Mbao Sokoni

Mbao Sokoni or "Timber in Markets" is a marketing tool for smallholder tree growers and their forest-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Tanzania. The forest sector in Tanzania is dominated by small scale producers, who are unorganized and located in remote areas. They face a myriad of challenges incl. accessing extension services, markets and financing. They lack the understanding of what the markets wants and oftentimes they produce products which are not wanted in markets - thus making losses. Mbao Sokoni is designed to be managed by producer groups namely tree grower associations (TGAs) and (SMEs) in the southern Highlands (Njombe, Iringa and Ruvuma regions), and is initially supported by the Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme (PFP2). It is being piloted in the form of price boards in 80 villages where PFP2 operates providing updates on timber prices in major markets of Tanzania, but it is also on social media (incl Instagram, Facebook and Twitter), to create awareness and to link buyers to producers through their TGAs As the tool develops, it increases users and uses. It will soon start scaling up to use a web based system, which provides interactive features for various users along the value chains including those in end markets, service providers such as transport agents, tree growers, researchers and stakeholders. Since the tree growers are being organized, trained on best forest management and processing skills, they add value and quality of the products going into the markets. By working in groups and joint marketing facilities, they have collective voices and by being informed about market prices, they can make fair trade deals with end buyers. Through support in business growth related skills development, the small producer groups are slowly building strong business entities, which means they can save and advance to profitable processing, access finances to expand their businesses, and meet market demands.