Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulim Tanzania – MVIWATA through a Climate Resilient Landscapes and Improved Livelihoods Program has so far implemented a direct training to more than 60 forest and farm producers in Kobi ward Njombe region. Forest and farm producers have so far received training on tree census, measuring forest farm size and training on market analysis of forest and farm products.

In partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), MVIWATA is implementing a Climate Resilient Landscapes and Improved Livelihoods Program under the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) which is a multi-donor funded project housed within the Forestry Department and implemented in partnership with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and AgriCord.

The Forest and Farm Facility has now entered its second phase (2018-2022) with the goal of ensuring “climate resilient landscapes and improved livelihoods” among Forest and Farm Producer Organisations (FFPOs) including women, youth and Indigenous Peoples. Phase II of the FFF is  ensuring that FFPOs are key players in reducing poverty and significant contributors for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to fight climate change.  

MVIWATA’s interventions under this program aims at strengthening the capacity of forest and farm producers to engagement in cross-sectorial policy and legal processes, increase the delivery of landscape-scale climate responses, in inclusive and sustainable economic opportunities, improved social and cultural services through direct financial support, technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, and exchange visits, paying special attention to gender equality, youth engagement and indigenous peoples’ rights, working closely with governments.

The program also aims to contribute to realization of eleven Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will therefore have a global impact. FFF is a catalytic programme of FAO for the implementation of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (2019-2029).  

MVIWATA with a support from FAO Tanzania will implement the programs’ activities in three regions of Njombe, Tabora and Rukwa.

It is estimated that more than 1.5 billion smallholder farmers around the world depend on forest landscapes for their food and livelihoods. Collectively the gross annual value of their production of food, fuel, timber and non-timber forest products is between US$0.8 and 1.5 trillion, making them the world’s largest private sector.

Forest and farm smallholder producers have a defining significance for the world’s poverty reduction, food sovereignty, forest management, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and climate change adaptation. But enabling them to make a positive contribution requires investments in organisation and inclusive capacity development such that women and men, young and old can play their part.

Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) for years since its establishment has implemented various activities in production with the objective of ensuring smallholder farmers have  access and ownership of sustainable farming methods.

Recently, alongside a number of on-going production initiatives MVIWATA is implementing a sunflower production program in five districts of Kiteto (Manyara region) Singida rural, Iramba, Ikungi and Manyoni districts (Singida region. A total of 58 smallholder farmers groups (mainly women and youth groups) in 23 wards are engaged in this program.

MVIWATA bought sunflower seeds from Agriculture Seed Agency (ASA) a public enterprise, the seeds were supplied to smallholder farmers. A partnership with private enterprises and district, ward extension officers has also been effected. The overall objective of this designed interventions is to mobilize farmers into groups, provide organic sunflower production trainings through established demonstration plots, inputs, working animals (cows), ploughing, supervision, extension services, and later engage stakeholders to buy sunflower from farmers at premium price. MVIWATA has provided 400kg of Sunflower seeds that has been planted on 133 acres in the five districts.

Tanzania, currently imports about 60 percent of its cooking oil requirements at a cost of approximately $250 million USD per year. This can be eliminated through increased joint efforts in production of sunflower. With increasing demand of edible oil in the local, regional and global markets, sunflower that seems potentially to grow everywhere in Tanzania, can now emerge as a sustainably edible oil cash crop which can play a big role in rural poverty alleviation and economic development.

MVIWATA supports the government’s efforts to the sunflower sub-sector by which the government has been taking a number of efforts to improve productivity, such as through investing production of improved seed varieties, through the implementation of National Sunflower Oil Sector Development Strategy and Agriculture Sector Development Program number two (ASDP2) that aims to further intensify support to this sector.

Sunflower is mostly grown by smallholder farmers. Major sunflower producing regions in Tanzania are Singida, Dodoma, Manyara, Arusha, Tabora, Iringa, Njombe, Rukwa, Mbeya, Morogoro, Ruvuma, Kigoma and Katavi.

