Blue
Rhino Consult, to train the leadership of the association on operational and financial
management. One of the recommendations that came out of the training was that
UWAMWIMA needed to reorganize and strengthen its leadership and management
structures. During 2011, UWAMWIMA took steps to follow this recommendation which
led to the general elections in August. VSO and USAID-TAPP are now following this up by
training the new committee members and developing capabilities.
Blue Rhino Consult Ltd.’s assessment of USAID-TAPP Partners
Blue Rhino Consult (BRC) has been contracted by USAID-TAPP to provide broad support
to program partners by developing training materials and leading workshops on topics
covering financial and business management, value chain analysis and management, market
based farming, and credit management. In addition, BRC will also extend support to TAPP
program partners, especially USAID-TAPP primary counterpart TAHA, in the areas of
business planning, loan tracking system development, fundraising efforts, and monitoring of
credit programs. With the latter objective in mind, BRC began capacity assessments of four
USAID-TAPP’s partners this quarter. Golden Food Products, HomeVeg, Nature Ripe and
AMAGRO were all visited in September to assess management structures and business
planning. Recommendations on how USAID-TAPP can strengthen the functioning of these
partners are expected in BRC’s progress report due at the end of September 2011.
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18 USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
ANNEX I: PERFORMANCE AGAINST PMP
INDICATORS
FY 2011 Indicators Units
2011
Target
Achieved
to date Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Number of rural households
benefiting directly from USG
intervention
10,000 10,788 677 342 1,387 2,907 Rural
Households
Gross margin per hectar for
commodities targeted by
USG assistance*
1,309 2,297
2,297 $US
Percentage change in yield * 25 46
(36) Percent
Number of individuals who
have received USG
supported short-term
agricultural sector
productivity training
27,800 58,641 8,977 9,182 11,419 14,383 Individuals
Number of additional
hectares under improved
technologies or management
practices as a result of USG
assistance*
5,000 4,812
3,556 Hectares
Number of farmers,
processors and others who
have adopted new
technologies or management
practices as a result of USG
assistance*
10,000 9,009
9,009 Farmers
Value of new client and
counterpart investment 2.0 1.08 .28 .30
.40 US$ Million
Value of incremental sales
(collected at farm/firm level)
attributed to FTF*
3.09 2.49
2.49 US$ Million
Name of the Implementing Agency:
Fintrac, Inc.
Reporting Period:
Q8: July-September 2011
Local Address: USAID-TAPP
c/o TAHA P.O. Box 15035 House #49 Kanisa Road Arusha Tanzania
Home Office Address: Fintrac, Inc.
3077 Kronprindsens Gade 72 St Thomas, USVI 00802
Project Title:
Tanzania Agriculture Productivity Program
Target regions:
Arusha, Moshi/Hai, Lushoto, Morogoro, Coast and Zanzibar.
Cooperative Agreement/Contract #: EDH-I-07-05-00007-00
Sub-contract/sub-grantees: Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA)
TAHA Fresh Handling Ltd. (TFHL)
Period of Project: (Start and End Dates) October 19, 2009 – October 18, 2014
Related Program Area and Elements of the Operational Plan: 1. Agricultural Sector Productivity 2. Trade and Investment
Planned Life of the Project: $35,490,000
Amount Obligated to Date: $7,389,985
Pipeline: $28,100,015
Principal Target Beneficiaries:
Tanzanian Smallholder Farmers
Major Counterpart Organizations:
TAHA, Ministry of Agriculture
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USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011 19
FY 2011 Indicators Units
2011
Target
Achieved
to date Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
implementation
Number of new value-added
products introduced 6 6
6 Products
Number of users accessing
Market Information Systems 500 188
188 Users
Number of firms receiving
capacity-building assistance
to export
79 64
Firms
Number of producers’
organizations, water user
associations, trade and
business associations, and
CBOs that benefitted
directly in this reporting
year from USG assistance
400 435 51 20 43 105 Organizations/
Associations
Number of public-private
partnerships formed as a
result of USG assistance
35 23 5 1 5 1 PPPs
Number of organizations
undergoing capacity
assessments as a result of
USG assistance
435 458 56 21 28 106 Organizations
Number of policy reforms
supported 2 7
2 4 Reforms
Number of beneficiaries
with access to home or
community gardens 1,000 674
674 Beneficiaries
Percentage women/youth
membership in producer
organizations
55/25 47/35
47/35 Women/Youth
Number of certified farmers 200 238
238 Farmers
Number of the targeted
population reached with
individual and/or small
group-level HIV prevention
interventions that are based
on evidence and/or meet
the minimum standards
required
5,685 26,066 4,127 3,519 6,279 5,781 Training
Participants
Number of the targeted
population reached with
individual and/or small
group-level HIV prevention
interventions that are
primarily focused on
abstinence and/or being
faithful, and are based on
evidence and/or meet the
minimum standards required
1,325 6,283 2,049 2,999 175 1,060 Training
Participants
Number of eligible OVCs
provided with a minimum of
one CORE care service
1,000 440
440 OVCs
Number of vulnerable 502 426
426 Households
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20 USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
FY 2011 Indicators Units
2011
Target
Achieved
to date Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
households benefiting
directly from USG assistance
Number of baseline or
feasibility studies (FCI) 7 2 1
Studies
Number of institutions with
improved Management
Information Systems as a
result of USG assistance
(FCI)
1
Institutions
*denotes annual target
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ANNEX III: SUCCESS STORIES
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24 USAID-TAPP QUARTERLY REPORT #8 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
INSIDE BACK COVER Tanzania Agriculture
Productivity Program TAPP www.tanzania-agric.org