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Africa Agribusiness Academy

NEWSLETTERQuarter 2, 2017

Editors Message

Dear all,

Africa Agribusiness Academy is proud to present its Quarter 2 Newsletter. The newsletter provides an overview of the work done in all our chapters following the priorities as set in our annual plan 2017. Our major high light for the quarter was increased membership in most of the chapters as is by the end of Quarter 2 we have seen an increase of paid up members from all our chapters and this clearly indicates growth in demand for our services to the small and medium entrepreneurs.Please endeavor to visit our website & be part of us today.

Patricia KyosiimireNewsletter - Editor

Greetings Members,As we assess quarter two I would like to

take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude towards all members & partners for the continued support in AAA activities. In particular much effort has been put into fundraising, and encouraging members to fulfill their annual subscription. In the next quarter, this process will continue but key is looking at membership and sustainability of the chapters.Within our programs, and contained in our events, you will find the right mix to suit your business needs. We ask that you, as a member of the AAA, take advantage of those programs and derive as much benefit from your membership as possible. As with most things in life you reap what you sow, and get out what you put in. Get involved. Come to the trainings, SD activities and

Business Club meetings. Quarter 2 also saw some major events happening where I participated in the Annual General meetings in Ethiopia, Kenya and a consultative meeting in Tanzania with the members.We encourage you all to send us an event or happening at your business. We’ll welcome your input and ideas and we want to hear your concerns. AAA is here to help you achieve the level of success that you desire.As we welcome the new Quarter we are excited about the great prospects ahead all with view to serve you better. We pledge to work even harder to meet the high expectations and grow your businesses.Thank you for choosing AAA.

Farid KaramaAAA Director

Newsletter Highlights• Directors Message

• Pan Africa Vice Chairman and Director Visit to Tanzania Chapter

• Africa Agribusiness Academy (TZ) extends its wings by partnering with Global Community.

• AAA Rwanda Chapter attended the 12th National Agriculture show 2017

• Sharing of Knowledge and experi-ences in Uganda

• Hortinet Benefits from AAA train-ings and networking platforms

• Dairy Sector Desk members participate in Dairy Value Chain Training and B2B.

Message from the AAA Director

Upcoming Events• AAA Uganda Annual General Meeting, 27th July

2017 - Uganda

• National Agriculture Trade Show, “Managing the Challenges of Climatic Change for Sustainable Agriculture.” 17th – 23rd July 2017 – Uganda

• 14th National Agriculture Fair “Unleashing Full Agriculture Potential: Role of Markets” 16th -19th August 2017 – Malawi

• 8th National Honey Week 21st -26th August 2017 @FORESTMALL,LUGOGO – Uganda

• Grain and Pulses (Quality and standard & Post Harvest Management) 12th July 2017 Training to be held at Kanguru Training Centre in Meru – Kenya

AAA Tanzania Members after the consultative meeting in April

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AAA being a member driven platform, its aim is to cater for its member’s needs. In April this year the AAA Secretariat took an initiative of gathering members views, suggestion with the purpose of strengthening and improving its services to the Chapters. Tanzania was lucky enough to be visited by the AAA Director and the AAA Pan Africa Vice Chairman. The meeting was held at Double View Hotel in Dar-es-Salaam.AAA and its members in Tanzania realized that members need more assistance in finance. This includes Financial Management systems and linking members to financial aids. Although many members in agribusiness fear the interest rates, it seemed like members are willing to get the financial aid in terms of equity.With the new launched Small Loan Fund service by AAA, Tanzania members are positive that their business financial need will be solved especially those who need small loan ($ 5,000 – $ 20,000) and have no collateral, as this service will be at Business club level.“The SLF will be available to members who qualify and the qualified members are those who pay their fees, participate in BC, Chapter and SD activities. This is important because the loans will be given based on the trust that your fellow members have on you as these members will be your guarantors” elaborated the AAA Director Mr. Farid Karama.The visit served as push factor for AAA member to embrace the services offered by AAA.