Tanzania produces sunflower oil seeds for raw materials in processing cholesterol-free edible cooking oil with a by-product being used as livestock feeds. Sunflower seeds and their oil are good sources of fat, protein, fibre and vitamins, as well as certain minerals. The oil content of the seed before hulling ranges from 28% to 42% and is well known for its high linoleic content, which provides low levels of saturated fats, a clear amber colour, long shelf life, a pleasant cooking odour and low refining losses. There are a number of varieties produced with a high oleic content, which is most notable where monounsaturated fat exceeds 80%.

Sunflower is among the five major oilseed crops in Tanzania. Others are sesame, groundnuts, palm and cotton oil. It is a very important crop to the livelihood of Tanzanians along the entire value chain. Current raw sunflower seed production is 3 million tons per annum, but the country has the potential to increase production to 10 million tons per annum.

With a devoted plan and collaboration with stakeholders in place, MVIWATA is determined to tackle key challenges including insect, pest, disease and vermin through extension officers, access to financial services through established SACCOS and VICOBA, access to market and market information through collaboration with private enterprises and control of high post-harvest loses in sunflower production.

In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2021, Members of Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania – MVIWATA in Ruvuma, Mtwara and Shinyanga regions have celebrated this special day in collaboration with government and other stakeholders.

MVIWATA’s motto in this celebration is “AGAINST THE VIRUS OF PATRIARCHY AND CAPITALISM, THE VACCINE IS FEMINISM AND SOLIDARITY“.

In addition to the members holding celebrations in their respective regions and districts, MVIWATA also organized an online discussion through Zoom where participants from various institutions including Pan-Africanism Today (PAT), Kenyan Peasants League (KPL), and students from Sokoine University of Agricultural (SUA) along with other stakeholders shared and exchanged knowledge and experiences on various movements towards women emancipation around the world.

The discussion was broadcast live through MVIWATA FM 106.7 MHz,

Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) unakukaribisha kushiriki katika Maadhimisho ya Siku ya Wanawake Duniani Tarehe 8, Machi 2021.  Kutakuwa na mjadala kwa njia ya mtandao utakaojikita kwenye Maada ifuatayo ” Katika kupambana na Ubepari na Mfumo dume, Kinga ni Ufeministi na Mshikamano.

MUDA: SAA (9) TISA KAMILI ALASIRI.

Jiandikishe kupitia kiungo kilichopo hapa chini;

https://viacampesina.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApdumsqjkjGNLkThVCAMI-hqDiRWSaGySx

Baada ya kujiandikisha, utapokea barua pepe ya kuthibitisha kujiunga na itakayokuwa na kiungo cha kukuwezesha kushiriki majadiliano hayo.

Karibuni sana.

Mtetezi wa Mkulima ni Mkulima Mwenyewe

Demonstrating how vanilla spice is planted to 30 smallholder farmers representing farmer groups’ members of MVIWATA in Ng’anda village Wanging’ombe district Njombe region is Mr Haji Ramadhani (Mkandanongwa) a member of MVIWATA from Mlimani local farmers network Morogoro Municipal.

The vanilla production training was organised by members of MVIWATA in Ng’anda village, Wanging’ombe district in Njombe region after been aware that there is untapped potential in Vanilla production. Arranged on theoretical and practical aspects the participants of the training were able to learn the key steps and requirements to grow vanilla from Mr Haji Ramadhani.

Mr Haji Ramadhani famously known as Mr Mkandanongwa is a trainer having a vast experience in agro-ecological practices and spice production. Having received this knowledge from a number of trainings organised by MVIWATA for years, Mr Haji has been useful in training fellow farmers’ members of MVIWATA to advance their production capacity and skills. Mr. Haji learned vanilla production from Kagera region through a farmer to farmer and exchange visits organised by MVIWATA.

Vanilla farming is less popular in Tanzania but farmers from Zanzibar and regions like Kagera, Morogoro, Kilimanjaro and Njombe have run into its cultivation. Vanilla is pollinated by hand, producing one bean per flower. It is a labour-intensive process thus effective to be produced through groups of farmers a model widely used by MVIWATA members.

Vanilla is in big demand in several foreign markets including Europe, Middle East, China, Australia and the United States of America. Vanilla is a sought after product, usually the second most expensive spice in the world. This meal-flavouring plant ranks as the number two most pricey of all spices. Only saffron is higher-priced.

