Mr ZABRON MBWAGA is the overall winner, the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards 2017/8 (Tanzania).
About 16 entrepreneurs and one loan officer, have won Citi Micro-Entrepreneurship Awards for 2017/8 funded by Citi Foundation, as announced by Tanzania Association of Microfinance Institutions(TAMFI).
The Program in Tanzania is conducted by TAMFI. Winners were named and rewarded last Friday in a colourful event attended by members of the the private and public sector.
Profile
Zabron Mwaga, the managing director Beula Seed Co & Cons Ltd, a seed breeder, based NaneNane Grounds, Njiro(Arusha), won the top most award for how he has been using micro loan services offered by BRAC Tanzania.
What can you do with Tsh 2,000,000 (USD1000)? That is the amount of capital that Zabron started his business with in the year 2011. He had conviction that agriculture pays, but he did not want to be just like any other farmer.
Maize is the number one food crop in Tanzania and offers immense business opportunities. So where would be his entry point? He decided to become a seed breeder.
He started off with maize (OPV), whose demand, so long as you produce quality, is most of the time assured. Along the way, a good relationship with BRAC Tanzania, has assured him of loans, to expand the business.
Today, his efforts has paid off and he has added into his stable: Tomatoes, Okra,beans and of course diverse maize and tomatoes varieties. From Arusha he has been able to expand, by opening a branch office in Mbeya. He is able to supply seeds to 11 regions of Tanzania. The loan from BRAC Tanzania has gone along way to enable him upgrade his business. “I purchased some machines for seed processing,” he says.
He now employs his workers on contract basis unlike in the past when they were all casuals. His business has been of great success, which he attributes to high quality seeds and packaging, coupled with adverts in Television, Radio, Social Media.
He has a Master’s degree in seed production. He has worked as a seed breeder for 15 years. one of the biggest challenge is lack of some vital machinery for his plant. He employees directly and indirectly about 300 people. After his seed processing unit becomes complete, he plans to start exporting his produce.