Why locals hail TASAF funds, trainings in fighting poverty

TANZANIA: GROWING up in the countryside, our elders with keen sight could spot a chick that will grow into a cock the very day it is hatched.

This was shared by our grandparents and they would tell us stories and share life lessons which they sprinkled with proverbs and moral lessons.

We always wondered how the older people knew so much and how many of these stories I would remember.

However, with modernity, many of us have ignored our traditions, values and we were told the old way was not progressive and it was old fashioned.

To cut the story short, the recent stories I have been reading in the media and practical experience I had when I visited Arusha Region and the recent National Agricultural Exhibition – Nane Nane in Dodoma of how Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) has been fighting poverty among the ordinary Tanzanians, surely with concerted efforts, it will be reduced a lot if not eliminated by a great percentage.

Observing it climax today (8th), and every year featuring, displaying and demonstrating various sectors in relation to agriculture, livestock and fisheries, including innovations, technologies, and practices aimed at improving productivity and sustainability, TASAF’s pavilion had a lot to share on how fighting poverty is possible with our own resources.

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Here, it was another occasion to show how it has enabled the targeted people to practically engage in agriculture, which has been increasing their incomes.

Making the revelation, TASAF Chief Executive Officer, Shadrack Mziray, told reporters at the pavilion that the fund has been offering support in terms of grants to the people and based on assessment, they have been issued with different amounts and with training on how to manage the funds, they have registered a lot of success and to a great extent fought poverty in their midst.

Citing case studies, he said some of the targeted people from Bahi District in Dodoma Region, who cultivated rice with the capital, also decided to store the crops waiting for the prices to shoot and in return have secured reliable and good market for their products.

“The people we serve… most of them are engaged in agricultural activities, so the subsidies we offer are divided to purchase agricultural inputs and with training, they have done a lot to raise their livelihoods,” he pointed out.

In Njombe Region through the Regional Commissioner, Anthony Mtaka, the powered have been empowered with innovations and skills in collaboration with the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (“SAGCOT”) . Here, TASAF targeted people (without citing the number) have provided with 10 seedlings of Avocado, which are capable of growing very fast and within three years, the yields will enable them to increase their incomes.

Mr Mziray added that TASAF is looking at how to connect with other existing institutions in the area, along with the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) to ensure the beneficiaries’ products are of high quality and compete well in the market.

He said they also ensure the targeted beneficiaries are making products that have been researched so that they dominate the market without troubles.

On his part Beno Mgaya, Lisitu Agri Business Chairman, under the umbrella of Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania said what they are doing is to remove the people from a negative perception that they are poor when they own agricultural land.

Mgaya said in partnership with TASAF, they have reached more than 4,700 targeted people in Njombe, Ruvuma, Rukwa, Kigoma, Morogoro, Mbeya, Dodoma region.

“In partnership with TASAF we have made the beneficiaries enter agricultural trade, so every targeted person can cultivate crops like avocado, Irish potatoes and others,” he said.

A Mwanza Region resident, Mlanja Magesa from Mapilinga village said that TASAF presence and approach made him to take his four children to school with ease.

He added: “I have a child ends meet at Mwalinga Primary School this year; three others are in Igokelo Secondary School. I went into TASAF business and I also managed to build a house.

“From their training, I also acquired skills to manufacture products bar soaps, and washing detergents among others.”

Magesa, who received 31,000/- a month, asked President Samia Suluhu Hassan to continue to supporting TASAF with funds so that they also gain in fighting poverty.

Shafii Hamad Faki from Mgogoni Wete, Pemba District in Zanziab said TASAF has contributed to a significant change in his life, including learning how to grow nutritious food for the family.

“Since 2015 when I joined TASAF, I have benefited from the skills in several trainings, where we are trained to make soap, keep bees and exchange ideas with others entrepreneurial groups,” he pointed out.