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Govt moves to improve private sector
2006-03-07 08:10:40
By Deogratius Kiduduye, PST, Mbeya
The government has started conducting training programmes for small-scale entrepreneurs at district level.
The training, conducted through the Agriculture Marketing Systems Development Programme (AMSDP), is aimed at strengthening the private sector in the country, according to AMSDP official Zipporah Mwakajwanga.
Mwakajwanga was speaking to small-scale traders drawn from Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) branches in Mbeya, Iringa, Ruvuma and Rukwa regions attending an entrepreneurship course in Mbarali District.
She said the programme would enable them identify sustainable markets for their commodities.
’’After completing this course, you will be able to understand the small and medium-scale entrepreneurship policy, business registration processes and how to raise capital to boost your businesses,’’ she said.
Mwakajwanga added that TCCIA members at the district level were trained on how to prepare project proposals, tax education, contracts and agreement processes and how to identify and utilise marketing opportunities.
Mbarali District Commissioner, Gilbert Dololo, said when closing the course that efforts to boost small entrepreneurship in the country were being frustrated by rampant corruption, which must be tackled resolutely.
He advised AMSDP to include HIV/Aids prevention education in all future programmes because members of the business community where a high risk group as far as the spread of HIV/Aids was concerned.
’’Your work involves travelling a lot and this puts you at risk of HIV infection thus underlining the importance of HIV/Aids awareness,’’ he said.
AMSDP is being implemented in 38 districts in Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions in the Northern zone and Mbeya, Iringa, Ruvuma and Rukwa regions in the Southern Highlands zone.
It has the long-term goal of increasing the incomes and food security of the rural poor in respective zones, and the short-term goal of improving the performance of the agriculture marketing systems through a number of initiatives including providing financial incentives to smallholders.
The programme, which also works to increase the number of medium-scale entrepreneurs who interact with small-scale producers and traders in rural areas, is an initiative by the Tanzanian government, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Irish government.
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