BUSINESS TO BUSINESS (B2B) FORUM REPORT Unlocking Investment and Innovation in Dryland Crops: A Business Forum on Sorghum and Groundnuts in Tanzania Papias H. Binagwa1 Fikiri A. Stiliwati 1 Emmanuel Mwenda 1 Sikitu Kazungu 1 Devotha Mchau 1 Andekelile Mwamahonje 1 Lilian N. Gichuru2 Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)1 International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre 2, © September 2025 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 3 2.0 Forum Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 3 General Objective: .......................................................................................................................... 3 Specific Objectives: ........................................................................................................................ 3 3.0 Approaches................................................................................................................................... 4 3.1 Pre-forum preparation and stakeholder mapping ................................................................... 4 3.2 Forum delivery implementation .............................................................................................. 4 3.3 Post-forum follow-up ............................................................................................................... 4 4.0 Forum highlights ........................................................................................................................... 4 4.1 Participant Categories .............................................................................................................. 4 4.2 Showcasing innovations and support ecosystems. .................................................................. 8 4.4 Business-to-Business Matchmaking ........................................................................................... 12 4.5 Feedback and Evaluation ........................................................................................................... 13 4.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 15 5.0 References ................................................................................................................................. 16 List of tables Table 1: 10-year production area and projected seed demand for Sorghum and Groundnuts in Tanzania ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Table 2: Cost benefit analysis for the certified and QDS of sorghum and groundnuts seed classes. 6 Table 4: Sorghum and groundnut production and productivity trends (2014–2023). ....................... 7 Table 5: Summary of Panel Discussion – Questions and Responses................................................ 11 Table 6: B2B Matchmaking – Sample Business Interactions ............................................................ 12 List of figures Figure 1: Categories of forum participants. ....................................................................................... 5 Figure 2. Clockwise from left: CIMMYT representative, guest of honour, and TARI director general representative giving opening remarks. ............................................................................................ 8 Figure 3. Showcasing of improved varities of sorghum and groundnuts. ......................................... 9 Figure 4. Showcasing of improved varities of sorghum and groundnuts.......................................... 9 Figure 5. Mechanization innovation (left) and value addition technologies (right) ....................... 10 Figure 6. Matchmaking session in progress between partners. ....................................................... 13 3 1.0 Introduction Dryland crops such as groundnuts, sorghum, mungbean, cowpea, millets, and pigeon pea play a vital role in food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and livelihoods in Tanzania’s semi-arid regions. Despite their importance and adaptability to local agro ecologies, these crops remain under-commercialized, under-invested, and marginalized in the national agrifood systems conversations. Many improved varieties of these crops have been developed and released by national and international research institutions, but variety adoption and quality seed use remain low. This is attributed to several causes including weak linkages between research outputs and market demand. Moreover, private sector involvement for these value chains is limited, primarily due to perceptions of low commercial viability, unpredictable demand, and a lack of investment incentives. Furthermore, value-added traits of these improved varieties are not sufficiently communicated to market actors to drive commercialization decisions. Across the seed supply chains, several challenges continue to persist, ranging from misaligned early generation seed (EGS) systems, low use of variety licensing mechanisms to the lack of platforms for dialogue between farmers, breeders, seed producers, and off-takers. These bottlenecks hinder market development and restrict opportunities for scaling, enterprise growth, and employment generation within dryland crop value chains. Through science-based, locally led partnerships, CIMMYT and partners such as TARI seek address some of these challenges to accelerate the adoption of improved dryland crop varieties. With this hindsight, this Business-to-Business (B2B) forum was organized to offer a platform for learning, networking, and joint problem-solving, aiming to catalyse business growth and competitiveness within the sorghum and groundnut value chains. The event provided participants with access to knowledge on new varieties from researchers, connected potential business partners and mentors, and providing a space to co-develop practical solutions to long-standing challenges affecting the dryland crop sector. 