The call was made in Dar es Salaam over
the weekend during a ceremony where fresh graduates were presented with
livestock at an entrepreneurship training centre in Mbezi area.
Speaking shortly after the ceremony, Rose
Meela who is one of the trainers said most of the entrepreneurs fail to
compete internationally and a major hindrance is poor packaging
materials.
She said packaging materials are sold at
high prices which some small traders cannot afford, despite the fact
that local products especially those manufactured by local processing
industries, are of high quality.
Rose explained that the livestock given to
the graduate entrepreneurs is a subsidy from the college itself as part
of their policy to support their students with not just the skills but
material in cash and kind. The livestock afforded them guarantees that
they immediately become productive applying the skills acquired from the
institute.
“…they don’t have to pay anything, only their training fees…” she said.
Dr Michael Ndazi, an agricultural expert
and a veterinarian said the students are provided with enough knowledge
on livestock and poultry management and the college has so far trained
hundreds of entrepreneurs across the country.
One of the beneficiaries, Ester Kyomo, a
resident of Tabata in the city, thanked the college for providing her
with 200 chicks. Kyomo was afforded the fowls after she attended a
course at a minimal cost of only 20,000/-, yet she know has the capital
and entrepreneurial skills to guide her through production and
marketing.
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