EAF puts 10,000 farmers, 7,000 retailers on mentorship database

TANZANIA- East African Foods Tanzania (EAF) has announced the selection of 10,000 farmers and 7,000 agribusiness retailers to its database and entrepreneur network. 

The participants will receive mentorship training from a pool of experienced entrepreneurs. The main objective of the database and network is to share valuable knowledge and experience in a manner that guides proactive investment and stimulates the growth and expansion of their businesses. 

The entrepreneur network consists of 30 successful agribusinesses from Kenya and Tanzania. 

The firm lauded the move, reiterating it will go a long way in bridging the technology and information gap that exists between smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs and efficient agribusiness practices. 

Mr Elia Timotheo, EAF Tanzania’s founder and CEO said, “The EA Foods’ goal is to reduce the technology and information gap between retailers and small farmers, ensuring fair prices and high-quality products for all who collaborate with the company.” 

The mentorship program is set to offer registered farmers valuable market information and market access. It will provide the necessary skills and provide a reliable network of players and stakeholders in the agriculture industry that will improve their transportation and storage and implement sustainable practices.  

Additionally, the mentorship program will provide farmers with access to extension services through the network to share knowledge on appropriate farming and land management techniques. This will go a long way in helping mentees understand appropriate crop technologies depending on their agriculture area of interest. 

However, the firm revealed a significant limitation to the mentorship program is does not have a clear framework for helping participants access financing. Most smallholder farmers in Tanzania lack any form of collateral or formal financial histories, which made it difficult for financial institutions to be a significant part of the initiative.  

EAF has, however, revealed it plans to educate participants on financing issues like interest rates, transaction costs, and inflation, as well as the variety of financing options available.  

EAF called on the government to implement strategies and policies in the agribusiness sector to help smallholder farmers and retailers get access to financing and extension services. It reiterated that the program would not achieve its objectives if the government failed to implement a favorable environment.