The plant originated in Mexico and is a major natural flavour widely used in many industries as food, beverages, sodas, pharmaceutics, cosmetics tobacco and traditional crafts. Vanilla beans originated in Mexico, and in some Central American countries as Costa Rica and Honduras. However, today vanilla beans are cultivated in many areas of the world and the main producing countries are Madagascar, Indonesia, China, Comoros and in a lesser extent Tonga, Reunion, Turkey and Guadeloupe. Countries that cure vanilla and re-export the finished product make important profits without running risks associated with primary production. Thus, the main re-exporting countries are Japan, Germany, France, UK and USA.

Vanilla production in Tanzania however profitable faces a number of challenges including lack of a by-law to protect the crop, skilled extension officers with background on vanilla, limited technology and lack of a coordination mechanism. Trainings to MVIWATA farmers groups by Mr. Haji are in series because vanilla production requires step by step trainings from production to harvesting, sorting and grading, packing, transportation and marketing.

Lastly Mr, Haji urged farmers during the training that for them to get quality and sustainable yield, organic farming technique has to be adopted. He further emphasizes that mechanization is not a solution. Vanilla is interplanted with other crops and grows on support trees. Therefore, land preparation prior to vanilla planting has to be done by hoe and cannot be done by tractor. Once planted, weeding also has to be done by hoe. Vanilla plants have shallow roots and would easily be damaged during weeding if care is not taken.

Mtandao wa Vikundi Vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) Ruvuma branch held a feedback session with stakeholders in agriculture sector on monitored agricultural related projects. The participants of this session included smallholder farmers’ members of MVIWATA and government officers led by Namtumbo District Commissioner Hon, Sophia Mfaume. 

The monitored projects included irrigation schemes from Ligera, Kitanda and Limamu Wards in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma region.

Hon. Sophia Mfaume in her remarks commended the formidable work of MVIWATA in mobilising farmers in group and networks for collective actions. She also commended MVIWATA for its efforts in social accountability monitoring referring to it as a true cure to a number of agricultural projects that are lagging behind because of poor involvement of smallholder farmers and the public at large in project initiation, implementation and monitoring.

The district commissioner urged MVIWATA to continue tirelessly in mobilising smallholder farmers for social accountability monitoring and that the public should view these projects as theirs because these projects are a result of citizens’ taxes of which they should be protected at all cost.

The Namtumbo District Executive Director Mr, Evance Nachimbinya made it clear that the commendable activity done by MVIWATA has shed light on the challenges facing the district with regard to the irrigation schemes. He said the district will conduct a survey and assessment for all the irrigation schemes to see their status of implementation, evaluate the costs to finalise them and because the district is having minimal sources of income part of the fund will be requested from the ministry to finalise them.

Social accountability monitoring is a measure of whether public office bearers are held accountable to existing and emerging social concerns and priorities based on needs of the public. Social accountability strategies try to improve institutional performance by reinforcing both citizen engagement and the public responsiveness. It also offers a set of approaches and tools to promote smallholder farmers (citizen) engagement and monitoring to improve public projects performance, effectiveness, and responsiveness to public needs. Social accountability monitoring approach is one of the mechanisms MVIWATA uses to capacitate smallholder farmers to engage with the government in identifying and seeking solutions to specific problems they observe in their localities in agriculture sector. Effective social accountability monitoring is enabled effectively through regular feedback sessions between citizens and administrators.

In overcoming the challenges smallholder farmers face in various aspects be it production (land, inputs), extension services, post-harvest management, processing and packaging, marketing, climate change, just to name few, there need to be a  stronger united farmers’ groups and networks that speak out by themselves on issues they face in a day to day life.

To effectively implement this, Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) a national network of famers groups in Tanzania and so far the largest farmers’ organisation in Eastern and Central Africa persistently mobilizes smallholders farmers in groups and networks to have a common voice in defending their interests in all aspects of life.

With a vision to ensure empowered smallholder farmers’ work together to advocate, defend and advance their interests by influencing policies and systems, members of MVIWATA at various regional, district and grassroots networks in Tanzania mainland and islands in collaboration with steering committee members, promoters and local government authorities are mobilizing smallholder farmers in groups and networks. Recently, MVIWATA Ruvuma branch conducted a membership mobilization and sensitization meetings in Masangu and Magagura villages of Songea District Council, where a number of smallholder farmers groups were mobilized and sensitized to become members of MVIWATA.

