In 2023, CARE International entered into a strategic partnership with Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) to enhance agricultural productivity and profitability among marginalized smallholder farmers. The collaboration, formalized through an agreement effective from March 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025, aims to foster innovation, capacity building, and inclusive growth in Tanzania’s agricultural sector.
A major milestone of this partnership is the development of the National Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) Guidelines. This initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the Tanzania Society of Agricultural Education and Extension (TSAEE) and the Ministry of Agriculture. The guidelines were officially launched on August 2, 2025, at Nzuguni Grounds in Dodoma, as part of the annual Nane Nane Week Commemoration.
The launch event was officiated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Gerald Mweli, who affirmed the Ministry’s full endorsement of the guidelines and their adoption across government institutions, NGOs, and private sector programs—particularly those focused on empowering smallholder farmers. The Indonesian Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Tri Yogo Jatmiko, attended as a special guest and expressed Indonesia’s interest in deepening agricultural cooperation with Tanzania.
Key contributors to the development of the guidelines included Prof. Catherine Msuya and Prof. Rasel Madaha from SUA, alongside Dr. Innocent Busindeli. The team, led by Prof. Msuya, worked closely with stakeholders from CARE International and TSAEE to ensure the guidelines were both contextually relevant and technically robust.
The FFBS Guidelines are poised to benefit over 5,000 agricultural extension officers and improve the livelihoods of countless farmers across Tanzania. What sets the guidelines apart is their:
✔️ Emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning
✔️ Integration of technical, business, and nutrition knowledge
✔️ Standardized approach to farmer training
✔️ Strong focus on resilience, productivity, and profitability
This collaboration marks a transformative step in agriculture-led development in Tanzania—anchored in partnership, local expertise, and farmer-centered innovation.
Top Photo (from your left): Ms. Upendo Mndeme, Director at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) department of
Crop development, Government of Tanzania, H.E. Tri Yogo Jatmiko,The Indonesian Ambassador to Tanzania, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Gerald Mweli, Prudence Masako, Country Director @ CARE Tanzania, Dr. Nazael Madalla is the Director of Aquaculture within the Tanzanian Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, Prof. Catherine Msuya, and Prof. Rasel Madaha