Theses and Dissertations Collection

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations Collection by Author "Mkenda, Susan Vandeline"

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    The Swot analysis of the National Network of Farmers Groups In Tanzania (MVIWATA)
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2007) Mkenda, Susan Vandeline
    This study was carried out to assess the functioning of the Network of Farmers Groups in Tanzania (MVIWATA) which was founded in 1993 and formally registered in 1995.The research was conducted to analyze the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges (SWOC) which face the organization. The main source of data used in this study was the secondary data collected from MVIWATA website, Sokoine University of Agriculture Library (SNAL), literatures from MVIWATA library, and holding discussions with MVIWATA members and technical staff. The network has broad base grass root membership in 19 regions of Tanzania. The author spent six months of internship to learn how the network performed its day to day activities particularly those related to agribusiness. It was revealed that not all members of MVIWATA were producers; a few undertook trading and processing of agricultural produce at small-scale level. Members included traders of agricultural commodities who sold products from their own farms or products procured from other producers and small scale processors of various products. MVIWATA’s mission is to link farmers’ groups and local networks of such groups together into a sound and strong national Farmers Organisation capable of ensuring representation and advocacy of their interests in decision-making processes at all levels. MVIWATA’s overall objective is to develop a strong and effective representation of farmers’ interests in jointly persuing their needs and challenges, mainly through participatory communication, lobbying and advocacy, plus organizational strengthening to provide agronomic and marketing services. MVIWATA advocates strong organizations for smallholder farmers, establishing reliable markets for their farm produce, ensuring provision of sustainableiii financial and technical advisory services, as well as ensuring representation of farmers at all levels. From this study a number of lessons about the structure and functioning of umbrella farmer organization were derived. First, MVIWATA as the farmer’s voice helped the farmers to be able to understand the economic viability of their productive activities. Second, it also improves their communication skills and ability by participating in farmer-to-farmer dissemination workshops and exchange visits. Third, effective use and incorporation of the available information into improved technologies requires close interaction between researchers, extension staff and farmers themselves. Finally Organizations and agencies that focus on sustainable agriculture need more expertise in small business management and entrepreneurship, and organizations that focus on small business management and entrepreneurship need more expertise in on-farm applications. There is a need for networking and collaboration between organizations with good business and entrepreneurship information, and organizations that work with family farmers and the sustainable agricultural communities.