Grace MhinaCountry Coordinator Tanzania

Africa Agribusiness Academy (TZ)

extends its wingsby partnering with Global Community.

The mission of the AAA is to foster innovation and growth of SMEs in Tanzania, this seemed to be the intention of GC as well, therefore the two decided to join forces and deliver the best services to SMEs in the country.On Friday 30th June, the two organizations held training on branding, packaging and access to market at Dar-es-Salaam. Beneficiaries were mainly AAA members from three BCs in Tanzania Dar-es-Salaam, Dodoma and Mbeya. The training aimed on the informing members on the importance of branding in market sustainability.The training enlighten members on how the changes in consumers behavior have driven the agricultural producers to start think about their marketing and branding strategies. A brand is made up of many elements that create an emotional feeling in customer’s mind about a company, its people, and its products. This customer’s emotional feeling helps a company’s Agro-Product to stand out in its consumers’ minds, as it is compared with other competitors’ products.Members learned that the success of the Agro-product market access depends on the Agro-product marketing mix – Quality of the Agro-product,– Price of the product,– Distribution channels put in Place, and– Promotion effort and advertisement, including the linkage strategies in place “Packaging quality will have a direct impact on the Quality of the Agro-product, while the Branding will influence the Promotion effort and advertisement” emphasized the trainer Mr. David Lutabana

Grace MhinaCountry Coordinator Tanzania

AAA Rwanda Chapter attended the

12th National Agriculture show 2017 From 22nd to 27th June 2017 Africa Agribusiness Academy Rwanda Chapter attended the National Agriculture show with a theme “Adopt climate resilient technologies to improve farmer livelihoods”. 17 Members attended the event during one week they learnt a lot in agribusiness sector with climate change and was an opportunity for them to exhibit their products. Mr. Emmanuel Ntihinyurwa owner of Megavet EA Ltd a company specialized in seeds production and distribution said that the event helped him to increase the market share number of customers is increased and after this event we will open other branches to facilitate farmers to get seeds at low costs, Mr. Emmanuel Said. Mr. Fulgence Melkior Tarimo and Ngila Kimotho Agri-inputs sector desk Leader from Kenya Chapter attended the event. It was an opportunity for them to attend a training on how climate can be managed by famers to increase harvest.

Celestin HakizamunguCountry Coordinator Rwanda

Pan Africa Vice Chairman & Director Visit to Tanzania Chapter

Some of the Vet medicines exhibited during the show

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Sharing of Knowledge and

experiences in the Ugandan Chapter

AAA members who actively participate and belong to one of the business clubs of the country chapter on a monthly basis meet other members, link, learn, support & make business deals. In the recent training about the Inclusive Business Model Canvas under Honey SD that took place from 25th-26th April,2017 carried out by Dr. Ernest Abaho, PhD BESBM, PGDMF, MBA Senior Lecturer/ HOD, Entrepreneurship, Makerere University Business School, members at the end of the training were able to incorporate the Inclusive Business Model canvas in their businesses hence got to learn the practical part of the model for example got to know how to engage the stakeholders as employees, suppliers, distributors or consumers and expand their economic opportunities hence a stepping stone towards achieving business growth.One of our prominent Honey processor Mr.Abanyu Simon under company name “Delta Bees” from the Western region shared his experience about the training and exhibitions organized by AAA. He learnt how to engage stakeholders as employees, suppliers, distributors or consumers and expand his economic opportunities, proper record keeping has helped him in estimating input and output hence attaining expected profits, he has confidently defined his customers in terms of selling on credit to keep market for his goods and services throughout the seasons.Through other training activities as well as mentoring and coaching on items such as business planning, Mr.Abanyu has been able to draw bankable business plans to various financial institutions such as FINCA which he is eagerly expectant.The support given by AAA to its members in attending exhibitions which is usually costly on his side has greatly improved his business skills through networking with various entrepreneurs in the same sector, through networks still, he has been able to establish various market networks for his services and products like training and

