Nairobi: March 12, 2022 – AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution) has joined the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) as a Knowledge Partner. Launched at COP26, AIM for Climate is a UAE-US joint initiative which works to accelerate investments and support for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation.
At its first Ministerial Meeting in Dubai, AIM for Climate agreed a target of $8 billion from public and private-sector partners for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation by November 2022 at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).
As a Knowledge Partner of AIM for Climate, AGRA supports the objectives of the global initiative and intends to create opportunities to enhance African countries’ agricultural sector readiness for investments and support smallholder farmers adapt to the effects of climate change.
This engagement flowed from a meeting with Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who shared more about the AIM for Climate initiative, and its goal to catalyse solutions at the intersection of agriculture and climate. The UAE Minister met with AGRA President Dr. Agnes Kalibata and a delegation of Ministers and senior government leaders from Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda during the Agriculture, Food and Livelihoods Week hosted at the Expo 2020 Dubai.
Dr. Kalibata said commitments and action will be needed if smallholders are to adapt to the changing climate. “If no action is taken, climate impacts will lead to overall yield reductions of up to 30% by 2050, while extreme weather events will result in higher losses of post-harvest quality and quantity. AGRA is proud to join the AIM for Climate as a Knowledge Partner and to engage with other participants to seek to accelerate adoption of solutions through its Innovation Sprints,” Dr Kalibata said.
During the Expo, the AGRA President also discussed important opportunities with the World Bank, the Committee on World Food Security, EAT Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Nourishing Africa to support African countries in financing their transitions to more sustainable food systems in the follow-up from the Food Systems Summit.
“Our aim at AGRA is to work closely with African governments to help them access platforms for mobilising resources to push their commitment to transform their food systems forward and translate them into concrete strategies and action. This involves setting targets and reforms to be effected,” she added. “Together with our partners, AGRA is proud to launch the AGRF to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, in September 2022 to support building these implementation plans and bringing Africa’s voice together on food security and climate to COP27 in Egypt later this year”.
Ends…
About AGRA
Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security in 11 countries.More information: https://agra.org/| Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org|
With urgency growing to deliver on zero hunger, the summit will focus on innovative ways, bold actions and commitments towards the continental food security agenda.
Kigali, Rwanda, March 3, 2022— The AGRF, Africa’s premier forum for food and agriculture, has launched its 12th annual summit under the theme ‘Grow, Nourish and Reward – Bold Actions for Resilient Food Systems’ to be held in Kigali Rwanda from September 5 to 9, 2022.
This year’s summit will call for accelerated action by leaders, innovators, businesses, private institutions, civil society, and development agencies to put forward bold actions and unite efforts towards the continental food security agenda.
Recognizing the urgency to deliver on the Malabo commitments and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the AGRF 2022 summit will spotlight the ongoing efforts and country-led actions that can be scaled up towards food systems that deliver for the people, planet, and prosperity.
Speaking during the launch event, the Right Honourable Dr. Edouard Ngirente, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda reiterated Rwanda’s confidence in the AGRF 2022 to come up with a sustainable solution to the food system issue on the African continent.
“Rwanda is confident that the AGRF 2022 Summit will come up with concrete actions that can build sustainable and resilient food systems to feed nearly 256 million reportedly suffering from severe food insecurity on the African continent. Commodities such as beef, grain wheat, sugar, rice and soybeans that Africa has been importing, can be better produced on the continent if we implement the right policies.”
The Prime Minister of Rwanda welcomed delegates from across the continent and beyond to participate and contribute to the AGRF 2022 Summit.
The Summit will mobilize private and public investments, innovations, and country-based solutions and celebrate initiatives that are actionable and scalable in delivering food systems transformation.
H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the AGRF Chair said that while African leaders have shown commitment to support food systems transformation, collective action will be needed to accelerate progress and real change.
“No country is healthy unless food and livelihoods are healthy. Delivering for the planet, people, and prosperity will require collective efforts from all sectors. However, African governments should lead these efforts by prioritising and integrating policies that address multiple objectives including those that call for healthy and nutritious diets, decent income for the farmers and policies that address climate and other environmental fragilities.”
He added that as Africa builds back from the effects of the pandemic, leaders should ensure the pace lost in agriculture and food systems transformation is picked up to ensure the wholesome growth of people across the continent.
