The agrovets transforming Tanzania’s farming network

By developing local farming supply and service businesses, farmers in remote areas are working together to grow a powerful new farmer services network for Tanzania.

Across rural Tanzania, farmers are facing many challenges. Like farmers everywhere, the effects of climate change are impacting their yields, creating an urgency to adopt new, climate-smart production methods.

Those changes aren’t easy to accomplish, though, when your farm is in a remote area with weak links to the supplies, services and expertise you’ll need to adapt.

To help farmers more easily access the supplies and services they need to succeed, Farm Africa is working collaboratively through the Farm to Market Alliance, with support from the World Food Programme, to create a powerful new farmer services network across central Tanzania.

That’s where agrovets come in. Agrovets are supply stores for farmers, dealing in seed, fertiliser, animal feed, veterinary supplies and more. Good ones are run by a knowledgeable proprietor who, akin to a pharmacist, can also dispense product advice and provide services such as machinery hire.   

By starting her own agrovet supply business, Venelanda Cheyo has improved access to farming supplies for many farmers in her local area. Photo: Farm Africa / Michael Goima

The Farm to Market Alliance project is supporting selected farmers and business people develop farm supply and service businesses in areas with weak links to these resources. By working together, these local proprietors are growing a powerful network of supplies and services for farmers across rural areas of Tanzania.

One of those selected is Stephen Herode, a farmer, livestock keeper, agricultural extension worker and owner of two agrovet shops:

“It is very difficult for farmers here to find the supplies they need. That’s why I am a service provider. The farmers trust me. I go to visit their fields and give them advice about their farming. I help them to decide what supplies to use to improve their production, and I make sure I stock everything they need in my shop. Currently, I serve more than 400 farmers.”

Photo: Farm Africa / Michael Goima

Alfred Martin established his agrovet business in 2021. “Sometimes farmers need products that I don’t have in stock, but through this network I can just pick up the phone and meet the demands of my customers”, he says. “I am very proud of my business and the services I provide. I serve a lot of farmers – more than 500.”

One of Alfred’s many satisfied customers explains why Alfred’s business is booming:

“Before the shop opened, we used to travel 20 km to buy seeds. Sometimes when we got there, we couldn’t find what we wanted. Travelling was expensive and sometimes we came back with nothing. Alfred sells products but also shares information on which kinds of seeds are best to use. I’ve increased my knowledge and my production!  We used to harvest ten sacks of maize per acre, but now we are getting 15-20 bags.”

Adelaida Joachim’s business is also thriving; she also has a customer base of over 500 local farmers. Being a farmer herself, she’s not surprised. “Before, they had to go to town to buy seeds and the things they needed for their farm. Now they can cut out the transport costs”, she says. “And my shop benefits me too! I always have seeds at the right time for planting, and I always have fertilisers and everything else I need, because they are right here in my shop. I don’t have to travel far.”

Adelaida Joachim is a farmer and now also an agrovet business owner. Photo: Farm Africa / Michael Goima

The Farm to Market Alliance project aims to reach 28,000 farmers.  Together we can reach even more.