By Carlos Banda , The Guardian
Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) partners with CRDB Bank Foundation to launch the Barley Farming Pre-financing Seed Capital Scheme, aimed at empowering farmers with financial, connections, and skills support to boost productivity and optimize natural resources.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, TBL Managing Director Michelle Kilpin highlighted that the scheme, part of TBL's Smart Agriculture Initiative, is a significant milestone in the company's commitment to fostering sustainable farming methods and supporting local communities throughout Tanzania.
"Through the joint efforts of TBL and CRDB Bank Foundation, we strive to greatly elevate the barley sector and improve the economic well-being of small-holder farmers in Tanzania. Our partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration in driving positive change and generating value for all stakeholders. With this significant milestone achieved, we are optimistic that it will ignite similar initiatives nationwide, inspiring others to follow suit," she remarked.
Further, Kilpin explained: “Through the alliance with the CRDB Bank Foundation, TBL seeks to integrate financially empowered criteria into its smart agriculture framework, enabling farmers to adopt sustainable practices that promote environmental stewardship and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. This partnership underscores TBL's broader commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2, which emphasizes achieving zero hunger; SDG 12, for responsible consumption and production; SDG 13, for climate action; and SDG 17, to enhance partnership for the goals.”
She also said that the Foundation’s initiative, named the iMbeju program, aims to boost the barley sector and enhance the economic welfare of small-holder farmers across Manyara, Karatu, and Monduli Districts for the 2024 agriculture season.
Tully Esther Mwambapa, CRDB Bank Foundation Managing Director, said the iMbeju program has been on the market for almost a year now and has attracted a huge number of youth and women, its primary target. To date, she says that the program, which involves financial literacy training and the provision of seed capital, has trained around 250,000 women and offered seed capital to the tune of 5bn/- .
“We both seek to enhance sustainable agricultural practices through empowering our farmers. Once farmers are financially stable, production will more than double in all key produce, stabilize our food safety, and increase surpluses for local trading and export. This will have a positive impact on our GDP, where agriculture contributes a lion’s share,” she said.
Mwambapa added: “Under this affiliation, farmers will have timely access to agricultural inputs, be exposed to smart technology utilization, and receive comprehensive training, all of which are going to boost yields and improve incomes for farming families. Furthermore, the effort fosters economic growth and rural prosperity in Tanzania by supporting community development.”
She emphasized that through the collaboration, TBL and the CRDB Bank Foundation will provide capacity-building programs, seed capital, insurance coverage, the supply of essential agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and agrochemicals, and support for cost-effective harvesting logistics, citing that the goal is not only to boost barley production but also to equip farming communities with the necessary tools and knowledge for sustainable agricultural practices and financial management.
No comments :
Post a Comment