USAID-TAPP monthly bulletin #44 | July 2013

to enhance smallholder farmer incomes through improved productivity, crop diversification, and increased market access. The program focuses on the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor (SAGCOT) in Tanzania, a region identified by the Tanzanian government as conducive for agricultural growth. USAID-TAPP works with partners and the Government of Tanzania to concentrate efforts on selected crops and regions, aiming to transform the country's food security. The program's objectives include increasing smallholder incomes, improving nutrition, and expanding markets through value-chain development and agricultural innovation. USAID-TAPP is part of Feed the Future, the US government's global hunger and food security initiative. To bridge the gap between smallholders and financial institutions, USAID-TAPP conducts weekly trainings on business management skills. In July 2013, 20 farmer groups from Mbeya, Njombe, and Iringa received training, with 15 groups receiving comprehensive training and the remaining five groups having introductory meetings with the project's business development specialist. A total of 163 beneficiaries were trained, with 107 males and 56 females. These trainings enabled farmers to understand the basics of business and agribusiness, leading to better decision-making on agricultural production. USAID-TAPP also welcomed seven new partners in July 2013 to assist the project in achieving its objectives. The new partners include PACT, Green Rain, Africado, EcoAgriConsult, ZAIDI, Global Services Corps Tanzania, and Rungwe Smallholder Tea Growers Association. These partnerships are categorized into three main types: outgrower models, delivery of transformative technologies, and improvement of health and nutrition. The partnerships aim to create sustainable growth in the horticultural sector and provide better opportunities for smallholder farmers. In July 2013, USAID-TAPP conducted community-based nutrition trainings, reaching a total of 253 farmers from Arusha, Babati, and Karatu. The trainings covered essential nutrients, malnutrition, diseases, food safety, and hygiene. The program promotes the use of orange flesh sweet potato (OFSP) through its community-led nutrition program, which guides farmers on good agricultural practices for production. The use of proper spacing, seed selection, and harvesting techniques has led to the establishment of home gardens and OFSP plots, providing a piecemeal asset for home consumption or income generation.