Commercializing sunflower value chain in Singida and Manyara Region
AMDT – Board of Trustee and Funders field visit in Singida region on 29th & 30th March 2023
Sunflower farmers served under FFIV project
Farm Africa in collaboration with strategic market actors managed to profile a total of 42,468 productive Sunflower farmers in Singida and Manyara regions and successfully facilitated implementation of project activities as depicted in the tabular format below;
| Region | SHFs Profiled | Total # of SHFs mobilized for RAS & Farm Inputs by BB/Mezzanine | Total # of SHFs received trainings/mentorship on financial literacy & market services by PIDERS | # SHFs engaged in Sunflower farming | Acres Cultivated in a year 2022/23 (Acres) | Forecasted yield (MTs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manyara | 11,874 | 7,584 | 2,457 | 6,531 | 18,607 | 72 |
| Singida | 30,594 | 22,381 | 4,875 | 21,416 | 104,640 | 816 |
| Total | 42,468 | 29,965 | 7,332 | 27,947 | 123,247 | 888 |
- PIDEERS training/BDS model works under TOT arrangement with lead farmers and champion farmers
- BB/Mezzanine model works directly with farmers for mobilization, awareness and training activities.
Market actors business models
FFIV project focus on M4P approach which involve two Market Actors (BB/Mezzanine & PIDERS) who serves farmers directly in collaboration with other key Players like LGAs, financial institutions, buyers and agro-dealers/input companies. Farm Africa in collaboration with AMDT closely monitored and facilitated all interventions under MAs and players.
Two types of business models applied as follows:
- BB-Mezzanine practice Connected Farmer Marketplace business model
- PIDERS practice Business Development Service demand driven business model
Connected Farmer Marketplace business model
Business Development Service demand driven business model
PIDERS business model – Works on business development services demand driven approach that’s currently serves beneficiaries under FFIV project by addressing market constraints around “Access to Finance and Access to Market, Post-Harvest Management and Value addition”.
Systemic interventions areas progress
Intervention Area # 1: Access to Finance support
- Farm Africa through PIDERS organized B2B linkage meetings, mentoring and coaching sessions to a total of 7, 332 lead farmers from 209 Farmer Organizations and 34 SMEs processors in Singida and Manyara regions.
- PIDERS managed to develop and submitted a total of 25 bankable business plan (10 FOs and 15 SMEs) to four Financial Institutions (NMB, CRDB, NBC and TADB). Planning to continue with follow ups to actualize loans.
Intervention Area # 2: Access to Market and Post – Harvest Management
- PIDERS developed a total of 21 sales contracts between 3 SME processors and 21 FOs.
- Ongoing mentoring sessions on Sunflower grains purchase contract negotiations between 129 FOs and 15 buyers/off-takers.
- Conducting coaching sessions to 200 FOs and 15 SMEs on good governance focusing on contractual compliances, legal registrations and leadership skills.
Intervention Area # 3: Access to Rural-based extension Advisory Services and Climate-smart Agriculture practices and Technologies.
- BB/Mezzanine organized and coordinated rural-based extension advisory service (RAS) provision to a total of 29,695 productive SHFs.
- Established 68 CSA –based demos (30 Manyara & 38 Singida) serves for field practical learning to 29,695 SHFs.
- Connected farmer digital platform disseminates messages for Sunflower CSA practices and Good Agricultural Practices.
Intervention Area # 4: Access to Improved Sunflower Seeds and other farm Inputs to Women, Men & Youth SHFs
- BB/Mezzanine targeted to register 12,000 Acres from 6,000 SHFs and distribute 24 MTs of Hysun 33 seeds.
- BB/Mezzanine managed to distribute 100 MTs industrial fertilizer to 1,000 SHFs in Singida and Manyara regions.
- Government engagement on inputs support through subsidy schemes distributed 400 MTs of purified Record C1 seeds to 16,034 SHFs and 1,200 MTs of Fertilizer to 1,200 SHFs in Singida region whilst 190 MTs of fertilizers distributed to 300 SHFs in Manyara region.
Challenges and Mitigation measures
| S/N | Challenges/ Risks | Mitigation measures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adverse climatic conditions such as drought affecting production of sunflower. Seasonal challenge with erratic rainfall partens and intensity esp. in Manyara region. | Use of drought-tolerant improved sunflower seed varieties; train farmers on GAP and CSA. E.g. sunflower hybrid seeds like Hysun33 and Aguara 4 varieties |
| 2 | Access to inputs especially Government Fertilizer subsidy scheme which has restricted private fertilizer suppliers not to distribute fertilizers out of scheme. This affected BB/Mezzanine to distribute input pack with fertilizers to farmers timely. | BB/Mezzanine registered as TFRA agent and is now legally allowed to distribute the subsidy fertilizers |
Lesson Learnt
- BB/Mezzanine digital platform (Connected Farmer) is the ICT model that simplifies dissemination of CSA – GAP messages to large numbers of farmers in a short time.
- Demo plots planted earlier to all project areas ease to rise awareness on adoption to CSA and GAP practices
- Strong willingness shown by farmers to the use of Improved sunflower seeds as they found profitable as compared to local varieties.
- SME Processors willingness to practice purchase contract with FOs/AMCOS/producer groups
MEL Achievements
- Updating of project live documents (Project Guide tool) to align deliverables in accord to timelines.
- Customizing Systemic Intervention Work Plan to align with regular field intervention and activities.
- Farm Africa internal Project Performance Reviews (PPRs) conducted to gauge project achievements against evidences.
- Farm Africa and AMDT routines facilitative field visits enhance tracking on ground progress, challenges, deliver technical assistance and develop solutions against encountered field issues.
Reports And Documents
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