Training of women and youth seed producers on business and financial management: Songwe, Tanzania

In recent years, Tanzania’s dryland crop production has encountered significant hurdles, primarily due to the limited availability and high cost of quality seeds, notably certified ones. Recognizing the pivotal role of quality seeds in enhancing crop productivity and agricultural development, the Tanzanian government has taken proactive measures. One such initiative is the adoption of the Quality Declared Seeds (QDS) production system, developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The QDS system offers a pragmatic approach to seed quality assurance, specifically tailored for regions with limited resources, like Tanzania. However, despite these efforts, challenges persist, particularly in ensuring the sustainability and commercial viability of seed production initiatives, especially for women and youth seed enterprises. While technical interventions in seed production have been prevalent, there is often a lack of emphasis on the business management aspects crucial for the success of Quality Declared Seeds (QDS) producers, especially among women and youth. Inadequate business skills can hinder their ability to thrive in competitive markets, limiting the impact of seed production initiatives aimed at improving food security and economic development.The Centre for Behaviour Change and Communication (CBCC), in collaboration with TARI and supported by CIMMYT, has been implementing a project to address low adoption and access to quality seeds in the sorghum and groundnut value chains in Momba and Mbozi districts of Tanzania. These locations were selected due to their underserved status by formal seed systems. The project focuses on gender-intentional behaviour change and demand generation among youth and women, aiming to strengthen linkages for seed accessibility and availability through the Youth Women Quality Centres (YWQC) Model. The YWQC model, piloted in southern Tanzania, has shown potential to increase demand and adoption of quality seeds in rural areas.In the AVISA transition phase, CBCC aims to sustain momentum by focusing on sustainability strategies such as gender-intentional demand creation, capacity building in business skills for community seed producers, strengthening linkages with stakeholders, and continued monitoring and evaluation.To complement these efforts, a four-day training program on business and financial management was conducted for 54 seed producers from Momba and Mbozi districts. The training aimed to empower young farmers with essential business skills to run profitable agricultural enterprises. The training was opened by the District Agriculture Officer, who addressed the perception of farming as a low-income profession.