AMSHA Agribusiness Model in Coast and South Eastern Tanzania by Omary A. Mwaimu, BA.Economics Institutional coordinator- Amsha IRE (EA) Ltd cc : Website: 1

Background AMSHA Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship (EA) Limited which is a company limited by guarantee and not having share capital. ‘Amsha’ is a Swahili word, which means awaken, arouse, stimulate. In this case it means awaken, educate and build capacity to self-employ in commercial agriculture within rural settings of Tanzania and East Africa in general 2

The main activities of Amsha are entrepreneurial mindset development and sustainable rural development through agribusiness promotion. In supporting youth in agriculture, Amsha has about 1000 youth in groups of about people in Coast and South Eastern Tanzania. Also Amsha initiate various youth in agribusiness programs like TYIAF – Tanzania Youth in Agribusiness Forum with collaboration with other institute/ company like TGFA, SNV, among others. 3

Impact Bring together low or ordinarily educated rural farmers and highly educated and professional urban prospective farmers. Launched four Amsha Agribusiness services centers with the aim of promoting and bringing closer the agribusiness activities/services to the farmers. 4

Food and livelihood security is guaranteed because every member, must have both subsistence and commercial farm plot. Transforming subsistence agriculture into commercial farming. 5

Challenges and related strategic solutions Fear of change (“How possible? Who have tried it? How if I lose my…?” Lack of direct government support, especially the district agriculture and livestock department Limited local and international institutional network or collaboration or Limited awareness on national and international opportunities in the agriculture sector 6

Lack of direct government support, especially the district agriculture and livestock department. Lack of social security system to cater for health and education services to members. Lack of responsive financial support system to offset seasonal financial needs of farmers. 7

How to attract and retain youth in the agribusiness sector Stakeholders must articulate a new vision of agriculture that can be attractive to the young people and align with their aspirations and interests. Agriculture must be transformed from purely subsistence to commercial farming, where farmers undertake agriculture as a business. 8

The negative image and perceptions about agriculture in the face of the youth should be changed. The Ministry of agriculture can, for example, set up a Youth Advisory Committee to look into various ways of attracting and retaining the youth in this sector. The Government should strengthen and maintain agricultural institutions for extension, research and innovation, credit, agro-processing and marketing in order to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of farming enterprises. 9

Appropriate affordable financial packages are put in place by financial institutions involved in agricultural lending- access to finance Deliberate efforts by agri-support agencies to make inputs such as good seed, fertilizers, basic mechanization and agricultural market information available and affordable should be undertaken. 10