Abstract:
Agriculture plays a major role in the overall economic growth of Tanzania. It contributes 46% of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP). It provides a basis for livelihood to 82% of the population of 33.4 million (National
Census, 2002). It contributes 60% of the foreign exchange and a source of raw materials for the manufacturing
sector (Bureau of Statistics, 2004). The dependency on cash crop economy has not delivered. It has failed to
generate revenue for development, while incomes from the agricultural sector have been declining and jobs
have been lost. In the face of increasing population in rural areas no new employment has been created. The
objective of this research was to document and analyze strategies used by identified successful cases of Rural
Producer Organisations (RPOs) in the promotion of rural agricultural markets for the purpose of replication to
other RPOs. This research seeks to answer: what strategies have been used by some successful RPOs in the
promotion of rural agricultural markets, generation of income and maintenance of jobs for farmers and Other
rural producers while have been either neglected or unknown?