The AGRF 2022 Summit will be hosted by the Government of Rwanda and the AGRF Partner’s Group, the Summit comes at a pivotal time, a crossroads in Africa’s recovery and progress towards the deadline for zero hunger by 2030.
Some of the key highlights at this year’s AGRF 2022 Summit will include the Agribusiness Deal Room, a platform for connecting innovators with critically needed capital, the Presidential Summit, Farmers Forum, and a Youth Townhall.
The AGRF is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward. Under AGRF’s current strategy, the Forum is particularly focused on driving progress of the Malabo Declaration by 2025 as the priority set of commitments African Heads of State and Governments have made to strengthen agricultural development at the center of the continent’s overall development and progress. The AGRF is organised by the AGRF Partners Group, a coalition of institutions that care about Africa’s agriculture transformation. https://agrf.org/
About the AGRF Partner’s Group
The AGRF Partners Group is made up of 26 leading actors in African agriculture all focused on putting farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economies. Members include: African Development Bank (AfDB), African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), African Union Commission (AUC), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Bayer AG, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), CGIAR System Organization, Corteva Agriscience, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Government of Rwanda, Grow Africa (AUDA-NEPAD), Heifer International, IKEA Foundation, International Development Research Center (IDRC), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mastercard Foundation, OCP Group, Rockefeller Foundation, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), Syngenta Foundation, The Tony Blair Institute, UPL Limited, US Agency for International Development (USAID), Yara International ASA.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: March 2, 2022 – There is need to replicate the fast rate of technology adaptation in initiatives supported by the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) that is led by AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution) in Tanzania to enable more smallholder farmers move from survival to thriving.
Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who is also an AGRA Board Member, made the call at the end of a recent week-long whirlwind field tour of numerous PIATA initiatives across seven regions in Tanzania’s southern, western, and central zones.
Dr Kikwete said, “Areas with high adoption of technology like Katavi had more produce, more processors, and more robust market activities, leading to a clear sustainable path in the agriculture value chain”.
Implementation of PIATA between 2017 and 2021 using the consortia model that combined support from government, private sector and development partners, led to sustainable gains in the agriculture sector. Together with Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Anthony Mavunde and a cross-section of public sector, private sector and civil society actors, Dr Kikwete witnessed first-hand agricultural enterprises changing the face of the rural areas and regional townships.
The tour witnessed fast agriculture development, including agro-industrialization. While overcoming emerging challenges from the local, regional and global business environment, homegrown enterprises have made significant progress. They include farmers’ organizations, agro-dealers, aggregators, processors and innovative exporters, changing the way agriculture business is done in Tanzania.
The success of the PIATA initiative lies in stakeholders, including smallholder farmers organizations working together as consortia, whose collective efforts in selected areas provided more gains for all parties involved, rather than working individually. The success also highlighted the need to implement flagship projects, bringing together diverse consortiums to take agriculture to the next level.
AGRA, with other stakeholders, supported the government in developing Tanzania Agro-Industries Development Flagship (TAIDF) in 2020, characterized by promoting local agro-processing for the domestic and export markets.
PIATA’s consortium model involved a selected group of organizations and businesses working together to ensure critical components for agricultural transformation, including seed, fertilizer, agro-dealership, extension, markets, and agri-finance, work to benefit all in a locality.
Mr Mavunde, appreciated contribution of all stakeholders involved in the agriculture value chain making a difference to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers. He also thanked Dr Kikwete for his commitment and energy during the tour. He pledged the government’s commitment to address emerging challenges, working with the private sector and all stakeholders, to improve the business environment for more viable agriculture development, including growth of agro-industrialization.
The Deputy Minister called for the scaling up of the PIATA initiative to cover more regions, noting that the development partners’ support has led to more produce and improved livelihoods. PIATA’s partners include Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, United States Agency for International Development, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Mastercard Foundation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development were also key contributors.
During the implementation of PIATA, productivity (metric ton/hectare) of two key staples – maize and beans – increased by 230% (from an average of 1 metric tonne per hectare to 4 metric tonnes per hectare) and 100% (average of 0.7 metric tonne per hectare to 1.4 metric tonnes per hectare) respectively in Kigoma, Kagera, Katavi, and Rukwa regions, playing a role in cementing Tanzania’s status as the regional food powerhouse.
