Conduct Market Research for Horticulture Crops in Tanzania

USAID-Funded Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program

Conduct Market Research for Horticulture Crops in Tanzania

Description of the Program:

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) serves as the lead implementer for the Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program (F2F A2F) to address deficits in the financial ecosystem hindering investment and growth in agriculture for individual farmers, as well as micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through the delivery of volunteer technical assistance. IESC has designed a thematic F2F program to generate sustainable, broad-based economic growth and create jobs in the agricultural sector with a special focus on assistance to women and youth. Focusing on Kenya, Tanzania, and Liberia, the F2F A2F Program will work with local partner organizations and volunteer hosts to field pro bono experts from the U.S. agriculture, corporate, and banking sectors to address systemic capacity constraints for farmers and lenders in each targeted country and unlock finance for improved agricultural production leading to utilization of agricultural technologies and increased sales and incomes.

Problem Statement:

Horticulture in Tanzania is a tremendous opportunity to enhance income, improve nutritional outcomes, engage women and youth, and create jobs throughout the value chain. As Tanzanian society has become more conscious of healthier dietary and lifestyle choices, there has been an increasing demand for diversified food products including fruits and vegetables. However, horticulture crop production continues to be dominated by smallholders and farmer groups with more than 80% of farms less than 2 ha. These smallholder horticulture farmers are faced with several challenges including marketing and limited market information. Smallholders in rural areas are often poorly linked to markets. They cannot adequately access functional market information, so they sell their produce in informal markets in the surrounding communities. These farmers are excluded from many of the most profitable channels, such as direct sales to supermarkets, exports, and access to contract agreements. Since many small-scale farmers do not have negotiation skills to determine prices for their bulk horticulture produce, the market does not allow small producers to raise prices on their produce. Often middlemen make much higher profit margins than the producers which limits the incentive for smallholder farmers to expand production.

The Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program has partnered with an Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society (AMCOS) group in a rural area in the Geita region of Tanzania whose members are engaged in small-scale horticultural farming; they grow their own food, and their income is mostly centered within the small-scale horticulture sector. The AMCOS’ main horticulture crops market is a mining company in the region that consume 35% of their produce. The informal market purchases 35% of produce, but they struggle to sell the remaining 30% of produce. The AMCOS members have already received training on horticulture crops farming from the mining company to help the farmers produce quality fruits and vegetables (driving the farmers to produce what the mining company requires). However, despite producing sufficient quality and quantity of horticulture crops, limited access to formal markets leaves members to remain poor and vulnerable. The AMCOs needs support to better understand the horticulture market, increase their access to market information, and link farmers to new markets. This will enable small-scale farmers to increase production, income, and food security in rural areas.

F2F A2F is recruiting a U.S. citizen or permanent resident experienced volunteer expert in agriculture crops market research to help AMCOS members access horticulture crop market information and connect them to formal markets

Objectives of the Assignment:

1. Conduct horticulture crops market research in Tanzania, with a focus on the Lake Zone areas (Mwanza and Mara) to determine new market channels, including other mining companies, hotels and apartments, etc.
2. Recommend a list of potential horticulture crops customers for the AMCOS, including market specifications and other details needed for the AMCOS to pursue the new market channels

Deliverables:

1. Horticulture crop market research report with recommendations, including a specific list of initial target customers for horticulture produce.
2. Field trip report with four to six recommendations.
3. PowerPoint presentation for the host organization and the USAID Mission

Additional Travel Information:

• Geita is in the northwestern part of Tanzania and is known for its rich gold mining activities and the presence of Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa. It is approximately 90 kilometers from Mwanza City. The journey from Dar es Salaam to Geita involves flying to Mwanza and driving about 3 hours to Geita. The dry season runs from June to October while the wet season runs from November to May. Farming and pastoralism are the major occupations of Geita’s inhabitants.
• Dar es Salaam is the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania. Its climate is hot and humid with an annual rainfall of 43 inches (1,100 mm). Swahili, also known as Kiswahili, is the official language of Tanzania and is prevalently spoken throughout Geita and Dar es Salaam.

Other key information:

• Volunteer experts are expected to bring their own laptop for use on assignment
• Flights, ground transportation and hotels will be booked and paid for directly by IESC
• Volunteer experts will be provided with a Samsung smartphone with a local sim card and airtime for use during the assignment
• F2F A2F assignments are very engaging and a full-time commitment while in-country. Any tourism or other personal activities in-country must be conducted after the assignment is completed.
• Travel and lodging conditions may vary depending on the location of the assignment. Volunteer assignments may require extended travel via taxi to remote locations or stays in rural areas with fewer amenities. IESC can provide more information about travel and lodging during the volunteer onboarding process.

Volunteer Outreach:

USAID and IESC encourage all F2F A2F volunteers to participate in public outreach. An important objective of the program is to increase awareness of Americans’ good work in developing countries. Volunteers should select at least one outreach activity from the list below, to be completed within one month of return to the US:

• Write an entry for the IESC website.
• Post a photo, video, or text related to the F2F A2F assignment on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, personal website or other social media site, and send a link to IESC staff.
• Send a press release to a local newspaper in the volunteer’s hometown. (IESC can provide a template)
• Write something for an alumni or professional association newsletter, or other publication. (IESC can help as needed).
• Give a presentation about the F2F A2F assignment to colleagues, students, religious group, rotary club, etc.
• Send an email about F2F A2F to friends, family, or colleagues.

Requested Expertise of Volunteer Expert:

• A master's or doctoral degree in business, commerce, agricultural science, horticulture, or marketing
• At least 7 years of experience working in market research on food products.
• A good understanding of horticulture crops produces.
• Experience working in Tanzania and/or the region is a plus.
• Strong leadership and communication skills and capacity to plan strategically and flexibly.
• Desire to improve the start-up businesses.
• Sufficiently physically fit, with appropriate medical clearance.
• Writing Skills: reporting requires good computer skills including, but not limited to, working, and generating reports with MS Word. Experience with PowerPoint presentations is desirable.
• Good writing and analytical skills, interpersonal communication, and presentation skills (adult education skills).

Please reach out to IESC's Volunteer Engagement Associate, Rachel Hyman, with any questions- rhyman@iesc.org