Meet Eng. Innocent Masaka: The Young Agricultural Pundit Driving ASA Towards Becoming a Dividend-Paying Entity
Earlier birds catch the morning worm. Having recently taken full charge of the Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA), Eng. Innocent Masaka, the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is now considering transforming ASA into a more business-oriented entity, with the ambition of eventually generating reasonable dividends for the state coffer.
Thanks to his two predecessors, Dr Sophia Kashenge and Dr Leo Mavika, the former CEOs who played their part with great commitment and patriotism, the state-owned agency has been significantly revamped, laying a strong foundation for improved overall performance.
Taking charge of ASA from such an impressive foundation gives Eng. Masaka a strong platform to carve out his own path, with his sights set on achieving even greater milestones.
Zanzibar news CEO- Cum- Managing Editor, Mr Valentine Oforo, recently met with Eng. Masaka for an exclusive face-to-face interview.
Q: How did you react when you received the information about your appointment?
A: I was both shocked and thrilled. Leading such an important agency, which plays a critical role in the development of Tanzania’s agricultural sector and contributes significantly to the national economy, is not an easy responsibility. But I thank God, because I believe He is the one behind my appointment.
I also sincerely thank Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Daniel Chongolo, for the confidence and trust they have placed in me by appointing me to this position.
Q: How did you find ASA when you took office? Was the Agency in good shape, or did you immediately encounter a number of challenges?
A: No, I found the Agency in a good position. My predecessors had played an important role in ensuring that ASA delivered its services efficiently and maintained well-organised operations. Farmers were receiving quality seeds in sufficient quantities and, importantly, at the right time.
Therefore, my responsibility now is to build on that strong foundation by transforming ASA into a more business-oriented and commercially sustainable agency. Our focus is to further increase seed production, improve efficiency and ensure that farmers across all agricultural zones have timely access to quality seed varieties that meet the required standards.
Q: What vision are you set to implement to achieve these goals?
A: Basically, ASA is mandated to produce quality seeds and distribute them to farmers at the Government-set indicative prices. Another key responsibility is to sensitise and educate farmers on the benefits of using quality seed varieties certified by the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI). We are also tasked with conducting thorough research into the demand for quality seeds across the country.
Our final key responsibility is to sensitise stakeholders in the private sector and encourage them to participate in seed multiplication in order to scale up production. My predecessors have been diligently carrying out their responsibilities to ensure that these key goals are achieved. However, there are still a few pending issues that need to be addressed.
So, based on your question, my future vision is to focus on the following areas to ensure that the Agency delivers services in line with the Government’s expectations.
First, I will work to further improve the installation of modern irrigation systems across all seed estates and ensure their effective and sustainable operation. This will enable ASA to make full use of all its seed-producing farms, targeting 100 per cent utilisation. With reliable irrigation systems, all farms can be easily accessed and seed production can take place throughout the year.
Second, I plan to expand the involvement of private players in seed production. We intend to enter into contracts with more seed companies and outgrowers to significantly scale up seed production.
The Government is now working to ensure that Tanzania’s agriculture sector produces not only for domestic demand but also enough food to feed other countries. To turn President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s ambition into reality, our farmers must seriously venture into agribusiness, and this requires the availability of adequate supplies of quality seeds.
Q: Tanzania has for years grappled with a shortage of quality seeds, with demand being higher than production capacity. What are you going to do to place ASA in a better position to contribute significantly to bridging this gap?
A: It is true. The demand for quality seeds in Tanzania is estimated at around 127,000 tonnes annually, but current production is less than 50 per cent of the actual demand.
What I seriously want to see is ASA being able to market all the seed volumes it produces to farmers across the country. Currently, the seeds produced by private companies, together with those produced by ASA and its contract growers, are not enough to meet Tanzania’s demand.
But most farmers are also concerned about the poor penetration and availability of quality seeds across Tanzania. To overcome this challenge, as I said earlier, we are going to scale up production and ensure that ASA becomes known by all seed users as a reliable source of quality seeds.
Q: What other plans do you have to transform ASA’s operations?
A: Okay, thanks for the good question. ASA is a state-owned entity that operates primarily as a service provider, but essentially, we are also engaged in business, with the Government providing subsidies.
My focus is to transform ASA into a fully business-oriented entity, to the point where we can operate on our own financial footing and begin giving back to the Government through dividend payments.
I know this is a serious journey, but it is also achievable. I have determined and capable staff who are ready to deliver. What is needed is a change in our mindset and a strong commitment to achieving this goal.
