IDH’s Post

As Tanzania celebrates Farmer’s Day today, we are delighted to announce our first investment in the country, MazaoHub. This marks a special #NaneNaneDay for us and smallholder farmers in Tanzania. Smallholder farmers in Tanzania face various challenges, including soil degradation, lack of information on improved practices, limited access to markets and #finance, and significant post-harvest losses. As a result, #Tanzania loses 20-40% of its produce and USD$1.5 billion each year to agricultural inefficiencies. Mazao Hub provides end-to-end #farmmanagement software and #soiltesting services, to improve access for #smallholders to regenerative agri know-how and inputs, #dataanalysis, finance, and end markets /off-takers. Their strong passion for supporting #smallholders and impressive growth over their first two years of operation convinced us that we could work together to promote #sustainableagriculture in Tanzania. Mazao Hub is joining our growing portfolio of impact drivers in #EastAfrica, and over the next few years, we will work together to reach more smallholder #farmers, particularly #women and #youths. Additionally, our investment will support Mazao Hub to expand its network of Farmer Excellence Centres (Agricultural Clinics) and services to 12 new regions – adding to the existing 8. We both envision a future where more smallholders are empowered to drive agricultural transformation in East Africa. Nordic Impact Funds is also very excited to join Catalyst Fund as co-investors in Mazao Hub. 

🌱Exploring Untapped Investment Opportunities in Rwanda's Agricultural Sector🌱 Rwanda's agricultural sector is brimming with opportunities that not only promise sustainable growth but also offer significant returns. Here are four key areas where strategic investments could generate billions: 1. Improved Seed Development: This includes pulses, vegetables, fruit trees, and tubers. Currently, protein consumption is not high, prices for animal feed are exorbitantly high, and most fruit trees produce just above their minimum. There is a lack of commercial and professional nurseries for reliable seedlings and healthy seed development. 2. Processing and Transformation: The value chains for cassava, avocados, potatoes, and carrots require innovative approaches to significantly enhance their market value. 3. Warehousing, Logistics, and Storage Facilities: Establishing efficient systems is crucial for reducing post-harvest losses and improving the effectiveness of the supply chain. 4. Organic Business: With the increasing global focus on health and sustainability, investing in biopesticides and biofertilizers offers a profitable opportunity. This is an untapped territory ready for exploration and development. 📈 Are you ready to explore these possibilities? Do you want to know more? Write to [email protected] and let us help you know how you can tap into this area. #AgricultureInvestment #RwandaAgriculture #SustainableFarming #Agribusiness #InnovationInAgriculture #BusinessModelGeneration #Entrepreneurship Thierry Kamugisha Sadiki ISHIMWE Dr. Alexandre Rutikanga (PhD., MAS., MSc., BSc.) Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board

Heifer International Marks 50 Years in Tanzania with Continued Commitment to Agricultural Growth Heifer International celebrated its 50th anniversary in Tanzania by reinforcing its commitment to agricultural development and support for local farmers. Over the past five decades, the NGO has positively impacted over 1.1 million families, with a strong emphasis on empowering women-led households. Country Director Mark Tsoxo highlighted the organization's achievements during the Farmers Day (Nanenane) celebrations, showcasing its enduring partnership with Tanzanian communities. The organization’s Pass-On-the-Gift approach has been instrumental in boosting agricultural productivity, with over 282,050 dairy cows and 57,200 dairy goats distributed across various regions. Heifer has also established 52,522 self-help groups and 116 primary cooperatives, significantly enhancing local agricultural capacities. Recent advancements include the Market System Development approach, which has increased milk flow to the formal market and attracted $3.6 million in private sector investment. Looking to the future, Heifer International is focused on leveraging technology to enhance farming efficiency and market access. The organization has launched the AYuTe Africa Challenge to support young agritech entrepreneurs and has digitally profiled 106,000 sunflower farmers, improving their visibility in the agricultural ecosystem. #Agriculture #SustainableDevelopment #EmpoweringFarmers #HeiferInternational #Agritech

Kenya’s National Value Chain Support Program, under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), is set to revolutionize agricultural productivity through innovative e-incentives. These incentives are crucial for boosting productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and linking farmers to better markets. The County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) initiative will be a game-changer, offering small-scale farmers centralized facilities for value addition and connecting them to industrial parks for shared resources and economies of scale. This collaboration between county governments and private firms promises significant advancements in agro-processing and manufacturing, fostering sustainable agricultural practices and economic growth. I look forward to seeing how CAIPs will enhance forward and backward linkages, improve market access, and drive Kenya's agricultural sector toward a more productive and sustainable future. Cecilia Mwangi OGW Ephraim Giathi Kenya Association of Manufacturers Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development FAO Ministry of Investments,Trade and Industry KYEOP Youth Kenya KIEP-SKIES The Kenya Industry & Entrepreneurship Project The World Bank #AgricultureKe #ValueChainSupport #EIncentives #SustainableAgriculture

