50 youths get agri-business training
DODOMA: DODOMA Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Kaspar Mmuya, has officially launched a week-long capacity-building training for 50 young men and women based in Dodoma, focused on agri-business.
The training aims to support and empower the youth, helping them unlock their full potential within the agriculture sector.
The symposium is part of the Vijana Kilimo Biashara (VKB) project, which is funded by the MasterCard Foundation and implemented in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) as the prime partner, and Rikolto East Africa as the sub-grantee in the Dodoma and Singida regions.
According to the Project Coordinator, Willifaston Ntoroma, this is a three-year project designed to enhance the lives of 40,000 smallholder farmers (SHFs), with a particular focus on young men and women.
The project seeks to strengthen and enhance the food systems of sunflower and sorghum value chains.
“The project aims to develop systemic solutions to the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, especially youth, in areas such as production, service provision, business management, pre-and post-harvest loss management, and expanding market access,” Mr Ntoroma explained.
He further said that the project promotes the transformation of agriculture from traditional subsistence practices to more commercial and modern farming systems.
This shift is designed to foster inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty.
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The initiative plays a key role in enhancing market systems that support smallholder farmers by increasing their use of quality inputs and seeds, improving productivity through private sector-led distribution systems, strengthening last-mile extension services, promoting innovation to reduce post-harvest losses at both the farm and aggregation levels, and facilitating market linkages from farms to consumers.
The training, launched on Monday by Mr Mmuya, seeks to equip youth with the skills and knowledge needed to engage in agricultural entrepreneurship and expand incomegenerating opportunities.
During the launch, Mr Mmuya said the critical role agri-business plays in driving economic growth and reducing youth unemployment in the region.
He stressed the significant potential for youth to transform the agriculture sector and make valuable contributions to regional development.
Mr Mmuya encouraged participants to fully leverage the training programme, apply the knowledge gained, and establish successful agri-business ventures.
He also urged them to be innovative and explore new opportunities within the agriculture value chain.
Mr Mmuya reaffirmed the regional administration’s commitment to supporting youthled initiatives and providing them with the resources and tools needed to thrive in agribusiness.