Ministry of Agriculture data shows that in 2020/21 Tanzania exported over 118,398 metric tonnes of maize, with Kenya as the primary market. In the same period, rice exports amounted to 232,909 metric tonnes, Uganda was the primary export market.
Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security in 11 countries.
Bank of America is investing $5 million (USD) in the Agri-Business Capital Fund (ABC Fund), becoming the first corporate global financial institution to invest in the Fund. Bank of America is also the first investor at the intermediate tranche level.
This investment comes as the Fund reaches a milestone deployment of more than 20 investments in nine countries improving the lives of thousands of farmers.
The Fund invests in smallholder farmers and small-to-medium sized agribusinesses in developing countries to support the development of sustainable value chains, job creation and better rural lives, in particular for youth and women. Its primary focus is on sub-Saharan Africa.
Luxembourg, 23 February 2022 – The Agri-Business Capital Fund (‘ABC Fund’) today announces that it has received its first investment from a corporate global financial institution, as Bank of America deploys $5 million (USD).
This landmark investment makes it a truly blended fund where public sector investments help attract commercial investors. This comes as the ABC Fund is getting strong momentum with a track record of improving rural livelihoods, creating jobs and strengthening farmers’ organisations and rural small-to medium sized enterprises.
So far, more than 20 investments have been made in nine countries – Benin, Bolivia Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Uganda. With more impact-yielding investments in the pipeline, it is expected that other private sector actors will follow suit.
The ABC Fund is a blended-finance impact fund investing in smallholder farmers and small-to-medium sized rural agribusinesses in developing countries to support sustainable and inclusive agricultural value chains. Through its activities, the ABC Fund aims to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers with a particular focus on women and young people.
The blended finance structure supports an investment from Bank of America at the intermediate tranche (B-shares). All previous investors invested in the first loss tranche (C-shares) which acts as a buffer to stimulate commercial investments. The capital structure of the fund is made of three tranches of different sizes, risk-return profiles and maturity going from A to C-shares.
The Fund was initiated by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in partnership with, and is currently funded by investments from, the European Union, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Luxembourg Government and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and IFAD. The IFAD investment was made possible thanks to financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Thouraya Triki, Chair of the Board of the ABC Fund said:“By bringing investments to promising and entrepreneurial agribusinesses and farmer’s cooperatives, the ABC Fund is not only building the sustainable value chains of today and tomorrow, but also making a real difference to the lives of thousands of rural families, women and young people. Bank of America’s backing shows how public and private sector capital can come together to deliver additional impact. This is a first-of-a-kind investment in the ABC Fund and we hope it to be the first of many.”
Dan Letendre, Managing Director, Environmental, Social and Governance, at Bank of America said: “The ABC Fund is unlocking capital to build a more sustainable agricultural sector and meet the needs of rural farmers. The Fund will help to address the impacts of climate change on rural farming as well as drive more innovation in the sector to help meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through this investment, Bank of America is supporting higher rural employment and access to inclusive business opportunities, and a more sustainable agribusiness today and for the future.”
Jean-Philippe de Schrevel, Founder and Managing Partner of Bamboo Capital Partners, commented:“We are delighted that Bank of America has come on board at this juncture. This reflects the successful execution of the ABC Fund’s investment strategy – especially against the backdrop of the pandemic. We are delighted with this first investment from an institutional investor – which further demonstrates the crucial role of private sector engagement, the blended finance approach and that strong impact and offering commercial investments opportunities, with an adequate risk-reward profile can go hand in hand.”
Jerry Parkes, CEO of Injaro Investments, commented: “This investment from Bank of America is a resounding endorsement of the ABC Fund’s blended finance model that seeks to crowd in private commercial capital to supplement the first-loss tranche provided by mission-driven impact investors. Most importantly, this additional capital enables the ABC Fund to support more rural agricultural SMEs and farmer cooperatives. We are thrilled with this development and look forward to welcoming more private commercial investors to join us on this journey.”
About the ABC Fund: The ABC Fund is a blended-finance impact fund which provides catalytic financing to underserved yet profitable segments of agribusiness value chains in developing countries. The ABC Fund deploys loans and equity investments in farmer organisations, rural SMEs and financial institutions. They have potential for high growth and job creation and can also drive social development for their own communities and countries, but they often lack the capital they need to grow their businesses. The ABC Fund is managed by Bamboo Capital Partners in partnership with Injaro as investment advisors and with technical assistance led by Agriterra.