This is the investment that could yield millions if you invest in the Rwandan Agricultural Sector NOW! 🌱Not only would you significantly contribute to the sector's development, but your returns would be substantial, and I believe the Rwandan government will provide the necessary support to get started on the right foot. What more do you need to know to make your decision? 😊 For further information, insights, and details on investing in Rwanda's agricultural sector, please contact [email protected] 🌳 🥑 🍇 🥕

The seed sector transformation journey in Uganda requires a multifaceted system approach. stakeholders coordination, joint action and reliable funding is imperative for a better future of Uganda's food( seed)system

NIRAS recently convened a learning workshop in Nairobi for the UK-funded Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) programme. This workshop, a significant event for the project, was focussed on consolidating the learnings from CASA so far and formulating a strategy on how these can be communicated to inform the decisions of practitioners, donors and private sector actors over the remaining two years of the programme. 📝 CASA is an international programme implemented by NIRAS and Swisscontact in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nepal and Rwanda. It is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and aims to integrate smallholder farmers into commercial supply chains, improve their productivity and their access to market. 🌍 By doing so, CASA aims to boost incomes for smallholder farmers, improve food security, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. The programme's learnings are targeted at various audiences, including donors like FCDO, private sector entities, SMEs in target countries, and potential investors. The goal is to highlight the benefits of new working methods and the opportunities for investing in SME agribusinesses. 🌱 During the workshop, the CASA Learning and Communications team, along with teams from monitoring and evaluation met to revisit current ways of working and develop a pipeline of learning products to effectively communicate the CASA story to key stakeholders. 📖 Four new learning and communications specialists from Malawi, Nepal, Rwanda and Ethiopia were also introduced to the workshop. 👋🏾 The workshop resulted in an agreed and detailed 2-year plan that includes the development of various learning products such as learning papers, case studies and stories of change. These materials will be hosted on the CASA website and disseminated through events, news articles, and social media channels, ensuring a broad reach and impactful communication. 🌐 This event demonstrates NIRAS’ continued work to ensure the CASA programme plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and investments in agribusinesses. 💚 #NIRASProjects #CASAProgramme #CommercialAgriculture #Ethiopia #Malawi #Nepal #Rwanda

Smallholder farmers in Tanzania face various challenges, including soil degradation, lack of information on improved practices, limited access to markets and #finance, and significant post-harvest losses. As a result, #Tanzania loses 20-40% of its produce and USD$1.5 billion each year to agricultural inefficiencies. MazaoHub provides end-to-end #farmmanagement software and #soiltesting services, to improve access for #smallholders to regenerative agri know-how and inputs, #dataanalysis, finance, and end markets /off-takers. It is our strong passion to support #smallholders let’s work together to promote #sustainableagriculture in Tanzania. #Farmerexcellentcenter #MazaoHub #NaneNane

Happy Farmers Day from Na Prints Plc. As we celebrate farmers' day ,we would like to recognise and appreciate the contribution of farmers, herders, and fishermen in Tanzania who contribute about 28 % of our country's GDP. We also recognise the efforts of our team of experts who work with farmers to foster their Agricultural Business Development through the creation of strategic approache to help agriculture business thrive. Our agricultural consulting services assist farmers and agribusinesses in developing robust business plans, identifying market opportunities, and implementing effective marketing strategies. Our experts analyze market trends, assess business models, and provide insights to strengthen financial management and operational efficiency. They also help clients diversify revenue streams, navigate regulatory requirements, and explore new markets. Through their guidance, agricultural businesses overcome challenges, capitalize on emerging trends, and build sustainable, profitable enterprises. #Naprintsplc #nanenane #naprintsconsultancy

FtMA continues to make strides in our activities in Tanzania 🌍 We are currently in 6 regions, serving over 128,984 farmers through 405 FSCs. Agriculture is the basis of Tanzania's economy. Of the 2.1 million hectares that are under production, 95% are farmed by smallholder farmers using traditional methods. Informal and unstructured market constrained, including restricted access to profitable markets, traps most farmers into subsistence-level activities, where there is no critical mass for profitable agriculture business. FtMA, with the support of our Donors, Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and MFAT in Auckland are working to solve these problems through innovative approaches, supporting smallholders at the last/first mile, and by strengthening their resilience to climate shocks. Interested in partnering with us to deliver impact in Tanzania? Please reach out to us [email protected] #ftma #farmers #tanzania #agriculture #valuechains #makingmarketswork