Q: Tanzania faces an annual edible oil deficit of approximately 350,000 metric tonnes and spends an estimated US$500 million each year on imports to meet the country’s growing demand. What plans are you planning to implement to increase the production of improved seed varieties for edible-oil crops such as sunflower, palm oil, groundnuts and sesame?
A: It is very true that Tanzania has a significant deficit in edible oil, and ASA is one of the important organisations that can help the country address this challenge, particularly through the production of quality seeds for edible-oil crops, enabling farmers and processors to increase production.
However, it is important to note that ASA is currently focusing on seed varieties for crops that have been prioritised by the Government as strategic crops.
Regarding the edible oil shortage, we have so far developed a viable system to boost the multiplication and distribution of improved sunflower seeds. For instance, in the current season, the Agency expects to produce between 1,200 and 1,300 tonnes of edible-oil crop seeds, while in the coming season, production is expected to reach up to 1,900 tonnes.
Basically, we are required to scale up production to at least 2,500 tonnes in order to put the country in a better position to meet the growing demand for edible oil.
At the same time, under the Government-set target, the Agency is required to increase overall seed production to 28,500 tonnes by 2030.
To ensure that the seeds reach all farmers in good time, we are also working closely with the Tanzania Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA).
Q: The world is currently witnessing the widespread use of advanced technologies in the agriculture sector. What strategies do you plan to implement to ensure ASA adopts and makes full use of these advanced technologies, including AI, to improve service delivery?
A: ASA has already started taking advantage of the ongoing developments in the global technology sector. For instance, we have already installed, and will continue installing, high-tech infrastructure at our seed farms, including those under irrigation schemes.
Currently, we are working towards the full digitalisation of all our operations, from the office to the farms. The vision is to fast-track and standardise our services, because all processes involving contract growers, engagement with private seed companies, and monitoring of the entire ASA seed chain will now be conducted digitally.
Q: Tanzania’s agriculture sector faces the challenge of counterfeit seeds being sold by a few dishonest seed dealers. What will be your strategy to ensure ASA works closely with TOSCI to plug loopholes that allow the marketing of substandard seeds to local farmers?
A: Fraud is an issue that has been observed in various areas. However, in the seed sector, those involved in such malpractice have been identified and held accountable.
One of the key things I am going to do is further strengthen our working relationship with TOSCI in this specific area. By doing so, more farmers will be trained on how to identify counterfeit seeds. TOSCI has already introduced digital mechanisms that enable farmers to verify the authenticity of seeds using both smartphones and ordinary mobile phones. What is needed now is an effective programme to train farmers and seed dealers on how to use these systems.
Another vital step in ending this problem is to ensure that enough quality seeds are produced and effectively channelled to farmers. I remain optimistic that we are going to overcome this challenge because plans are underway for ASA to enter into contracts with professional large-scale seed dealers in all zones. These distributors will be at the forefront of ensuring that quality seeds reach farmers at regional, district, ward, village, street and even household levels.
As part of these efforts, we are also going to work closely with the National Agricultural Extension Services Agency (NAESA). This is a new institution established by the Government to expand agricultural extension services to farmers at all levels across the country. Our target is to use NAESA’s extension officers, who are spread across the country, as good ambassadors to ensure that farmers use quality and certified seeds.
Another plan to address the counterfeit seed challenge is to work with the Tanzania Federation of Cooperatives (TFC). TFC oversees both large and small farmers’ unions, including AMCOS, across the country. These AMCOS have their own seed markets, so working closely with TFC will provide another reliable channel for ensuring that farmers access and use certified seeds.
Q: What is the position of ASA in contributing to Tanzania’s efforts to attain its ambitious 2050 development vision?
A: Indeed, ASA has a crucial role to play, considering the importance of quality seeds in ensuring national food security. Moreover, the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, is working to achieve the target of ensuring that the agriculture sector attains 10 percent annual growth by 2050.
All these goals call for the production and distribution of improved seed varieties for all strategic crops in Tanzania.
My strong vision is to ensure that by 2050, ASA becomes a giant commercial entity capable of producing seeds in line with the country’s growing demand, while operating on its own internal financial resources and contributing to the national economy.
ABOUT ASA
ASA is a semi-autonomous Tanzanian government agency launched in June 2006 under the Ministry of Agriculture. Headquartered in Morogoro, ASA produces, supplies, and promotes high-quality certified agricultural seeds to ensure food security and improve farmer productivity at affordable prices.