About Bank of America At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. www.bankofamerica.com/environment
About Bamboo Capital Partners: Bamboo Capital Partners (“Bamboo”) is an impact investing platform which provides innovative financing solutions to catalyse lasting impact. Bamboo bridges the gap between seed and growth stage funding through a full suite of finance options – from debt to equity – which it activates unilaterally or through strategic partnerships. Founded in 2007 by Jean-Philippe de Schrevel, Bamboo aims to improve the lives of the world’s most marginalized communities while delivering strong financial returns. Since its inception, Bamboo has raised $450m and invested in over 30 developing countries. Its investees have positively impacted over 193 million lives and supported over 48,000 jobs, including 17,900 jobs for women. The firm has a team of 30 professionals active across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Bamboo also acts as the Asset Management arm of global impact firm Palladium, which operates in over 90 countries, following a strategic partnership in 2020. For more information, please visit www.bamboocp.com or follow @bamboocp.
About Injaro Investments:
Established in 2009 by Dadié Tayoraud and Jerry Parkes, Injaro Investments is a private capital investment firm with a long track record in impact investments in Africa. Injaro makes investments in debt, quasi-equity, and equity in African SMEs, deploying capital and solutions to create value for partners and investors. Injaro’s experience includes managing Injaro Agricultural Capital Holdings (“IACHL”), a US$49m impact investment fund focused on SME investments across the agricultural value chain in West Africa. Injaro’s investment portfolio has generated $107m of revenues and benefitted more than 3.7 million persons, mainly comprising smallholder farmers, low-income persons and their families. For more information, please visit www.injaroinvestments.com or follow @injaro on Twitter and Injaro Investments Limited on LinkedIn.
ABC Fund sponsors and partners:
The views in this press release are the sole responsibility of Bamboo Capital Partners and Injaro Investments. It does not reflect the views of the European Union, IFAD, SDC, the Government of Luxembourg, AGRA, the OACPS nor Bank of America. This document is for information and illustrative purposes only. This document is not intended as an offer or a recommendation or an invitation to purchase or sell financial instruments.
Competition runs until March 31, 2022, and is open to groups that have been operating in the agriculture sector for the last three years and whose members are aged between 18 and 35 years old.
The winning plan will be awarded the John Deere tractor (50 horsepower, 5050D TWD) to start the business.
Nairobi, Kenya 1 March 2022 – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), John Deere Africa Middle East, and Mascor have launched a business plan writing competition for youth SME groups in Kenya for a chance to win a tractor.
The competition runs until March 31, 2022 and is open to groups that have been operating in the agriculture sector for the last three years, and whose members are aged between 18 and 35 years old.
Each participating group will be required to write a business plan for running and managing a mechanisation service provision business. The winning plan will be awarded the John Deere tractor (50 horsepower, 5050D TWD) to start the business.
John Macharia, AGRA’s Kenya Country Manager said the competition will offer youth in the country an opportunity to start a business with a catalysing tool for agricultural development.
“We are supporting youth groups in Kenya to build a business from mechanising farming operations. Whereas it is vital for development of agriculture in Africa, we have the least mechanised solutions compared to the rest of the world. This has been driven by lack of tractors and implements where and when needed,” added Macharia said.
Despite early gains, the uptake of tractors in the region has not kept pace with demand. In 1960, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania had more tractors in use than India but by 2005 India had 100 times more tractors in use.
“Access to finance is probably the biggest obstacle to African smallholder farmers interested in adopting mechanised farming solutions to boost productivity. The profits they typically earn are insufficient to purchase tractors directly or even access a financing facility,” added Mr Macharia.
Mascor, the John Deere dealer in Kenya, will support the competition winner with Aftermarket services, parts and more.
The joint competition follows a recent partnership between AGRA and John Deere to support successful mechanisation service providers based on the John Deere S.M.A.R.T Model.
AGRA supports small and medium-sized enterprises in business skills and financial management for growth, whilst John Deere, through its dealer network offers support with training operators, technician development, after-sales services, and financing equipment through John Deere Financial.
