A NEW initiative empowers smallholder farmers and youth in central zone to build successful businesses in the sunflower sub-sector. The Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) project provides training and support, enabling youth to engage in everything from sunflower seed production to edible oil processing and value addition.

The year-long project, funded by AGRA and implemented by the Agricultural Markets Development Trust (AMDT), aims to assist at least 28,000 smallholder farmers and 152 youth-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across five regions.

Speaking yesterday at the NaneNane farmers' annual festival, beneficiaries shared their inspiring stories of economic transformation. Aisha Marijani, a young woman from Chamwino District, explained how the project helped her shift from low-yield maize and sunflower farming to profitable edible oil processing.

Another beneficiary, Beatrice Kalinga from Mpwapwa District, said the project trained her to become a certified producer of quality sunflower seeds. With marketing skills from the initiative, her seeds—approved by the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI)—are now in high demand among local farmers.

Delta Shila, from AMDT's Project Management team, said the project's focus is on building the capacity of youth-led SMEs for regional and international trade. "We facilitate their participation in trade fairs such as NaneNane to intensify their experience, build confidence, and expand their market reach," he noted.

Shila added that the project provides training in sanitation, quality control, and safety measures to ensure products meet industry standards. Furthermore, it links youth SMEs to government initiatives like innovation hubs and block farms which offer crucial support for land acquisition and financing.

Through initiatives like this, the project helps to secure dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities for youth, driving economic growth from the ground up.