CNFA-Tanzania’s Business and Financial Services Coordinator Josefynne Kaiza interviewed Mary Obadia Mbwilo, a certified agrodealer cum distributor in Chimala Village, Tanzania, about her experience with CNFA’s Tanzania Agrodealer Support Program.

In 2004, I was selected by the village government to supply subsidized fertilizer in the villages of Chimala, Kapunga, Matamba and Igomelo, which have about 2,000 farmers. During the time, I only managed to serve 400 farmers due to limited working capital. The over 1,600 farmers I did not serve were unhappy and complained to the district office for my replacement.

In vain, I tried to find ways to increase my capital through loans. Financial institutions like SACCOS and banks turned me down due to the small size of my business. As I was about to give up, I heard the news from the district agricultural officer about CNFA/TAGMARK, which was aiming to build and strengthen the capacity of agrodealers to serve farmers better.

In mid December 2007, I attended a CNFA/TAGMARK business management training in Mbarali. The course exposed me to many aspects of business management which I never knew.

It made me realize that I needed to open up an agrovet shop selling a diversified range of agricultural products and not just fertilizer and that was precisely what I did. The training was essential in teaching me how to keep records and I find more of the course content so practical in the day-to-day management of my business. One aspect that the trainer emphasized was advertising. As a result I usually hire the announcer that passes through the streets with a loud-speaker announcing to farmers about agricultural inputs available in my agrovet. Many farmers are now coming to buy improved farm inputs from my shop, and my sales are increasing.

Many smallholder farmers can now easily access a range of inputs and services from my shop. I have set up a plot for demonstration of maize seeds this season to create awareness and generate demand of inputs, I have even asked the local agricultural field officer, Mr. Peter Ndakidemi to assist me with technical expertise in farming practices during the demos. I have also been asked by the Ministry of Agriculture as a certified CNFA/TAGMARK agrodealer to demonstrate on Minjingu fertilizers as the product is new to farmers in the village.

As a result of becoming a certified agrodealer, I am now an appointed distributor agent for Tanzania Fertilizer Company (TFC) in this region, and I am very proud.

This essentially enabled me to get a loan from NMB through the CNFA/TAGMARK credit guarantee. The amount of money has been a big boost to services that I provide to farmers.

The demand for fertilizer is high in our area and in order to meet farmers’ needs I sought to become a distributor agent for fertilizer. I was linked to TFC by CNFA/TAGMARK under the credit guarantee that CNFA has signed with TFC which enabled me to acquire fertilizer on credit worth Tshs. 60ml ($13,847). I have also started to sell fertilizer at wholesale price to small agrodealers who in turn sell to farmers.