A Sisi kwa Sisi Women’s group representatives in Mbarali District, Mbeya region received a power tiller machine for paddy production as a loan secured from Mbarali Disrtict Council. The group with 20 members all being women are also members of MVIWATA.

The group which is also a beneficiary of rice thresher machine from Nafaka project had challenges emanating from production and harvesting, a need that necessitated the group to secure a power tiller machine by which it will be used as a means to transport a rice thresher machine effortlessly.

Through Nafaka project, a A Sisi kwa Sisi Women’s group initiated a need for training on finance management a need that was well covered by MVIWATA through Nafaka project. After the training the group was able to secure a loan worth of 13 million Tanzania shillings which enabled the group to secure a power tiller machine.

The handover event took place at Mbarali District Council offices of which a power tiller was handled to Sisi kwa Sisi women group by Mbarali District Executive Director. A similar efforts are underway to a number of farmers’ groups of women and youths to secure machines in Mbarali Districts a process that will reduce work force and time spent to cultivate a farm, increase efficiency and productivity while reducing cost of production.

Facilitating group formation and networks of smallholder farmers under the umbrella of MVIWATA is the primary activity of MVIWATA which is the country’s largest farmers’ organisation. The formed groups and networks of smallholder farmers usually gets a series of training depending on the need of the group as initiated through a number of brainstorming events by the group.

While encouraging farmers to use agricultural machinery, MVIWATA is engaged as well in training farmers and engaging other relevant stakeholders to cater for aftermath of mechanization that includes the need of regular supplies of fuel and spare parts, training of mechanics and operators, training of farmers in the whole value chain, provision of extension facilities, guarantee of irrigation water, forming forums for discussing about input distribution networks and price control mechanisms, provision of crop storage and marketing facilities, and the formation of pricing policies.

In Tanzania, rice is one of the widely grown crops and is the second most important food crop in terms of number of households, area planted and production volume. Besides meeting local consumption demands, the paddy sector is a major source of income and employment in rural areas. The leading regions in rice production are Mbeya, Shinyanga, Tabora, Mwanza, Rukwa and Morogoro.

Majority of rice farmers are smallholders who produce rice for home consumption and sale surplus directly to customer, traders or through a cooperative society where there is a Warehouse Receipt System in operation. Women farmers and youth by far play a significant part in rice production value chain.

Rice in Tanzania is the second most important food and commercial crop after maize with significant national importance as a source of employment, income, and food for millions of rural households. Tanzania is the second largest producer of rice in Eastern and Southern Africa after Madagascar. In 2017/2018, paddy was cultivated on 1.1 million hectare with a total production of 2.2 million tons of milled rice mostly by smallholder farmers.

The 25^th Annual General Assembly of MVIWATA held on 17^th December, 2020, inaugurated by the Guest of Honor Speaker of the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania Hon. Job Ndugai, along with other agendas delegates also had the opportunity to Elect New Members of MVIWATA Board of Directors in accordance with the Constitution and Rules of MVIWATA.

The MVIWATA Board of Directors consisting of nine (9) Members has been elected by the Members of the 25^th Annual General Assembly of MVIWATA after the Members of the previous Board headed by our Chairman Mr. Abdul Gea whose term came to the end. The elections have resulted in the attainment of our new MVIWATA Chairman who is Mr. Apolo Chamwela, from Manyara.

MVIWATA Executive Director Mr. Stephen Ruvuga has congratulated the newly elected Board of Directors led by Chairman Mr. Apolo Chamwela for being trusted by members in leading the MVIWATA, a farmers’ organisation which has built Faith, Hope and became a great and unique space for smallholder farmers in the country.

Mr. Stephen added that smallholder farmers are facing a number of challenges, thus building their national and international unity and solidarity through MVIWATA in close collaboration with government authorities, stakeholders and friends of MVIWATA in defending their interests is very important.