With a rich history of more than 140 years in South Africa, John Deere is a trusted, world-renowned leader in producing turf, agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery solutions with state-of-the-art precision technology. With its continued focus to strengthen its presence throughout the Africa Middle East region (“AME”), John Deere AME serves its customers through more than 218 dealer touchpoints across Africa Middle East and support its Dealer Network with a Regional Parts Distribution center in South Africa as well as sales and marketing offices in South Africa and Kenya.
Committed to delivering a distinctive customer experience coupled with solutions-driven advice from its authorised dealer network and John Deere Financial Solutions, John Deere AME promotes food security while actively driving a successful and inclusive agricultural community whilst supporting the growth of Africa via its construction and forestry solutions.
With core values of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation, John Deere AME remains dedicated to the success of its customers, to those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, clothes, shelter and infrastructure.
Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyse and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.
Mascor is one of Africa’s leading suppliers of Agricultural Equipment.
Mascor has an established dealer network in Kenya and Uganda with unrevoked technical capacity and parts stock to provide a distinctive customer experience.
We are committed to offering our clients, the most professional service, workmanship, high standards and quality products. We believe in the importance of people and value creativity, innovation and enthusiasm. We are proud to be an independent company committed to growth. It is our goal to be recognised as the best in our field and more than that, to offer challenges and opportunities to all those dedicated to growing with us.
AT MASCOR, AFTER SALES SERVICE IS NOT A DEPARTMENT, IT IS A CULTURE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.
We employ more than 495 staff members and believe in the power of positive people. The company is a proud member of the Plennegy Group of agricultural companies.
With our feet planted firmly on the ground, Mascor continually strives to add value to the business of our customers and live true to our slogan of Operational Excellence.More information: https://www.mascorafrica.com/Kenya | www.facebook.com/Mascor.Kenya
DODOMA, Tanzania; February 19, 2022 – Farmers in Tanzania were able to sell TSh153 billion (US$66.3 million) worth of produce in structured markets between 2017 and 2021, with combined support from the government, private sector and development partners, according to a new book that was launched today.
The book, titled How Integration Enhances the Competitiveness of Agribusinesses and Smallholder Farming Systems: The Tanzania Case Study, showcases how different organisations, businesses and government agencies worked together in the approach known as the Consortia Model supporting farmers in Southern Highlands, Western Highlands and Northern Highlands of the country. This support included providing funding, strategic support, access to market and financing and linkages to inputs and output markets.
Speaking when he launched the book, Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who is also a Board Member at AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) said: “Over the years, we have learnt that supporting agricultural systems in isolation does not guarantee scale and sustainability. This Consortia Model evolved as we worked with the government, private sector and development partners, building synergies to unlock more value and drive farmers’ adoption of technologies to catalyze sustainable agribusiness relationships and delivery models”.
AGRA has invested US$8.7 million to support consortia working in the four regions. The initiative reached 720,819 farmers, who not only accessed structured markets but also yielded 12% more rice and fetched 47% higher factory gate prices for their higher quality maize. In addition to this, beans export sales increased from US$239,130 to US$19.5 million; with US$13.3 worth of fertilizer sold to participating farmers; and US$16 million worth of seed produced and sold by seed companies and agro-dealers.
“This book provides an opportunity for all the stakeholders to learn from one another and to provide feedback and accountability on the performance of agricultural investments,” said Education Minister Prof Adolf F. Mkenda, who previously held the agriculture docket.
AGRA has been supporting Tanzania’s agriculture sector since 2006 to develop crop varieties, train scientists and research infrastructure, strengthen extension services, provide market, and finance linkages, supporting agro-dealers and policy reforms.
Over the last four years, the integrated approach has proved that synergies between agricultural systems create more value, leading to the adoption of technologies at scale while creating sustainable agribusiness relationships, delivery models, and practices.
The book was produced with support from the government of the United Republic of Tanzania through the Ministry of Agriculture, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, IFAD, UK Aid and USAID.
“Our partners under the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) have been the engine behind our integrated delivery model within the agro-economic zones and across value chains. This partnership enabled us to leverage public and private investments to build sustainable systems that will transition agriculture from subsistence into a profitable enterprise,” said Prof. Jean Jacques M. Muhinda, AGRA’s Regional Head for East Africa.
Meanwhile, H.E Kikwete’s week-long tour of agriculture projects supported by AGRA and partners has drawn to a close. The President covered over 3,000 kilometres on the road, traversing seven out of 25 regions of mainland Tanzania, spread across the Southern, Western and Central parts of the country.
