Yes, small farmers will be consulted during the next phase of our project’s development. We have just completed our feasibility analysis and preliminary planning, which included a series of listening sessions and a workshop led by us, to solicit local input from political, university and technical leaders at the national, regional and district levels. Twelve key needs were identified by our fellow Tanzanians at that workshop and will be incorporated into our program.
This process has helped us clarify where and when the project might begin. With those clarifications, we will now proceed to the next phase of the planning process, during which we will meet directly with smallholder farmers, outgrowers, community leaders, and local government officials to discuss the design of our small farmer, outgrower and community development programs and their participation in it.