By Theogene Nsengimana
Members of agribusiness are set to see the sector improve through
direct linkages between farmers, entrepreneurs, information and market linkage
across the continent.
This is an initiative of the
Africa Agribusiness Academy (AAA), a Pan-African business platform for small
and medium-sized agri-food enterprises.
Speaking at a roundtable meeting
in Kigali, yesterday, Abraham Huijsman, the chairperson of AAA, said they are
currently active in six countries across the continent where they are engaging
more than one million farmers, creating direct links between farmers and
entrepreneurs in terms of getting the produce from farms to processing or input
supply in terms of seeds.
"We're here to discuss how to improve the viability of AAA
and promote a win-win situation between farmers and entrepreneurs and how they
can benefit each other," he said.
Member companies of AAA share and
pool knowledge and experiences, collaborate and form partnerships, support one
another and provide inspiration and guidance for current and up-and-coming
agribusinesses, inside and outside of the network.
Tony Nsanganira, the state
minister for agriculture, said the move will help more farmers to embrace
business-oriented agriculture, which he said can lift more farmers to better
living conditions.
"It is a good initiative
that will supplement our existing programmes aimed to promote professional and
business oriented agriculture. It will help farmers to understand that
agriculture sector can lift them to a better life once practiced with a
business spirit as we know that our national economy depends much on this
sector," he said.
Founded in 2010, AAA is currently active in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi,
Ethiopia and Rwanda.
Each country has a national
chapter that coordinates its activities, with regional business clubs
stimulating tight cooperation between members from the same area while
sector-specific and thematic collaboration is achieved through the communities
of practice, with members benefiting from exposure to transnational
experiences and knowledge.
Jean Claude Ruzibiza, the
chairperson of AAA Rwanda Chapter, said the platform helps both farmers and
entrepreneurs to easily access the market and expand businesses to other member
countries.
"Information sharing and
market linkage will help us boost our businesses. For instance, you can be in
need of the market for your produce in Rwanda and share information through
website or our WhatsApp group with members in other countries about the quality
of your produce and the price, then they link you with buyers in their
countries, or if you want to buy produce from their countries, they can share
information with you and then you send money to them as they help to buy, pack
and send the products to you," Ruzibiza explained
credit: http://allafrica.com/stories/201604260058.html
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