consultancy on honey propolis, bee venom among others thought out the whole country hence steadiness in the flow of his business.Through a partnership created between AAA and Challenges Worldwide an International Development Charity organisation, through the International Citizen Service (ICS) programme, their volunteers will be offering business support to one of our members “The Hive Limited” for 10 weeks.The volunteers will perform an analysis of the enterprise, focused on six key business areas: Leadership, Organization and Staff, Product/Service and Processing, Sales and Marketing, Financial Management, Social and Environmental Impact which are major factors for business growth.After diagonizing these areas while using business diagnostic, market research, SWOT analysis, PEST analysis, supply chain mapping and competitor analysis, among others, a numerical score will be generated for the enterprise to understand its operations, strengths and areas for improvement.Recommendations will relate to the six key business areas and vary depending on the enterprise’s needs. Currently the volunteers are supporting the enterprise to begin implementing the recommendations that will help grow in the key areas.In the third quarter, we look towards participating in the Jinja Agricultural Show which we believe will provide a practical learning ground for the members, we also anticipate to launch the AAA SME Fund and formation of AAA Savings & Credit Cooperative which we strongly believe will be a strong tool in bringing new members on board and also encourage existing members to renew membership.We urge all our members to embrace App usage to effect communication and increase on member involvement in the activities to bring desired results.

Angella LogoseCountry Coordinator Uganda

Hortinet

Benefits from AAA trainings and networking platformsAccording to Merriam-Webster’s definition of a success story, a success story is “a story of a person who rises to fortune, acclaim, or brilliant achievement”.

Africa Agribusiness Academy, in her mission statement aims to foster innovation and growth for Small and Medium Agribusiness Enterprises in Africa, with the hope that member company’s rise to fortune and brilliant achievement. AAA has done just that for Hortinet. Hortinet is an agribusiness company based in Lilongwe, Malawi which was established in 2008. When AAA started her ground work in Malawi in August 2015, Hortinet was one of the founding members with the expectation to benefit from AAA through the networking platforms in terms of business capacity building. Hortinet, being given the leadership role of AAA Malawi’s Lilongwe BC Leader, started working closely with AAA, putting in the exemplary effort to fellow members, in attending Business Club activities and participating in AAA networking events. Recently this year, 2017, I had the privilege to sit down with the owner of Hortinet, Mr Frankie Washoni, in the AAA office. He was very excited and happy, ready to share his recent achievement. “Ah Connie, I think AAA has a lot to do with these successes I have been having,” he said. We both remembered the Business Plan Development training that took place in 2016 under the facilitation of AAA Finance coach Mr Elijah Kang’ara. At that same time there was a call for concept notes for the Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund. “You know, even though I may not have made it to the final round of the challenge fund, one thing I know is I have a deeper understanding of how to develop a business plan, and how to manage my business finances. These are the basic things members miss. As a business owner you need to put your books in order, not having a briefcase company.” He appreciated the effort of having developed his business plan with Mr. Elijah Kang’ara who coached him up to round two of the challenge fund, mostly through emails and skype calls. “But look,” he showed me a letter, “I sent in another concept note

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to apply for the Matching Grant for the Business to Business Linkages Fund. Hortinet has succeeded and has acquired 20,000 USD from it. Would this have been possible without AAA?” He also shared with me on the business model he was planning to embark on. “I have seen members from the other AAA chapters engaging in this model but it’s not yet here in Malawi. I am also getting a lot of solar drying technique information from one member in Tanzania. This information I am getting at no cost and AAA has made

it possible through their networking platform.” His enthusiastic gestures and passion for AAA shows a lot also in his leadership of the Lilongwe Business Club, as he leads through his success story which acquires him the ability to recruit new members into the AAA Malawi Chapter. He is one of the many who are ready to go far with AAA.

