Tanzanian youth in agribusiness

The proportion of young people is rapidly growing across the world, and Tanzania has one of the worlds fastest growing young population. Of the estimated 60 million people in Tanzania, more than 44% of the population is under 15 years old. As agriculture remains a cornerstone of Tanzania’s economy, youth are considered to play a key role in the socio-economic development of Tanzania. But most youth see agriculture as traditional subsistence farming, and not a business. We had a chat with Enoch Asulwisue Kasisi, a youth farmer in Mbarali, about his experience with agribusiness.

Enoch Asulwisue Kasisi is a farmer in Mbarali. He is 33 years old, but he started farming rice when he was 25 years old. When Enoch started farming, he didn’t have access to inputs such as fertilizer and mechanical tools. He used to cultivate his area with low yields and little profit, so he had to take extra work in order to have money to buy seeds for the next planting cycle. Fluctuating markets and high input prices made it difficult for Enoch to expand his agricultural activities.

-Before all this I was a regular farmer. Then the training in agribusiness was provided and it was supplemented with access to quality seeds. I come from a very poor family but my harvests are increasing and my business is growing, sais Enoch.

Enoch was eager to find new strategies for improving his farming techniques and joined a farmer owned company in 2018. Through the Mbarali & Neighbors Small Scale Farmers’ Limited Company (MTC), he gained access to reasonable prices for inputs such as seeds, tilling machines,  and fertilizers that enabled him to save money for other farming activities.

The importance of youth groups

Mtu Kazi (People’s work) is a youth group established in 2017 under the COMRICE project. The COMRICE project supports the youth group with quality seeds, fertilizer and agrochemicals in addition to training. Through the youth group, Enoch received training on commercialization of agriculture through modern farming, and the adoption of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods. The youth group and their agricultural activities function as a demonstration plot during training of other farmers in Good Agricultural Practices.

Enoch himself observed the benefits of the quality seeds in a demonstration plot alongside the local varieties for comparison. The sample seed farms produced so much yield that Enoch and his peers decided to leave the traditional farming practices and try out the new methods in their own farms as well.

-In the past, a large cultivated area would yield very little, around 15 bags for 3 acres. Now it has triples, to 23 bags per acre. Life used to be tight, but now I see so many possibilities, sais Enoch.

The youth groups income from sales of paddy and seeds has been used to purchase a plot of land, and investments in inputs. This is part of the business training, so the youth group can scale up their business. Enoch has implemented the same business mindset at his own farm as he now grows rice and seeds for profit, and he has re-invested the profit in agriculture by hiring 2.8 acres of land to expand his production.

Role model for other youths

Through the progress he’s made, Enoch has become a role model for other youth in his community. He is engaged in agribusiness as a leader in the MTC procurement committee and an overseer of the MTC’s combined harvester machine. Along this, he is a chairman of the Mtu Kazi youth group and a lead farmer. As a lead farmer he supports the COMRICE project in organizing the community meetings and farm demonstrations. He serves as an important bridge between farmers and project implementers.

-Without business farming we would not have this conversation. It has given me an important position in my community. I have made new friends, I have expanded my network of colleagues and I have gotten in touch with various companies, sais Enoch.

Although challenges exist, they learn from and instruct each other. Other youth trust Enoch enough to allow him to keep their savings. In turn, he advises them on building financial security for themselves. He has gone from having no role models to becoming a role model himself. He teaches other young people to also take responsibility of their own progress by acquiring tangible skills through learning from others and taking advantage of opportunities.