Issue 3 November 2008.pub - Agriterra

MVIWATA NewsMonthly Bulletin of MVIWATA Issue Number 03 November 2008We welcome our readers andpartners to the third issue ofMVIWATA News.As we get this issue out anumber of things; politically,socially and economically havehappened at national and internationallevels.Many of us were overwhelmedby the election of BarackObama as the first BlackAmerican to be President ofUSA. MVIWATA shares that joyand congratulates him; hopingthat his election will furtherthe cause for peace, harmonyand real changes that theworld needs.We are impressed by the actionsof the government ofTanzania to fight corruption.The recent actions of our governmentto let the justicetakes its cause against thosealleged to take part in embezzlementof government fundsis plausible. We hope theseactions will set example forthe future and that will notsubside.Editorial Government applauds MVIWATA The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania isaware of initiatives that have been done by Mtandao waVikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) to assistsmall farmers to improve their livelihood.The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives HonourableStephen Wassira told the National Assembly recentlythat the government appreciates and applaudsMVIWATA for its efforts, achievements and partnershipwith the government.“The government is aware that MVIWATA is an organMinister Honourable Stephen Wassirathat focus on lobbying and advocacy on issues affectsfarmers,” said Hon. WassiraThe government also gives thanks to MVIWATA for the way it managed to mobilize farmers andform networks from the village level to the national level. The government also promised to giveits assistance for the MVIWATA to spread and reach a large community.He recommend for district councils to make sure the organization has to been included in implementationof activities under the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP).The Minister was responding to a question raised by Hon George Simbachawene MP for Kibakwe(CCM) who wanted to know the strategies of the government to support efforts of MVIWATAsince it has shown tremendous achievements in assisting small holders farmers.Editors Note: MVIWATA thanks Hon Simbachawene for identify himself with smallholder farmersMkata market in Handeni opensThe Deputy Minister for Livestock Developmentand Fisheries Honourable Dr.James Wanyancha,on November 16 th 2008 opened the farmers marketwhich was built in partnership between MVI-WATA and FERT at Mkata village in Handeni district,Tanga region.We are still puzzled by thecontinued killings of the albinosfor witchcraft beliefs. Weurge the government to takefull responsibility to protect itsinnocent citizens against thiswave of brutality and killings.Last but not least, we hope theongoing rains in the countrywill make a good farming seasonthis year.Hon. Dr. James Wanyancha Minister of LivestockDevelopment and Fisheries deliveringhis speech, insert is some people who attendedthe opening ceremony of Mkata marketin Handeni districtThis is a sixth market to be built through initiativesof MVIWATA. Others are Kibaigwa maizemarket, Tawa, Tandai, Nyandira and Igagala.The market which is at Mkata village in Handenidistrict Tanga region will serve for farmers wholive in the five surrounding wards.Farmers of Mkata remarked that, before theMkata market was built they were exploited by middlemen who buy their crops at lower priceand also by using false weighs.Mkata market has been built under the Support to Rural Marketing project (2006 – 2009) beenfinanced by European Union for € 750,000 , whereby MVIWATA and FERT support the projectfor € 300,000.

Page 2MVIWATA NewsThe Morogoro mayor awards certificates to farmersHon. Prof. Ishengoma handover a certificate ofparticipation of two weeks training of promotersto one of participantsA batch of 32 farmers from Rukwa, Tabora, Manyara, Coast, Mbeya and Mtwararegions were awarded certificates of attendance after completing a two weekstraining organized by MVIWATA.The ceremony was held at Savoy Hotel, in which the guest of honour was LordMayaor for Morogoro Municipal Prof. Romanus Ishengoma, who officially closed thetraining.The training which was held on 3 to 15 November 2008 at Nyandira Training Centerin Mvomero district, Morogoro and opened by the Executive Director of MVIWATAMr. Stephen Ruvuga.In his speech Prof. Ishengoma who is also a lecturer at Sokoine University of Agriculture(SUA) insisted on the need of farmers to venture into modernized way offarming rather than subsist in local way of farming thus they remain poor.He said farmers they need assistance so that they employ in Agricultural Businessby being selective on crops which fetch good market easily.Ms, Magreth Kauzeni a farmers Rukwa region Mr, Waziri Rajabu from Arusha region they promised to implement effectively the workplan especially on how to track public expenditure and to make evaluation, as well as to teach farmers in their areas on using modernfarming.The training focused on such topics as leadership, lobbying and advocacy, entrepreneurship, operationalisation of district agriculturalplans (DADPs) HIV/AIDS and gender. The training is part of capacity building strategy which is funded by Agriterra, IFAD, MS andVECO., in which the trained farmers will train others.The target of MVIWATA for 2008 is to train at least 100 farmer promoters by December 2008. The next batch starts training on 17thNovember 2008.PELUM Triennial General Assembly held inMorogoro TanzaniaOn 27 to 30 October, 2008 PELUM Association held a Triennial GeneralAssembly in Morogoro Tanzania whose main them was ‘promotion oftraditional indigenous food from and for Africa’.Participants of this assembly have had a chance to discuss developmentand to refine further the role that PELUM as a developmentagency it can and be playing.The PELUM chairperson Jonathan Chisaka said they celebrate Africanindigenous and traditional food and especially to highlight the role itcan and is playing in enhancing livelihoods developmentThe Assembly was officially opened by the Minister of Agriculture,Food and Cooperatives Hon. Stephen Wassira who in his speech commendedthe efforts of PELUM Association in improving agricultural sector in Tanzania.Some of traditional indigenous food from Africa as were displayedat the PELUM Assembly“We are confronted with the calamitous challenge of global warming and climate change both of which are particularly making AfricanAgriculture more and more challenging. This is mainly because our agriculture is broadly rain fed and hence prone to the slightestweather changes.”The Minister said, the Government of Tanzania has been working hard to achieve the commitment to increase public investment inthe agriculture sector to 10 percent GDP from 6.4 percent which was committed in this year.Ms. Caroline Anyoiva a farmer from Kenya said poor infrastructures affects agriculture sector in her area whereby many crops do perishbefore to reach the market. On other side Mr. Ngabonziza Augustine from Rwanda he asked people of Africa to value and promotetraditional indigenous food from Africa.PELUM Association has ten country members which are Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda,Zambia and Zimbabwe

