Get That Goal You’ve Always Wanted!
This year remains incredible for the Southern Highlands regions; Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya, Songwe, and Katavi. So it’s no surprise that Generation Food Accelerator will be a huge theme for business in the horticulture value chain focused on a sustainable and inclusive food system, The accelerator is managed by Rikolto in East Africa in collaboration with Sahara Ventures funded by the European Union under the AGRI-CONNECT program. The accelerator expects to reach and impact not less than 100 businesses.
On the 5th of June, Rikolto and Sahara Ventures attended the network event organized by SUGECO, a registered cooperative visioned to create future generations of successful businesspersons who can transform culture to value entrepreneurship and support the development of a vibrant private economy The Network event hosted at MATI — Uyole Institute Mbeya (Ministry of Agriculture Training Institute — Uyole) attended by, Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), Rikolto, Sahara Ventures, NMB Bank, Helvetas, Heifer International, ITV, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), Agricultural Training Institute; In total, the event was crowded by 413 participants, (259 male and 154) were University students, Teachers, Media personnel and organization representatives.
Eng. Fredrick Batakanwa from the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives was the Guest of Honor who gave his keynote that marked as official opening, followed by Revocatus Kimario the Executive Director of SUGECO shared his keynote to the audience and officially launch the in campus Hub (MATI Uyole — SUGECO) and introduced a new program Kizimba Business Model, an entrepreneurial approach where a block of land is developed with all necessary infrastructure and facilities divided into small units called Kizimba and leased to farmers.
Then, Mr. Shukuru Tweve a Rikolto representative introduced Rikolto an organization which strives to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in East Africa through the development of agriculture value chains and inclusive business.
“Get that Goal you’ve always wanted” was the core message of Mr. Musa Kamata, the accelerator lead as he was addressing the audience. He then spelled out how youth and women can participate, and he shared a full roster of benefits for innovators and businesses to take part in the accelerator;
‘This accelerator is a year program packed with activities that benefit and touch base on key business aspects including; meetings with experienced mentors, customer acquisition, communication skills, Sales and Marketing, Business model, Feedback sessions, marketplace “demo day” presentations, Finances management, Investor matchmaking, networking, and social activities. There is a lot of information to glean and to directly apply in the businesses’ — Mr. Kamata further emphasized.
Wrapping up, The Managing Director and founder of GBRI - a horticultural export company based in Iringa, Ms. Hadija Jabiry. She said that the business she is engaged in had never crossed her mind!
She thought she would be a businesswoman, but not through farming. One day she saw a TV program called ‘Amka Badilika’, (Getup and Change) explaining how farmers were making millions in the horticulture business, She saw a money-making opportunity in horticulture and that’s what she does at the moment. She narrated while inspiring the audience especially the youth and women who attended the event to keep their eyes on the horticulture business as the new mine.
This is just the beginning of the Food Generation Accelerator. Youth and women are highly encouraged to participate. Send you applications via this link before 19th July 2021, and follow our social media handles to learn more.
Until then, Asante Sana.
