[Press Release] EWS-KT Joins USAID Feed the Future Kilimo Tija Project to Accelerate Youth Participation in Tanzania’s Vegetable Sector
MOSHI, Tanzania, August 6, 2024 — East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT) is excited to announce a new partnership through East-West Seed Tanzania with the Feed the Future Tanzania Kilimo Tija (Horticulture Productivity) Project.
Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by ACDI/VOCA, the Kilimo Tija project operates in the Iringa, Mbeya, Morogoro, and Njombe regions, as well as Zanzibar. Its objective is to transform the Tanzanian horticulture market system into a more vibrant, competitive, resilient, and inclusive one capable of fueling sustained growth and drawing in new market participants.
Youth unemployment is a major concern in Tanzania. Although vegetable farming offers a ready income for young people, vegetable production and marketing are not viewed as realistic or appealing business opportunities. Despite a growing demand for safe-to-eat, nutritious vegetables, Tanzanian farmers still experience unacceptably low yields, do not have access to good extension services, and lack knowledge on improved production practices as well as access to quality agricultural inputs.
Under the Kilimo Tija project, EWS-KT will be implementing a 3-year initiative, Transforming Tanzania’s Vegetable Markets, to sustainably increase economic opportunities for youth in the vegetable sector; improve farmers’ access to market information for greater market participation; and, through East-West Seed Tanzania, increase access to quality seeds for better productivity and business growth. EWS-KT has been working with smallholder farmers in Tanzania since 2019. Through a proven model of establishing small demonstration fields showcasing highly effective vegetable cultivation techniques, EWS-KT not only equips farmers with the skills they need to be successful farmers but positions farming as an attractive business opportunity, especially for youth.
“We welcome this opportunity to work with Kilimo Tija to accelerate the adoption of improved vegetable farming methods in Tanzania and contribute to a more vibrant vegetable sector in the country. The future of agriculture lies with young people, and our work under Kilimo Tija will enable youth to clearly see the business possibilities in vegetable farming and ensure they have the tools to reach their goals,” said EWS-KT Director Stuart Morris.
Transforming Tanzania’s Vegetable Markets will work with 8,450 farmers (60% youth) to strengthen their farming skills so they can fully participate in the vegetable sector. Training in vegetable production will include farm planning, marketing, and climate-smart technical skills and knowledge covering land preparation through harvest.
To build employment opportunities beyond direct vegetable production, farmers will also be encouraged to explore other income-generating activities in the vegetable sector, such as becoming seedling producers, agro-input dealers, village-based aggregators or processors, or providers of skilled labor and crop management techniques like trellising and raised-bed creation.
Kilimo Tija and EWS-KT look forward to working together to improve the livelihoods of Tanzanian farmers, invigorate the vegetable farming sector, and increase the supply of nutritious vegetables for consumers.
###
About EWS-KT
East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer improves the vegetable production and business skills of smallholder farmers by providing training in sustainable and profitable horticultural techniques and farm business planning. This approach enhances farmers’ livelihoods and increases the supply of safe-to-eat vegetables, while simultaneously catalyzing the development of innovative agricultural input markets. For more information on our work in Tanzania, visit our Tanzania page. Contact us here.
About Kilimo Tija (2022–2027)
Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the 5-year, US$37.9 million Feed the Future Tanzania Kilimo Tija (Horticulture Productivity) Project is led by ACDI/VOCA and implemented in the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania, including Iringa, Mbeya, Morogoro, Njombe, and Zanzibar. Through Kilimo Tija, Tanzanian smallholders and producer organizations will benefit from improved commercial access to productive technologies and training to help them produce quality fresh and processed fruits and vegetables for an expanding and diverse market of domestic and international buyers. For more on Feed the Future Tanzania Kilimo Tija, visit the USAID project page.
