NAFAKA Staples Value Chain Activity Quarterly Report: October–December 2012

The NAFAKA team is composed of a consortium of subcontractors, including Farm Input Promotions-Africa (FIPS), Rural and Urban Development Initiative (RUDI), Mtawawa Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA), International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), and others. The main entry points for the NAFAKA activity include the Kilombero District, Mvomero District, and Kongwa and Kiteto Districts. The NAFAKA team has made significant progress in implementing various activities across these geographic entry points. In the Kilombero District, the team has focused on developing outgrower schemes for the Kilombero Rice Plantation (KPL) and the Kilombero Valley Tobacco Company (KVTC). In the Mvomero District, the team has worked with the Uwawakuda Water Users Cooperative to improve yields, cooperative development, and water-resource management. In the Kongwa and Kiteto Districts, the team has focused on working with maize producers. During the reporting period, the NAFAKA team implemented several key activities, including increasing productivity, strengthening input systems, and strengthening producer groups. The team developed demonstration protocols for 14 technologies or practices at demonstration plots, worked with producer groups to select lead farmers, and facilitated the establishment of demonstration plots. The team also strengthened a network of village-based agricultural advisors-entrepreneurs who distribute small packs of inputs and later become input dealers. The NAFAKA team provided training to 137 village-based agricultural advisors-entrepreneurs (VBAAs) on conservation tillage, arranging prices, maintaining relationships with buyers, and accessing markets. The team also issued grants to five agrodealers in Morogoro and worked with them to expand their services to extension provision via demonstration plots and field days. The NAFAKA team has made significant progress in sensitizing new villages to the NAFAKA project and the benefits of group membership. The team facilitated the formation of new producer groups, which comprise smaller farmer groups, and provided capacity building support to associations from the 2011-2012 season. The NAFAKA team has also made progress in increasing productivity, strengthening input systems, and strengthening producer groups. The team has implemented several key activities, including developing demonstration protocols, working with producer groups to select lead farmers, and facilitating the establishment of demonstration plots. The team has also strengthened a network of VBAAs and provided training on conservation tillage, arranging prices, maintaining relationships with buyers, and accessing markets. The NAFAKA team has made significant progress in its efforts to increase productivity, strengthen input systems, and strengthen producer groups. The team has implemented several key activities, including developing demonstration protocols, working with producer groups to select lead farmers, and facilitating the establishment of demonstration plots. The team has also strengthened a network of VBAAs and provided training on conservation tillage, arranging prices, maintaining relationships with buyers, and accessing markets.