Agrodealers are a critical link in the agricultural input distribution
chain and they play an important role in supporting the smallholder farmer
to commercialize.
“Agrodealers are located nearer the farmer and provide a range of goods and
services. Agrodealer Associations serve as an important tool in fighting
counterfeit agricultural inputs reaching the farmer and it is important
that the importer suppliers and the government recognize their role in not
just distribution but in the fight against counterfeits,” said BRiTEN
(Building Rural Incomes Through Enterprise) Managing Director Josefynne
Miingi-Kaiza.
She was addressing the third agro dealers convection, which was organised
by her organisation in collaboration with TANADA the National Agrodealer
Association in Dar es Salaam.
The meeting brought together leaders of the various agrodealer associations
at district level. They deliberated on ways of creating a corporate
structure to streamline inputs distribution to smallholder farmers and
curb incidences of counterfeit product distribution.
She says that, the whole distribution process been easy through TANADA and
also distributor’s payments were successful.
“We want agro dealers to increase income and strengthen their business
skills. They should become source of skills and information for small scale
farmer farmers,” said Micheal Mahecha of TANADA addressing the convection.
Mr. Mahecha stressed that the agricultural input distribution chain cannot
function well without agrodealers and it was the responsibility of all
stakeholders public and private sector alike to strengthen the network.
On his side, the Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and
Cooperatives, Hon. Eng. Christoper Chiza; said the government focused to
ensuring agricultural growth rises from current 3.6% last year to 6%. The
Minister went ahead to thank AGRA for providing financing to train3855
agrodealers out of which 511 of them received loans through the overdraft
facility from NMB. The Minister also stated that the government was
committed to strengthening the agrodealer network and in 2012/13, more than
1000 agrodealers will be trained.
“The government is delighted for being able to achieving distribution of
agricultural appliances in every village,” he said adding the system would
go a long way to improve livelihood in the rural areas .
The minister was represented the Deputy Permanent Secretary in his
ministry, Mrs Sophia Kaduma, who read his speech.
AGRA country Manager Mr. Fred Muhhuku told agro dealers they have to become
business savvy and it starts with knowing who your customers are.
He said agro dealers must ensure they support small holder’s farmers with
training and other capacity building initiatives so as not only to boost
their business but the whole agriculture development process for the
national good.
The convention was partly financed by AGRA.
Kick Start International Regional Manager Mr Deus Shauri commended the
government for putting up some efforts in supporting Agro dealers but
added that: “More effort should be put in training small agrodealers. They
need technical skills.”
Agrodealers’ convention is an annual event bringing together stakeholders
in the agriculture input distribution chain – agrodealers, fertilizer, seed
and agrochemicals importers and Government. This particular event was a
convention and also served as the annual general meeting of the Tanzania
National Agrodealer Association. The theme for the convention was
“towards commercialization of smallholder agriculture”.