From January, 2018 the Kolping Society of Tanzania besides other rural interventions in other regions, it has been embarking on a three years project focusing on Cassava and sweet potato value chains in Bukoba, Missenyi, Karagwe and Kyerwa Districts. The project was able to align some Kolping members and neighboring communities along the value chain by identifying and establishing specific thematic groups specifically; Seed multipliers, Roots and Tuber producers, Processors and Traders.

Thematic group members acquired good training and exposure on primary processing, marketing intelligence and strategies at least to enable them access both internal and external markets. The trainings were made relevant using practical materials/ products available at farm level. In order to cope with the fast increasing rates of value added products at each thematic group level, we urgently needed mechanisms, machineries and infrastructures in order to access within communities as well as urban markets. 

But, besides all the achievements which were recorded, there was a very big gap in relation to high costs of production, and relatively low production per unit area (labour intensive, low soil fertility). This aspect somehow hindered the ability of project beneficiaries to enter the market competitively and sustainably. Farmers used high cost during farm preparations and maintenance especially weeds control, and key cassava agronomic practices such as ridging and chemical fertilizer application were beyond their immagination.

The introduction of the ACAI, AKILIMO content knowledge and approach came at a time when it was most needed, a period when project stake holders were worried on how to scale out improved cassava production technologies, means of sustaining productions and supplies at global market competitiveness!
The report under review covers the period between 1st August, 2020 and 15th December, 2020; and was implemented in Kagera Region in the 5 Districts of Bukoba, Missenyi, Muleba, Karagwe and Kyerwa. The goal of the project is to facilitate use and dissemination of AKILIMO contents with use of Government extension agents, underpinned by introduction of performance-based incentives for extension officers; and Kolping playing a leading role.
The main activities carried out included the Identification of active cassava farmers producers groups/association, processors and buyers to be engaged in dissemination and use of Akilimo contents, Organization of meetings and trainings to introduce Akilimo Contents and formats to training on Akilimo contents to EAs working with Cassava farmers producer groups/associations, Lead farmers, partners agronomist or operation managers, representatives, DAICO and District Crop Officers, Agronomist/field staff (DCO) and formed ToT.

An extra activity which was not in the program, but was adopted during the course of the project was the training and establishment of 12, 1 acre Cassava Demo plots in all 5 Districts of the project coverage.The project has been a great success with a growing number of farmers enthusiastically adopting the AKILIMO contents which have proved to be a remedy to the challenge of high production cost and low production per unit area