TRIAS-AHA Collaboration lifts 30,000 farmers in Tanzania from peasants to successful entrepreneurs

More than 30,000 peasants in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar have benefited from tailor-made entrepreneurship training sessions.

These have transformed the majority of them from subsistence growers into successful commercial farmers.

The Agri-Business training initiative has been accomplished through the Strategic partnership between Trias East Africa and Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA).

The two organizations managed to accomplish the feat in conjunction with farmers groups and associations in Tanzania.

Built on Germany Module, the BUS Agribusiness and Leadership training for farmer organizations empowered farmers with entrepreneurship training, extension services, marketing, and climate change mitigation as well as adaptation to improve the livelihood of farmers.

“We believe that strategic partnerships are crucial for inclusive and sustainable development,” stated Marieke Behrens, the Program Manager for the Andreas Hermes Akademie.

She adds that in addition to training 30,000 farmers, they have also produced 42 qualified trainers and 4 master trainers to carry on the initiative even after the program closes shop in the country.

As it happens, the Andreas Hermes Akademie, together with the German Farmers’ Association and experts from the German agricultural and food industries, have been involved in empowering local farmers in Africa, as well as Asia and Eastern Europe for a number of years.

“The training program is within the framework of entrepreneurial and leadership development, which strengthens people to think and act on their own responsibility,” explains Berhens.

The Program is supported by the Germany International Cooperation (GIZ).

The GIZ Deputy Program Manager, Max Middeke points out that the entire food systems in the world are screwed and badly needs to be set up properly to fight global hunger, address inflation and fight poverty.

Their program also focuses on strengthening member-supported organisations such as farmers’ associations, networks of young farmers, cooperatives and similar forms of cooperation between farmers and other actors in the value chains of agriculture.

Trias on the other hand, is an international development organisation headquartered in Brussels but with operations in 50 countries, including Tanzania and Uganda for its East African Chapter, where they empower, support and assist local farmers and agricultural initiatives.

Working with local partners such as TAHA, the national apex body for the horticulture sector, Trias is also helping local growers to adopt new technology in farming.

The TAHA Chief Development Manager, Anthony Chamanga lauds the Trias-AHA Partnership, especially their joint training program saying they have helped local growers realize their potential in agriculture.