Heifer International Vice president – Programs and COO passing on a Heifer to a group member of Faraja group in Rungwe District.
Steve Denne with Mbeya Regional Commissioner Abbas Kandoro, when he visited the RC’s offices in Mbeya.
Heifer International Chief Operating Officer Steve Denne, EADD Country Program Manager Mark Tsoxo and Mbeya Regional Commissioner Abbas Kandoro pose for a picture.
A Heifer International Tanzania Farmer, Abel Mwakatumbula with his wife pose with Steve Denne when he visited the farmer in Kyimo village.
Some of the benefits achieved after years of dairy farming which began in 2000 when Irene Silla ( farmer) received a Pass On gift – Heifer, from Heifer International.
Kinondoni District Commissioner Jordan Rugimbana welcomes Heifer international’s Vice President Steve Denne and The organization’s country Director Dr. Henry Njakoi to his Offices in Kinondoni.
Steve Denne when he visited Kinondoni District Commissioner Jordan Rugimbana.
The East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project launched in Tanzania in March this year will prioritize social capital and gender equity to increase impact, and will benefit 136,000 primary beneficiaries with proven benefits for their families and communities.
EADD results in higher income for smallholder dairy farmers by providing them the opportunity to bulk their milk and receive training and services through Dairy Farmer Business Associations or producer organizations. The project will be implemented in Njombe, Iringa and Mbeya Regions.
During his meeting with Mbeya Regional Commissioner, Mr. Steve Denne- Heifer’s Chief Operating Officer thanked the Government of Tanzania for the continued support to Heifer International in the programs the organization has been implementing in Mbeya region and various other regions across the country for forty years. “Heifer International focuses on bringing Sustainable livelihood through the projects we are implementing in Tanzania, we will continue supporting the government in community development and improving the income of small holder farmers through the East Africa Dairy Development Project in Mbeya, Iringa and Njombe.”
Even though Mbeya Region comes third in per capita milk production in the country, most farmers have not been able to benefit substantively with dairying. The biggest challenge the farmers experience is sustainable market and infrastructure. The region lacks milk collection and cooling tanks as well as very few small processing plants.
Regional Commissioner Kandoro urged Heifer International to continue supporting small holder farmers and promoting dairy development in the country especially Mbeya Region which is positioned third in the quantity of milk produced in the country. Hon. Kandoro was delighted that the East Africa Dairy Development project would bring fast economy growth in the region by facilitating milk collection centers in three districts in Mbeya. The Regional Commissioner advised Heifer International that in as much as the EADD project will develop milk collection hubs, the project should also look into how they would help smallholder farmers to become milk processors and enhance development of the dairy industry and economic growth in the region
Initiated in 2008 and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the East Africa Dairy Development project has provided extensive training on dairy husbandry, business practices and operation, and marketing of dairy products to 179,000 farming families in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Twenty-seven milk collection hubs were developed, 10 existing hubs were improved, and 68 farmer business associations were formed by 2012. Since then, EADD has grown to be one of the leading market-oriented development initiatives in eastern Africa, earning the farming families more than $131 million.
The second phase of the program will strengthen the approach implemented in its first four years to make the project scalable and replicable. EADD II has expanded into Tanzania while continuing work in Kenya and Uganda, and will employ new technologies and practices around fodder production, alternative energy sources and milk transport systems.
EADD seeks private sector partners who can bring and add value in the areas of milk production, access to credit, milk processing and value addition, breed improvement, sustainable feed systems, water management, milk storage, packaging and product transportation.
Mr. Denne was also able to visit EADD project sites where he met with 2 farmers and Faraja group a farmers’ association in Rungwe whose main activity is dairying. “ it is indeed great joy to see how enthusiastic , ambitious and hardworking the farmers are, I believe they will benefit more from EADD and we will continue to support them in reaching their dreams and bringing development in their communities” said Steve Denne- Heifer International Chief Operating Officer and Vice President Programs.
Mr. Denne concluded his visit by meeting different Dairy stakeholders in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
About Heifer International
Heifer International is a global non-profit, humanitarian development organization founded by Dan West in 1944 dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and caring for the Earth through livestock enterprises support, training and other related resources to help smallholder farm families around the globe become self-reliant and attain sustainable livelihood. Heifer International has been working in Tanzania since 1974.
Heifer International Tanzania works with vulnerable families and communities in partnership with relevant stakeholders to improve food security, increase income and assets by sharing knowledge, livestock and other resources, empowering women and ensuring environmental sustainability.
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