Together with the deputy minister of agriculture Anthony Mavude and a cross-section of the public sector, private sector and civil society actors, the former president witnessed first-hand agricultural enterprises that are changing the faces of the rural areas and regional townships.
“Tanzania, with smallholder farmers at the centre, can transcend gains made in agriculture and agro-industrialization into a formidable individual and national development vehicle that will translate into a fast-developing and prosperous nation for the majority of citizens,” H.E Kikwete noted.
-ENDS
About AGRA
Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.
Iringa, Tanzania: February 16, 2022 – Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA) lead Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) initiatives in Tanzania has increased agro-led industrialization-drive momentum. Agro-dealers, farmers organizations, aggregators and processors have increased uptake of their respective activities and production along the agriculture value chain, according to testimonies shared to former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, by agriculture stakeholders in the Iringa Region during the first day of his week-long tour to PIATA partnership initiatives.
Dr Kikwete hailed self-made entrepreneurs along the agriculture value chain, who started small and steadily grew into bigger and formidable enterprises serving thousands of farmers. He attested that it was the way to take homegrown processing into huge and competitive enterprises.
Dr Kikwete, an AGRA board member, is accompanied by Hon. Anthony Mavunde, Deputy Minister for Agriculture. AGRA Tanzania Country Manager Vianey Rweyendela is hosting the delegation, including stakeholders drawn from the private and public sectors. With them also is Agnes Asiimwe Konde, Vice President, Program Innovation & Delivery.
The President expressed his satisfaction with using funds provided by AGRA and partners in Tanzania for beefing up the agricultural sector. The funds were provided in agribusiness consortia model.
“AGRA goals are being met, especially in improving the conditions of smallholder farmers,” he posited.
The President expressed his joy to see input suppliers and processors who have been supported by AGRA in one way or the other, taking their businesses to the next level and, in turn, helping thousands of farmers to improve their livelihood.
The President had a conversation with Mrs Magreth Aidan Sanga, an agro-input dealer trading as Iwawa General Supplies based in Iringa town. The business lady told Dr Kikwete in a season, she serves about 10,000 farmers directly and many others through 10 Village-based Advisors (VBAs) and about 15 retailers spread across Iringa and Njombe in the Southern Highlands.
“Every year, the business has been growing. I have managed to increase and improve my distribution channels thanks to PIATA partnership, which has brought the new challenges of growth, especially the need for more capital to supply VBAs,” she noted. PIATA’s resource partners include Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF); Rockefeller Foundation (RF); United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Mastercard and IFAD were also key contributors.
Then the delegation visited Super Seki Investments, the largest fortified maize processor in the Southern Highlands, serving local and export markets. The firm’s CEO Ms. Rita Sekilovele, told Dr Kikwete, the firm has grown from humble roots, where she used to grind maize into flour and sell in “debes’- 20 kg tin container. “Today Super Seki buys maize from over 5000 smallholder farmers in a season, we provide them with inputs,” she said. PAITA partnership has been instrumental in providing farmers education and capacitating her to expand her warehouse. “ I have opened a branch in Ruvuma,” she said.
President Kikwete commended the growth of the business but added it was paramount for the factory to become more modernized and acquire state-of-art-plant to grow into the next level.
The delegation then visited Green Valley Agro (GVA), GBRI Solution and Agriedo, where the firm’s CEO Hadija Jabiri, had the opportunity to brief Dr Kikwete about their activities along the agricuture value chain. The firms have been working closely with the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), vital in PIATA partnerships in Tanzania.
GVA is producing hybrid seeds (tomato) that are exported to Europe. According to Hadija her firms revolutionized how agriculture business is done and provided education to smallholder farmers around their farm on transforming their farming activities into modern enterprises.
The delegation also visited Silverlands Tanzania, one of the most remarkable farms in the southern highlands, which is involved in the multiplication of maize, sunflower, and potato seeds but at the same time focus on poultry, poultry feed, day-old chick and livestock. In the implementation of PIATA AGRA had partnered with Silverlands to provide aggregator and off-taker services to smallholder farmers.
Johnson Mhavile, informed the President the farm has come up with a new chicken variety, suitable for mass production, and what was needed was advocacy for more Tanzanians to start consuming the delicacy.
