Agri-Trade progress

Keekonyokie MAC

Keekonyokie MAC is providing services to the Maasai livestock field school in Kiserian. They are helping the field school members develop business plans on fattening steers as well as on milk and beef production. They have also made arrangements to erect IBs and identify information board managers in their Maasai pastoralists' area. Keekonyokie is also helping the Maasai women find better markets for their beadwork in liason with Traidcraft.

Bungoma MAC

Agri-Net progress

AgriNet has now finished its registration process and has a bank account. AgriNet has agreed with AgriBiz Dev Co (Tanzania) to operate in the Kagera region of Tanzania, as this region is more accessible from Uganda. Paul feels that business does not know or respect geographical boundaries and it is important to work in market areas and rather than purely on a national basis.

The First Deal for Cereal and Pulse, Eastern Uganda

Good news on John Peter Opio’s deal on groundnuts. After the disappointment of delayed payments to farmers he reports that the farmers were finally paid in three instalments. While this was a very difficult experience for all it was full of lessons on how to provide transaction security to farmers as well as buyers. Maybe we should develop a list of what to look out for, and how to foster 'a good deal'.

Engineer Opio has set up a new MAC to meet the marketing needs of the Teso Tropical Fruits Association. He is in discussion with Dr. Semwanga and Jakana on orange deals for this season and future seasons. Going beyond oranges the new MAC will also deal with other produce from the Teso sub region of Soroti, Kumi, Katakwi, Amuria and Kaberamaido. Under the guidance of Max Oluput the new MAC will experiment with information boards in selected sub counties of Soroti, Kumi and Kaberamaido Districts. As a demonstration an SMS system of communication between producers and the MAC, Max gave seven farmer leaders from different sub counties money for airtime to initiate communication with Eng Opio’s new MAC.

The Lira MAC has agreed to collaborate with the Soroti MAC and coordinate their business operations as much as possible. They will soon be jointly supplying planting materials for cassava, sweet potato, orange seedlings, groundnuts, and sunflower to big buyers.

Agri Biz Dev Co, based in Arusha, is recruiting new regional transaction security managers and building its network of Trade Agents and Market Access Companies. John Kossima and Leonard Muhoni visited the new MAC in Muheza call MuMac with Clive, Ueli and Martin Graf (Agridea). MuMac’s main aim is to provide better marketing for the small farmers in their area. First incomes are expected to come from orange deals with big buyers.

Leonard has been helping MuMac explore their first deals for orange growers in Muheza. He has had exploratory talks with UNNAT, a large new fruit processing factory in Morogoro, who are looking for a regular supply of oranges for juicing.

Murumase earned commission from their first deal by linking the small circular saw operators with wood plank buyers in Mufindi. The work was done by Bahati Tweve with support from Nuswe Nazali and Henry Mang'enya. They will continue to provide market links for timber buyers and will also be finding buyers of beans for the local farming groups.