TANZANIA HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION Establishment of market support infrastructure in Arusha and Kilimanjaro The Impact to the Beneficiaries Mtazamo Vegetable Growers are reaping the benefit of newly constructed weir to supply water through furrow irrigation system to the farms. MVG members can now produce throughout the year due to sustainable water supply. Impact of the intervention to farmers operations: 52 farmers belonging to Mtazamo Vegetable Growers (MVG) group are now benefiting from the weir constructed by TAHA through the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) under the project namely “Improving the Competitiveness of the Horticultural Value Chain in the Northern Region of Tanzania”. The water catchment has been constructed across the river • Expansion of the production area from 10 acres to 18 acres • Increased fields employement as a result of the expansion mentioned above. Additional 200 farm labourers are currently working in the field • Increased production levels from 12 tons per month to about 20 tons (or 240 tons in a year) • Significant reduction in the production cost. Before the intervention, MVG farmers were spending about Tshs. 90,000 per week equivalent to Tshs. 4,680,000 per year on diesel to run a water pump • Increased monthly farm revenue from Tshs. 18 million to Tshs. 30 million translated to Tshs. 360 million in a year (40% increase) A borehole and reservoir in Makiba is benefiting more than farmers It isn’t just farmers who are benefiting from a borehole drilled by TAHA in Makiba Village under the MIT sponsored project. The intervention has brought a golden opportunity to the Makiba community with a population of about 5,000 people. More than 600 students and teachers of Makiba High School are among the project beneficiaries in that area. Due to adverse weather that persisted for a long time in that area, farmers could not produce to their capacity. These farmers can now irrigate their farms and explore huge harticulture potential in Makiba village located in Meru District, Arusha region. As a result farmers are now motivated to fully engage in commercial vegetable production as their main source of income. Collection centers constructed to minimize post-harvest losses Midawe, Makiba, Mabilioni, Kikas, Rundugai, Kawaya A localy constructed onion collection facility that was used by Mabilioni farmers to store their produce. High levels of postharvest losses mainly resulting from poor or lack of on-farm holding facilities is among the many stumbling blocks preventing farmers from accessing markets. A newly constructed onion collection facility at Mabilioni Village Six collection centers built under this project will provide farmers with the opportunity to collect and store produces as they wait to negotiate better deals with their business partners. Simple innovative technologies were deployed in the construction of the facilities so as to maintain the quality and freshness of products before they reach the markets. exporting company. the market. In Makiba village, farmers are now planning commercial production of high value vegetables for export markets. The Onion collection facility has 33 storage cubes which can hold more than 120 tones per circle. Already there are positive impacts generated from the use of the facilities in different areas of Arusha and Kilimanjaro. The facility constructed in that village has offered an important element to link farmers to markets since farmers will now be able to store, sort and grade vegetables. In Midawe, the Umoja Farmers Group produced 24 tons of snowpeas worth Tshs. 48.8 million between November 2013 - March 2014. The collection centre enhanced the farmers capacity to access a reliable market, through an Onion farmers in Mabilioni Village in Same district join other farming communities in Arusha and Kilimanjaro to celebrate the opportunity brought by the initiative that will see them storing their valuable products before going to The structure is also expected to have direct and indirect impact to about 2,100 people living and farming around the area. Having the capacity to store onions, the Mabilioni farmers will have ample time to make informed selling decisions. In Rundugai and Kawaya areas in Kilimanjaro two collection centers were rehabilited. Having proper holding facilities at the farm addresses one of the international market requirements and also provides a platform for farmers collective bargaining with traders. It is imperative to note that TAHA is directing its technical support services to farmers in areas where infrustructure have been built in a way to mobilise a critical mass of production around the facilities. Such services brought close to these farmers are mobilisation, training on GAPs, training on standards compliance, linking farmers to buyers and input dealers and also advocating for issues facing farmers.