The Chairman of MVIWATA Mr. Apolo Chamwela on behalf of the Members of the Board of Directors expressed his special gratitude to the Members of the Annual General Assembly for trusting them and giving them the opportunity to lead the organisation. He thanked the on-going leadership of MVIWATA headed by Mr. Abdul Gea along with other retirees for leading the MVIWATA institution with the utmost honesty and integrity to achieve the current success which the Guest of Honor Speaker of the United Republic of Tanzania Hon, Job Ndugai has commended very much in his Opening Speech of the 25th Annual General Assembly.

Mr Apolo urged members of MVIWATA to continue upholding MVIWATA’s motto of THE DEFENDER OF THE FARMER IS THE FARMER as well as to strengthen the Unity and Solidarity among them including denouncing statements, actions and deceptions that undermine the interests of smallholder farmers in the country and undermine the development and prosperity of MVIWATA.

Inaugurating the 25th Annual General Assembly of MVIWATA Chairman Mr. Apolo commended the Executive Director of MVIWATA Mr. Stephen Ruvuga and his team of staffs for their honesty, creativity and diligence in their responsibilities which makes MVIWATA the only refuge and national body of smallholder farmers fully defending their interests.

The Speaker of the Parliament of United Republic of Tanzania Hon, Job Ndugai opened and addressed members of the 25th Annual General Assembly of MVIWATA at the Highlands Hall in Bigwa, Morogoro Municipality.

Hon, Job Ndugai, Speaker of the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania said before more than 300 members of the 25^th MVIWATA Annual General Meeting that he is aware of and commends MVIWATA in its efforts to fight for the interests of farmers in the country. Hon, Ndugai highlighted a number of activities and its successes that are being held by MVIWATA including securing land rights to smallholder farmers, sustainable agriculture initiatives, establishment of alternative financial opportunities, legal aid services, establishment of economic activities and markets for the produce of smallholder farmers.  He noted that the Axis of Parliament will continue to monitor and defend the interests of smallholder farmers in Tanzania.

The Speaker commended MVIWATA for making good use of its resources and for the successful construction of its Headquarters Offices and also for the establishment of the MVIWATAFM 106.7 MHZ radio station which is able to raise the voices of smallholder farmers in the country in fighting for their interests.

Hon, Ndugai also congratulated MVIWATA for been awarded Fisrt Winner for the Best Presented Financial Statements for the Year 2019 by the National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) category. Video https://fb.watch/2_yjZjc0Jd/

He said this while opening the Annual Meeting of Members of MVIWATA – Dodoma Region held on December 8, 2020.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Hon, Gerald Kusaya said the Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) is an important national and unique platform in solving the challenges of smallholder farmers, especially access to quality and sustainable inputs, markets and friendly financial services such as Village Community Banks and Savings and Credits Co-operative Society (SACCOS and VICOBA) for its members and smallholder farmers in general, especially those in rural areas.

Giving his introductory remarks and greetings from MVIWATA Headquarters on behalf of the Executive Director of MVIWATA, Policy Officer, Advocacy and Communications Mr, Michael Neligwa congratulated the members of MVIWATA Dodoma region for their good organization, developing and strengthening their unity and solidarity within MVIWATA. He also noted that the Executive Dorector, Mr, Stephen Ruvuga, was willing to participate with them as he had been participating in all the previous meetings but had failed due to other responsibilities.

Michael added by thanking the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture for honouring the MVIWATA institution by responding to the invitation to participate in the Annual Meeting for MVIWATA members in Dodoma Region. In addition Mr Michael outlined the purpose of Annual Meetings at the regional level that have already taken place.  On behalf of the Executive Director of MVIWATA he requested and invited the Secretary General to participate in the 25th MVIWATA General Assembly to be held on December 17, 2020, at the Highland Hall in Bigwa, Morogoro Municpal.

Speaking at the opening of the Meeting, Kusaya thanked for the invitation to participate in the 25th MVIWATA General Assembly and promised to make sure he participates fully so that he can convey his message and talk to smallholder farmers from all regions of mainland Tanzania and the islands, opportunities and platform available only through MVIWATA.

He added that he was not happy to hear complaints from smallholder farmers about the lack of fertilizers and quality seeds or to hear that inputs were being sold at exorbitant prices by the input agents. He urged smallholder farmers to join MVIWATA and use MVIWATA networks at all levels in collaboration with government authorities, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, to import such inputs directly from government agencies where the cost is lower compared to private traders.