MVIWATA News Page 3ZLTO delegates in a picture with MVIWATA chairpersonMr. Yazid Makame(second right) and Mr.Justice Shekilango of MVIWATAZLTO visits MVIWATAA team of four delegates from ZLTO are currently visiting MVIWATA for a studytour. ZLTO is a dutch farmers organization, one of the largest in the Netherlands.The delegates headed by Mr. Henk Kuijpers from the workgroup of ZLTO of Tanzania.Others in the delegates are Dirk Kramer, Jan van Sonsbeek and Wim Lamers.ZLTO has been pertaining with MVIWATA for over four years now and in June2008 contributed € 20,000 to MVIWAMBO (a network of MVIWATA in Mbozi) toboost diary processing. The money will be shared of ZLTO in the venture.The last visit of ZLTO was held in 2006 in which a similar study tour was conducted.“Two years ago the organization did a study of processing of milk inMbeya, now we came for the next step to study diary processing industry”, saidDirk Kramer.Previously, ZLTO in collaboration with Agriterra had commissioned its expert Mr Rene van Doremalen to analyze the financial administrationprocedure of MVIWATA with a view to modernize it.The modern way of processing milk has improved the farmers’ economy as well as their life standard thus now can take their childrento school.The new Board of Directors of MVIWATA holdsmeeting in MorogoroThe new members of the Board of Director of MVIWATA are currentlyholding the first meeting since they were elected by the Annual GeneralMeeting which was held on 25 th to 26 th July, 2008.This is the first normal meeting as per constitutional requirements inwhich they are to receive the Narrative Report and Financial Report forJuly to September 2008. The meeting venue is in conference room ofMVIWATA head office in Morogoro town.They will also receive reports on the development of middle level networksand work plan of the organization for the coming months.The meeting will be followed by the training to be conducted on forthe board members mainly to create awareness of their responsibilitiesas members of the board.The full list of new members of board of directors of MVIWATA for thenext three years, 2008-2011 is the following;Mr. Yazid Ame Makame, (Chairperson), Mrs. Lydia Rulio (Vice Chairperson),Mrs. Grace Runkulatire (Treasurer), and the members areMrs. Cosma Bulu from Lindi, Mr. Sylivester Salawa Yatuba from Tabora,Mr. Julius Mbago from Tanga,New members ofBoard of Director ofMVIWATA soonafter elections, 26July 2008.Mr. Samwel Maseke from Mara, Mr. Habibu Simbamkuti fromMorogoro and Mr. Joseph Kilowoko from Ruvuma.Mr Stephen Ruvuga, Executive Director sits in the Board asSecretary to the Board.Meanwhile, in December 2008, MVIWATA will conduct trainingin which members of the Council of MVIWATA, will beinvolved.Rest in Peace– Kelvin KombaAn accountant for the Support toRural Market (SRM) project jointlyimplemented by MVIWATA andFERT, Mr. Kelvin Charles Komba(pictured) died on 30 October,2008 at Morogoro regional hospitalwhere he was admitted after ashort illness.Komba (43) he was employed asan accountant on 10 th July 2006.He worked with the World Vision Tanzania before to joinFERT.The deceased was buried at his home village Peramiho inSongea district, Ruvuma region southern part of Tanzania.Komba leaves behind a widow and three children.Mr. Komba attended a secondary education at Songea BoysSecondary School after which he joined College of BusinessEducation for a Certificate course in Accounting.Previously, he had worked with World Vision Tanzania beforejoining SRM.Mr. Komba will be remembered for his team spirit hard workand love for Simba Sports Club and Manchester United.May God Rest his Soul in Peace.