Trip report-Steven Ngwalla-05th-09th June 2012

The project's primary objective was to enhance food production and trade in the region by providing smallholder farmers with access to productivity-enhancing farm inputs through agrodealers. The project's inception in Tanzania was planned during a field trip to Mwanza, Bunda, and Sirari from May 6 to June 9, 2012. The trip was led by Steven O. Ngwalla, accompanied by Rose Wanyiri, the ATAB project coordinator at AGMARK. The team's primary goal was to engage with stakeholders, including grain traders, agrodealers, government officials, and customs officers, to facilitate cross-border cereals trading. During the trip, the team visited various stakeholders, including Benezeth Kamihanda, a consultant with the Community Resources Development Organization, who was offered a short-term technical consultancy assignment to assist in identifying potential stakeholders and beneficiaries. The team also met with Cllr. Manasseh O. Okore, the councillor for Kurujare Ward and an agrodealer in Bunda District, who organized logistics for the AGMARK team. The team made courtesy calls on the Mwanza Regional Agricultural Officer, Mr. Ndaro Kuruijira, and the Mwanza Regional Trade Officer, Mrs. Christine F. Owenya. They also visited various grain traders in Mwanza Town, including Mr. Peter Chacha, Mr. Egesa Warioba, Mr. Selemani Hamisi Saidi, and Mr. Laurent Bachunga. In Bunda, the team met with the District Commissioner, Mr. Joshua Mirumbe, who expressed excitement about the project's potential to increase food production in the district. The team also met with the District Crop Officer, Ms. Gladys Balisimaki Shija, and the District Agricultural and Livestock Development Officer, Mr. Mjema Mweja. The team's visit to the Sirari border point with Kenya involved meetings with the border-post Customs Officer, Mr. Ben, and his deputy, Mr. Ninga. They also met with the Ministry of Agriculture - Plant Health Inspectorate Services Officer, Mr. Zephania Kija, and the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority Officer, Mr. Donald Mkonyi. The team encountered several challenges during the trip, including the absence of harmonized regulations on cross-border cereals trading requirements among East African countries. They also noted conflicting responses from various government agencies regarding the requirements for trading across borders. These challenges hindered the ability of grain traders and farmers to trade competitively, leading to accumulations of grain surpluses among farmers. The team recommended harmonizing cereals trading regulations within East Africa in the spirit of the East African Community Common Market. They also suggested that the Lake Region of Tanzania has great potential for enhanced food production if productivity-enhancing farm inputs can be made available to smallholder farmers through the medium of agrodealers. The team identified several key contacts during the trip, including Mr. Benezeth Kamihanda, Cllr. Manasseh O. Okore, Mr. Ndaro Kuruijira, Mrs. Christine F. Owenya, Mr. Peter M. Chacha, Mr. Egesa Warioba, Mr. Selemani Hamisi Saidi, Mr. Laurent Bachunga, Madam Balisimaki Shija, Mr. Aristariko L. Chibhunu, Mr. Zephania Kija, Mr. Donald Mkonyi, Mr. Ninga, and Mr. Ben Kalamesi.