Constance MunyenyembeCountry Coordinator Malawi

Dairy Sector Desk members participate in

Dairy Value Chain Training & B2B in Kenya.SMEs play a critical role in economic development in Africa and around the world. We see SMEs often being the key driver in creating employment, strengthening and expanding the private sector, and increasing per capita GDP. Africa Agribusiness Academy (AAA) understands this very well and this explains why it’s committed to walk the journey with Agribusiness Entrepreneurs. AAA encourage and enable small and medium- sized entrepreneurs to launch and expand their businesses and enter the formal economy, thus helping SMEs to serve as an engine of growth.AAA serves its members in different approaches such as Business Club, Knowledge Networks, Sector Desk and use of Resource centre. Sector Desk (SD) in this case it’s the grouping of SMEs based on different sectors they belong. It is cross- countries and activities are spread across all the countries AAA is active. Dairy Sector Desk is one of the most vibrant Sector Desk with the largest membership across the countries. On 27th and 28th April 2017 the SD held a two day training on Dairy value chain and embracing technology which was combined with a B2B. The activity was held at Nakuru – Kenya attracting members from Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya. The objective of the training was to provide members with a forum to share information, stories and experiences in a way that builds their business understanding and insights. It was also to help them explore together with other Dairy SD members new business possibilities and create new, mutually beneficial opportunities. By visiting dairy

farms and processing companies be in a position to improve their

businesses by seizing the opportunity to learn from this visits.Day one saw members get trained on Hygienic milk production Milk collection, preservation, transportation, Value addition; Fermented products making processes(yoghurt, cultured buttermilk) Cheese making technology, new technologies in dairy industries. AAA exposes its members to practical learning, coaching and mentorship and on the same day members visited Chemusian farm which is a modern dairy farm that has been existence for over ten years. It is based some few kilometers from Nakuru town. It sits on 2800 acres of land having over 800 cows out of which 400 are being milked. On a single day they are able to produce over 8,000 liters of milk which is commercially sold to milk processors and they own and manage a number of milk outlets in Nakuru.

The farm is being managed by professionals and they have embraced modern technology in Dairy farm. This farm was just the best for AAA Dairy SD members who were on a mission to learning how to operate a modern dairy farm. Members did learn a lot from feed production, making of syringe, use of milking machine, milk pasteurization, calving, milk distribution, animal feeding, milk hygiene, modern technology being used to monitor the animal i.e. use of GPS among many other benefits.

AAA is committed in ensuring that the members access cheap and affordable finance to be able to commercially grow their businesses. Day two saw Dairy SD members participate in a B2B with Rift and Upper Eastern Business Club members. The B2B activity was attended by UMATI

Capital who is in the business of offering trade Finance. They took members through training on the importance of understanding trade finance and the role it plays in ensuring the business cash flow is maintained. The training was followed with a company visit to Farming Solutions ltd a company that is owned by AAA Member. The company is in the business of Pasteurizing fresh milk and importing and selling Milk ATMs across Kenya. Members got to go through the coaching and mentorship session with the company Director Mr. Geoffrey Gitonga. Same day members also visited the company’s Dairy farm where they learnt a lot. The day would not come to an end without the Visit to happy cow which is based few kilometers from Farming solutions ltd. The company is owned by AAA Member and is in the business of making Holland Cheese and Yoghurt. The company has been in AAA since 2014 and AAA has been there to support its growth from Small to Medium.

The two day activity saw members learn a lot, Network and do business with each other. One member from Rwanda Chapter said that the two day event was an opener and he felt motivated to go and grow his business with the knowledge he had learnt and experienced at the company visits.

Samuel KabiruCountry Coordinator Kenya

Membership criteria• SME - Employs 5 - 100 persons• Turnover USD 30,000 – 1,000,000• Open mind for sharing knowledge

and ideas• Willing to coach and mentor others.• Balanced gender, sector and country distribution

• In Countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi and Rwanda

•MembershipregistrationfeeUSD$100

•AnnualsubscriptionUSD$100

Contact us at:Africa Agribusiness Academy (Secretariat)

P.O Box 6046, Plot 173/174Kagugube Kintu Road, Kampala, Uganda.

Tel: (+256) 785 312521Facebook: Africa Agribusiness

Academy. Twitter@AAAcademy