According to the national five-year development plan 2021/22 – 2025/2, which is the final plan for Tanzania’s implementaion of Vision 2025 as the National overall development framework, at its heart is realising competitiveness and industrialization for human development. Increasing productivity in manufacturing using the resources available in abundance within the country is a key factor, and agro industrialisation drive is one of the nation’s low hanging fruit to take advantage of, noted private sector representative, Geoffrey Kirenga – Chief Executive Officer – SAGCOT.
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Kofi Annan Foundation say an initiative aimed at increasing the consumption of highly nutritious sweet potato varieties will help deal with malnutrition in Ghana.
The two entities have since 2021 embarked on a project to support increased availability and consumption of the orange – fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), which has high levels of vitamin A.
“At AGRA we are happy to contribute to strengthen the orange – fleshed sweet potato value chain and we are supporting this initiative with $800,000 grant to a consortium of 8 very dynamic implementing partners led by the Kofi Annan Foundation,” Programme Officer at AGRA, Regina Richardson said at a multi-stakeholder platform and awareness creation event on the OFSP in Accra.
“Ghana is seeking to strengthen the integration of nutrition in health and increase women empowerment in agriculture and we know the role that the orange-fleshed sweet potato variety plays in ensuring some of these achievements to the benefit of the population. It is a versatile and climate resilient crop,” she added.
Mrs. Nane Annan of the Kofi Annan Foundation expressed concern in Africa, about 56 million children under 5 years are undernourished, whilst 30 million are acutely undernourished. “Vitamin A deficiency remains a major public health problem in many African countries making children vulnerable to infections and diseases and preventing them from developing fully,” she said.
“We are all united in strengthening rural economies on OFSD value chains as a way of tackling malnutrition and improving livelihoods. Fighting malnutrition is at the very core of this project,” Mrs. Annan added.
What is Orange – Fleshed Sweet Potato?
Sweet potato is a starchy tuber crop consumed widely across Ghana, Africa and the rest of the world. As part of efforts to improve the consumption of vitamin A in Africa, the orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) was developed. OFSP contains high levels of beta-carotene which gives consumers vitamin A.
Research shows that just 125 grams of cooked OFSP is enough for children to meet their daily vitamin A needs. This helps avoid night blindness and other diseases in children.
The Kofi Annan Foundation, with funding from AGRA in 2021 rolled out the ‘Demand Creation and Impact Scaling Project for Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato’ project to promote the variety in Ghana. The project is working to create awareness about OFSP and mobilise political will and support for its use in combating malnutrition.
The Crop Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ohumpong Investments Ltd, Dorothy Kani Company Ltd, Fresh Logistics, Veronica Ossei Frimpong Farms, Reputed Agriculture 4 Development and E. Darkey & Associates are the other partners on the project.
Fabian Lange, a senior programme Manager at the Kofi Annan Foundation told the event over the last quarter, the project has rolled out activities to engage a number of stakeholders to raise awareness about the OFSP. He said some training activities have also been undertaken by partners.
Mbeya, Tanzania: February 16, 2022 – Boosting production of strategic crops, such as soybean, for local and international markets, as well as industrial raw materials, is the way forward for Tanzania’s agriculture, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, has said.
H.E Kikwete, who is a member of the Board of AGRA (the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), spoke in Mbeya Town, during his ongoing field tour of projects supported by the organization. He challenged stakeholders to beef up improved soybean farming in Mbeya, Njombe, Ruvuma, Iringa and other parts of the Southern Highland region to meet and expand the current annual market of 300,000 tonnes to China.
“A hectare of soybeans yields up to one tonne, which means about 300,000 hectares can produce enough for the Chinese market. We need to work together to introduce more farmers into soybean farming,” he said, lamenting cases of agro-processing industries operating below capacity due to inadequate raw material.
Between 2017 and 2021, AGRA worked with diverse partners to link farmers to input and output markets, increasing maize, beans and soybean production in Iringa, Njombe and Ruvuma Regions.
H.E. Kikwete is accompanied by Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture Hon. Anthony Mavunde, AGRA’s Vice President for Program Innovation & Delivery, Agnes Asiimwe Konde and Tanzania Country Manager Vianey Rweyendela as well as private and public sector stakeholders.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), Geoffrey Kirenga, called on agricultural stakeholders to continue promoting adoption of improved technologies to remain competitive, improve efficiency and quality of produce.
