The Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture has decided to form value chain cooperatives to sell fisheries and agriculture products.
A public announcement by the ministry last week invited interested parties to submit proposals before April 15. The programme is to be undertaken with loan assistance from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
According to the announcement, the cooperative will offer information and training to women and low-income farmers to maintain quality as well as facilitate loans for equipment and capital investments.
Additionally, the cooperative will help to seek long-term business agreements with both local and international buyers.
“The project will help the cooperative to create an original and competitive brand in the market that would symbolise high quality and freshness,” reads the announcement.
While the government will have a stake in the cooperative in the beginning, its shares are to be transferred to members of the cooperative at the end of the project.