Regional Markets

Regional Markets for Local Development
extension officers, has been providing farmers with the needed trainings. The application
of good agricultural practices has a strong beneficial effect on productivity per acre of
farmland, and also helps secure higher prices by improving the quality of the produce.
Many smallholder farmers in the sector employ at least two seasonal workers from their
communities, mainly in the ploughing and harvesting seasons. The total number of seasonal
workers employed by TAHA-associated farmers is at least 64,000. TAHA trains
group leaders and farmers on leadership, group dynamics and conflict resolution. The
large-scale farmers in the sector permanently employ between 20,000 and 35,000 persons
in total. TAHA has also worked to empower these employees by providing trainings
on various topics for personal development and livelihood enhancement (HIV/
AIDS, family planning, personal hygiene and nutrition, integrated pest management,
post-harvest handling etc.).
Gender
Women are strongly represented in horticulture at the producer level—as many as
65% of smallholder farmers are women. Also during harvest time smallholder farmers
employ more women than men because they are more careful and skilled in handling
fragile horticultural products. The TAHA project has been improving the incomes of
smallholders through specific targeted activities. By organising smallholders in women’s
groups at village level, it provided them with access to new technologies (through demonstration
plots) and trainings. The trainings include such topics as sustainable agricultural
practices, post-harvest processing, and the much needed financial literacy and
management. Also personal areas of development were enhanced by the accompanied
training in sexual and reproductive health (e.g. HIV/AIDS and family planning).
In the next planning period (2012–2015) the formation of Village Community Banks
(VICOBA) is foreseen. These local financial institutions will allow women smallholders
to strengthen their financial capacity and to take care of the needs of their businesses and
families (through investments in their farms, school fees for the children, health care etc.).
Food security
The increased incomes from the higher volumes of vegetable production and the strong
marketing channels improve household food security by assuring a more stable food
supply. Smallholders can afford to purchase the staple foods that they do not produce
themselves, like maize, more regularly. They can also afford to purchase larger stocks
of storable or durable processed food items, which provide nourishment during lean
periods. The increased income and spending generate additional funds for other households
in the villages (e.g. small vendors, house construction and maintenance workers),
thus also having a multiplier effect on food security of the community at large.
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