“I know MVIWATA for many years, use your union and networks to import fertilizer in a joint system through the fertilizer agency (TFRA) where you will buy cheaply and distribute to your members in rural areas. The ministry exists and will closely monitor to bring relief to farmers”, said Kusaya.

Kusaya added that MVIWATA which is a National Network that brings together smallholder farmers is also responsible for finding the best low-cost seeds for maize, sunflower, rice and other crops by submitting their requirements to the Government Seed Agency (ASA).

Initially in welcoming the Guest of Honor, MVIWATA Dodoma Regional Chairman Mr, Said Matonya requested the government through the Ministry of Agriculture to support the availability of seeds for food crops and trade before the end of the season and the seeds should be sold at low cost.

The MVIWATA – Dodoma Annual Meeting was attended by one hundred (100) MVIWATA members from all Districts of Dodoma Region who explained the various challenges they face in production including expensive agricultural inputs and untimely availability, poor extension services, government’s attempt of promoting some crops without setting viable marketing strategies for such crops, as well as the existence of many and difficult conditions for smallholder farmers to get loans to finance their production activities.

Responding to these arguments Kusaya said the Fifth Phase government under President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli values ​​farmers which is why various measures including the Seed Agency (ASA) and the Fertilizer Regulatory Authority (TFRA) have been directed to deliver their services to rural areas at government guide prices.

“My presence here today is proof that the government values ​​and cares for smallholder farmers in the country. I am again instructing the Seed Agency in the country (ASA) to ensure that the best maize seeds reach Dodoma and all other regions and are sold not exceeding 6,000 shillings per two kilogram bag” ordered Kusaya.

Likewise, Kusaya called on MVIWATA to use the presence of 14 government agricultural training colleges (MATI) and 4 farmers’ training centers in the country to send farmers and youth to learn better agricultural techniques to increase productivity in agricultural activities.

He mentioned the Bihawana smallholder farmers’ center in Dodoma as an important place where MVIWATA members in Dodoma region can use it to gain various training and knowledge to increase productivity and skills to run agriculture activities in a more productive manner.

Kusaya advised and stressed smallholder farmers in the country through MVIWATA to use the presence of the Input Fund (AGITF) administered by the Ministry of Agriculture as it will enable access to better agricultural tools such as tractors, power tillers, and inputs at low interest rates.

“The input fund is special for lending to farmers and its interest rates are affordable as the group is lent at 6% interest and a private farmer is lent at 7 percent and makes repayments for 72 months” stressed Kusaya.

The Annual Meeting for Members of MVIWATA – Dodoma is part of the important annual forums in accordance with the MVIWATA Constitution held at all MVIWATA branches at the regional level to discuss the development and prosperity of MVIWATA as well as electing MVIWATA leaders in accordance with MVIWATA guidelines. At the meeting, MVIWATA members in Dodoma region had the opportunity to elect a Regional level Steering Committee that will lead for the next three (3) years.

To date 19 MVIWATA Regional Branches have held Annual Meetings which brought together a total of more than 3,300 participants representing their fellow Members in Ward, Division and District Networks.

Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) has been awarded FIRST WINNER and received the Award for best presented and internationally recognized standards of financial statements award for 2019 in the category of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) by the National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA).

The award which is regarded as measure for financial reporting expertise among organizations in the country and which passes through a rigorous screening process overseen by seasoned judges with diverse backgrounds and use International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The NBAA judges said the criteria used to select the winners included those who scored over and above 75 percent of the set criteria, of which only two organizations (MVIWATA and SIKIKA) scored past 75 percent for year 2019.

Speaking during the 25^th MVIWATA Annual General Assembly while presenting the award to members, MVIWATA’s Executive Director Mr, Stephen Ruvuga said “This victory demonstrates how we are committed to maintaining the highest integrity in presentation of our financial statements,”

“Our financials are prepared in accordance and compliance with IFRS and local requirements, we met the disclosure requirements which is why we emerged as winners for the fifth year running,” he added.

This award is the Fifth (5) in a row within five (5) years since the organization began presenting its financial statements to NBAA in 2016. In the past five (5) years MVIWATA has emerged SECOND Winner twice and FIRST Winner three times.“THE FARMER’S DEFENDER IS THE FARMER”.