This week the integrated project to increase agricultural productivity in the breadbasket area of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, will be conducting a week long training for Community extension workers with the objective of building the capacity of lead farmers in the development and promotion of Conservation Agriculture. This project implemented by the ACT East and Horn of Africa regional chapter, in collaboration with the Rural Urban Development Initiatives- RUDI, BriTen and CRDB Microfinance unit aims to increase smallholder farmers’ incomes and food security through boosting productivity and access to structured produce markets in the Southern Highlands in Tanzania. Specifically, the project aims to achieve four main objectives:

• To strengthen producer groups and farmer organizations’ institutional, managerial and technical capacities in order to support the needs of their members.

• To improve smallholder market-led agricultural production.

• To enhance smallholder farmers’ access to structured produce markets of rice, maize, beans and soybeans, and to

• To improve access to extension and advisory services among smallholder farmers and the private sector.

With a target of 45,000 smallholder farmers in the four districts of Ruvuma region (Namtumbo, Songea, Ludewa and Kilolo), the main focus crops are maize, rice, beans and soybeans.

The Training has attracted fifty community extension workers working within the villages where the demonstration plots have already been set. Training modules include extension delivery and services techniques, soil component, agro-dealers, microfinance, conservation agriculture, marketing and warehouse receipt system. After the training, the trainees will be expected to assist the government extension officers in liaising and contributing towards increasing smallholder farmers’ incomes and food security.