Finnish LIMAS project in Mtwara excels despite few challenges

 Mr. Machiel Spuij, General Manager of Masasi High Quality Farmers Products Ltd (a Finnish owned company) gives his report about the Chakama Village Factory and its progress on cashew nut plantations.  Listening on are over 19 Finnish envoys including H.E. Sinikka Antila, Ambassador of Finland in Tanzania who visited the village in Masasi, Mtwara mid this week.  

The  Ambassador of Finland to Tanzania, H.E. Sinikka Antila (center) listening to welcoming song by local primary school in Chakama Village in Masasi District.  Other on photo are Ms. Fatma Ally, the Masasi's District Commissioner (left) and Masasi local government official

H.E. Sinikka Antila, Ambassador of Finland to Tanzania (left) and other members of the Finnish delegation looking at how cashews are semi-processed at local Masasi High Quality Farmer's Products Factory in Chakami Village.

Story and phots By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO

The Finnish Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms. Sinikka Antila has praised the progress made by the Lindi-Mtwara Agribusiness Support (LIMAS) especially by local factories which are set to produce over 600 tons of cashew crops this year alone.

Ms. Antila was in Mtwara-Lindi regions on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, where her Embassy had organized programme of over nineteen high-level Finnish decision-makers and opinion leaders to tour LIMAS-projects.

“The group is here to explore investment opportunities and learn about challenges Tanzania face in agriculture sector,” said Ms. Antila.  The group toured Chakama Village in Masasi District, Newala and Mikindani all located in Mtwara and Lindi regions. 

Responding to Chakama Village farmers’ report made by Mr. Machiel Spuij, the General Manager of Masasi High Quality Farmers Products Ltd., a company owned by 9 villages in Masasi District, Ms. Antila praised the company for being organic and fair-trade certified. 

“Being the first fair-trade cashew producer in Tanzania, and likely the only double certified producer in the African continent is something to be proud of,” said Ms. Antila.

She said however, the villagers still face an uphill battle to increase and sustain the current production.  “Limited knowledge on cashew growing, lack of packing materials and market portability, lack of investment by farmers have all attributed to low revenues and poverty among farmers,” explained Ms. Antila.   

Mr. Spuij writes in his report that electricity problems have also played role in slowing the cashew productivity, including low food safety standards and poor water hygiene.

 “It will take time to compete and close the gap against the higher standard producers in other countries like India, Vietnam, or Brazil.  Our methods of producing cashews aren’t as sophisticated as foreign companies.  We lack proper hygiene environments and manufacturing processes,” said Mr. Spuij.

He said the 350 tons of last year’s cashew crops processed in both Maugura and Chakama Factories are set to reach European market by the end of this year, targeting Netherlands, Germany and Finland countries.

Cashew agronomy has been the primary project funded by Finnish government in attempt to increase farmers’ revenues and productivity.   “We provide field training that includes agricultural skills and sustainable farming.  In turn, a pool of local experts who are all farmers, are able to help their fellow farmers to increase production,” said Mr. Spuij.  

Ms. Antila recognizes the need for higher standard machineries in Tanzania in reaching cashew factories’ competitiveness with other countries.   Most cashews from Tanzania are sold as in shell-nut to India.  While in India, they are processed and sold out to European market as Indian Cashews. 

“This means that Tanzania incurs unnecessary exporting expense, while cost-effect value needed is removed from Africa (Tanzania)’s profit,” explained Mr. Spuij.

LIMAS is a bilateral four-year project between Tanzania and Finland, which started in 2010 with aim to vitalize rural farmers from Mtwara-Lindi regions in developing their social economic marketability.  It is primarily funded by Finnish government.

Prior to trip to Lindi-Mtwara, the envoys also participated last Monday in an official launch of Dar Teknohama Business Incubator for young entrepreneurs on ICT-sector and TANZICT, a Finnish-Tanzanian bilateral project aiming at developing the ICT- and information society strategies and capacities of Tanzania.

The 19 member group consisted of members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, members of Finnish parliament, editors in chief from Finnish television and newspapers and top Finnish businessmen.  

Others were the Finnish Ambassador to Tanzania and her staff, international agronomists and Lindi-Mtwara’s local government officials.