Expansion of Warehouse Receipt Programs for rice and maize in Kilombero, Iringa Rural and Handeni districts of Tanzania

The primary objective of the grant is to assist smallholder rice and maize farmers in the three districts to establish collective marketing through Warehouse Receipt Systems (WRS), procure milling equipment, and convert paddy to milled rice and maize to flour at the source. The project aims to assist three Associations in the three districts to establish collective marketing through WRS, procure milling equipment, and convert paddy to milled rice and maize to flour at the source. This is expected to lead to a tripling in the value of the milled rice/flour and contribute to better returns to the farmers. The activity also assists the finished rice/flour product to be traded across the region without further transport to a processor. During the fourth quarter of 2011, the project accomplished several activities, including training business operators for warehouse-supported projects, roundtable discussions between Apex leaders and buyers, and analyzing/collecting daily price information. The project also conducted training on maize drying procedures for Mbingu and Iringa Associations and husbandry training for Amani and SUWA Associations. The project has made significant achievements, including the participation of Magubike and Mangalali in the WRS for the first time, the decision of Magubike members to contribute money to purchase a milling machine, and the appointment of RUDI to the working group of the Warehouse Receipt System. The project has also attracted a good number of buyers, with many showing interest in entering into contracts with Associations to mill their paddy and maize in the 2012/13 season. However, the project has faced several challenges, including the unexpected rise in prices of rice while that of maize remained the same, the long process of getting 3-phase electricity, and the export ban on maize. The project has also been affected by power fluctuations and rising power tariffs, as well as poor infrastructure in the village, which causes problems in transporting grain from the warehouse to the milling machine. The project has made significant progress in expanding the Warehouse Receipt Programs for rice and maize in Kilombero, Iringa Rural, and Handeni districts of Tanzania. The project has assisted smallholder rice and maize farmers in the three districts to establish collective marketing through WRS, procure milling equipment, and convert paddy to milled rice and maize to flour at the source. The project has also attracted a good number of buyers and has made significant achievements, including the participation of Magubike and Mangalali in the WRS for the first time. The project has also made significant progress in terms of the quantity of rice and maize collected in the 2011 season. The total quantity of rice collected was 946 tons, while the total quantity of maize collected was 540 tons. The project has also made significant progress in terms of the number of Associations supported, with a total of 6 Associations supported in the three districts. The project has also made significant progress in terms of the number of farmers trained, with a total of 150 farmers trained in business operations for warehouse-supported projects. The project has also made significant progress in terms of the number of farmers who have benefited from the project, with a total of 1,655 farmers benefiting from the project in the three districts. The project has also made significant progress in terms of the number of buyers who have shown interest in entering into contracts with Associations to mill their paddy and maize in the 2012/13 season. The project has also made significant progress in terms of the quality of rice from the milling machines, with the quality of rice from the machines being quite high. The project has also made significant progress in terms of the number of farmers who have started benefiting from the business, with a total of 4 farmers benefiting from the business in the three districts. The project has also made significant progress in terms of the number of farmers who have made profits from the business, with a total of 3 farmers making profits from the business