H.E. Kikwete’s delegation also visited Raphael Group Limited, a rice miller in Mbeya Town, which also deals in beans, sorghum, groundnuts, sunflower and maize. Raphael Group Limited is a key market, buying produce from over 42,000 small-scale farmers, some of whom have been supported by AGRA, through the SAGCOT initiative dubbed the Integrated Knowledge and Information for Agriculture (SIKIA), which has been critical in empowering rice farmers to increase yields and incomes.
“I value smallholder farmers. I am part of them. I work with them. I started from very low, with a small store where I could only keep eight bags of maize,” Raphael Simon Ndelwa, the CEO of Raphael Group, told the delegation. The company provides warehousing facilities to smallholder farmers, who need storage for at least 10 bags of produce.
At Meru Agro-seed Multiplication Farm in Mbozi Songwe, H.E. Kikwete hailed the homegrown company for enabling smallholder farmers access quality seeds. The firm previously received support from AGRA to increase its maize seed multiplication capacity to over 3000 tonnes per season.
“There is need to increase efforts in enabling more local production of improved seeds that are affordable for smallholder farmers,” he noted.
The former President’s delegation also visited Mpui Saccos/Amcos, a farmers’ organization with over 1000 members that has benefited from AGRA’s initiative to increase production. Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Anthony Mavude, pledged to send experts from the ministry to work with the farmers on accessing sunflower seeds.
Earlier, the former President heard from agro-dealers, farmers organizations, aggregators and processors in the Iringa Region on how AGRA’s Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) initiatives in Tanzania have increased uptake of their respective activities and production along the agriculture value chain.
Expressing satisfaction with AGRA’s impact in boosting the agricultural sector, H.E. Kikwete hailed self-made entrepreneurs including input suppliers and processors along the agriculture value chain, who started small and steadily grew into bigger and formidable enterprises serving thousands of farmers, with support from AGRA.
About AGRA
Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security in 11 countries.
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania: February 14, 2022 – Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has embarked on a week-long field tour of agriculture projects that are supported by AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and partners in the country.
During the tour, Dr Kikwete, who is also an AGRA board member, will visit agro-dealers, food processors, aggregation and storage facilities, seed companies, demonstration plots, farmers as well as key public and private sector leaders in Iringa and Mbeya in Southern Highlands, Katavi and Tabora in Western Region and Dodoma in Central Tanzania. All these initiatives are making a difference in improving livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Tanzania and accelerating industrialization drive and export trade.
“Agriculture is a critical pathway to economic prosperity and poverty reduction in Tanzania, supporting livelihoods of approximately 65% of the population, accounts for about 27% of our GDP and contributes 24% of total exports. I am taking this tour as a member of the board’s projects committee which oversees delivery and have keen interest in agricultural transformation for the benefit of smallholder farmers in Tanzania and across Africa,” the former president said.
Dr Kikwete added that AGRA is currently consulting with the government, donors, and partners on the strategic priorities in Tanzania for the next strategy period.
AGRA has been supporting Tanzania’s agriculture, since 2006. This has seen significant investments made across the ecosystem to the tune of US$8.7 million. Work has included developing crop varieties, training scientists and research infrastructure, strengthening extension services, providing market, and financing linkages, supporting agro-dealers and the government’s policy reforms.
Dr Kikwete’s tour will culminate in the launch of a book documenting Tanzania’s implementation of the consortia model integrating government, partners, and the private sector to provide funding, strategic support, access to market and financing and linkages to inputs and output markets. President Kikwete is hosted by AGRA’s Tanzania Country Manager Vianey Rweyendela and is accompanied by stakeholders drawn from the private and public sector.
“I am delighted to accompany the former president and the deputy minister as we take stock of how these projects have sustained the gains made, two years after AGRA’s exit,” Mr Rweyendela said.
Since June 2018, Tanzania has been implementing a 10-year Agricultural Sector Development Programme Two (ASDP II). AGRA has been supporting Tanzania’s agriculture around the programme, which is being implemented in two five-year phases and aims to increase agricultural growth to six per cent by the year 2022/23.
AGRA, with other partners, supported the government in crafting Tanzania Agro-industries Development Flagship (TAIDF) in 2020, a multi-sectoral strategy augmenting and catalyzing past and existing efforts in agro-industrialization.
-ENDS
About AGRA
Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.
