Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) held its constitutional 24th Annual General Meeting on 19th to 20th December 2019. The annual general meeting was held at Southern Highland Conference center Morogoro Municipal and was attended by more than 400 participants including smallholder food producers’ members of MVIWATA from Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar and stakeholders including government officials, friends of MVIWATA, MVIWATA partners, members of academia, media, health practitioners and small and medium entrepreneurs.
The 24th MVIWATA Annual General Meeting was preceded by a one-day workshop themed ‘Role of Cooperatives in Building National Economy” which was well discussed by participants after a presentation from a main speaker Comrade, Sabatho Nyamsenda an Academician from University of Dar es salaam and a long-time friend of MVIWATA.
Another speaker was Mama Veronica Sophu a smallholder farmer from Mbarali District and a former MVIWATA Chairperson who shared her experience on opportunities and challenges and the way forward on the Role of Cooperatives in Building National Economy.
Prior to the commencement of the workshop on day one, participants passed through booths prepared by some members of MVIWATA aimed to show-case and sell smallholder farmers’ produces. Members also visited health stands aimed for health check-ups.
Fruitful presentations, discussions and reflections were made by participants by analyzing the role of cooperative in building national economy. Participants reflected on the performance of their cooperatives, challenges and opportunities and the way forward. Resolutions were reached and close-follow of the resolutions was agreed.
The 24th MVIWATA Annual General Meeting was successful held on day two the 20th December 2019 where the agenda of the meeting were tabled and successful discussed by members. Some of the agenda included implementation reports for 2018, approval of work plan for 2020, MVIWATA constitutional draft review and approval.
MVIWATA Board of Directors led by a Chairperson Mr Abdul Gea headed the General Meeting together with the Executive Director Mr Stephen Ruvuga who seats as a Secretary in a General Meeting. Members of MVIWATA contributed their ideas and opinions across the organizational strategic plan that includes smallholder farmers access to land, Sustainable production, Market access for smallholder farmers produces, Financial services for smallholder farmers and finally Strengthening organizational capacity to execute its duties effectively.
Members cherished the general meeting with fascinating traditional dances and songs with messages that encourages sustainable productions, good governance, praises to MVIWATA leadership, access to land for smallholder farmers as main producers in Tanzania.
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