2.0 Forum Objectives General Objective: The forum aimed to catalyse investment and partnerships in the sorghum and groundnut value chains by connecting key public and private sector stakeholders in Tanzania. Specific Objectives: a. To stimulate investment and strengthen business linkages across actors, with a focus on innovation, licensing, financing, and commercialization. b. To showcase scalable innovations and variety value, specifically highlighting high- performing sorghum and groundnut varieties developed by TARI and partners, emphasizing agronomic performance, resilience, and market potential. c. To co-design market-oriented solutions by identifying adoption barriers and proposing actionable interventions. d. To assess industry performance and policy bottlenecks by reviewing value chain trends and recommending regulatory and institutional reforms. 4 3.0 Approaches As the B2B forum focused on dryland crops, stakeholders working on Sorghum and Groundnuts value chains were identified through the existing database maintained by the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and snowballing to identify additional partners that work indirectly with these two institutions. During the forum, a structured set of approaches was applied in organizing and delivering the Business-to-Business (B2B) forum. These approaches ensured relevance, inclusivity, and actionable outcomes, aligned with the event’s purpose, target audience, and desired results. The process was guided by three key phases: 3.1 Pre-forum preparation and stakeholder mapping The CIMMYT and TARI teams began by clearly mapping/identifying the target audience and aligning the agenda with the needs of seed system stakeholders. A comprehensive program was developed, outlining themes, speakers, and facilitation roles. 3.2 Forum delivery implementation During the event, the forum objectives were clearly outlined, and participants were encouraged to actively contribute through discussions and interactive sessions. Group dynamics were effectively managed, and each session or task was introduced with clear instructions to ensure full understanding and engagement. The agenda was followed as outlined in Appendix 1. 3.3 Post-forum follow-up After the event, the organizing teams from CIMMYT and TARI consolidated key takeaways and developed actionable next steps. Responsibilities and timelines were assigned for follow-up activities. Participants received relevant materials and support to apply forum insights in their respective institutions. Additionally, feedback was collected to assess the effectiveness of the forum and inform future improvements. 4.0 Forum highlights 4.1 Participant Categories A total of 101 participants attended the forum, with women accounting for 37% of the attendees. Nine participant categories were represented (Figure 1): • Government institutions (7) • Private seed companies (4) • Processors (5) • Grain traders (3) • QDS farmers (15) • NGOs (5) • Value addition enterprises (4) • Media houses (4) 5 • UN agency representatives (WFP) (1) These diverse stakeholder groups formed the foundation for strong public-private partnerships (PPPs), leveraging the comparative advantages of each to strengthen seed systems, promote innovation, and enhance food security. By combining public sector resources with private sector expertise and investment, PPPs aim to address systemic challenges in the seed value chain, including access, quality, and market integration. Figure 1: Categories of forum participants. 4.2 Forum Opening and Strategic Framing The forum commenced with a presentation by Dr. Lilian Gichuru, Seed Systems Specialist at CIMMYT, who outlined the general and specific objectives (as captured in Section 2.0). These were anchored under the theme: “Developing Resilience in Drylands through Innovation and Partnerships.” Dr. Gichuru emphasized the importance of strengthening National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) and regional crop improvement networks to sustainably develop and scale new varieties and technologies that respond to the needs of both farmers and consumers. The forum sought to unpack the shared goal of catalyzing investment and facilitating linkages in the sorghum and groundnut value chains. Following her remarks, Dr. Papias Binagwa, Adjunct Scientist at CIMMYT and Senior Research Officer at TARI provided an overview of the seed sector dynamics for sorghum and groundnut. He highlighted trends in productivity over the past decade, with grain yields stagnating at 1.1 t/ha for sorghum and 0.7 t/ha for groundnut. Participants were challenged to play active roles in unlocking the full yield potential of these crops, estimated at 3.5 t/ha for sorghum and 1.5 t/ha for groundnut by using improved varieties and adopting yield enhancing practices. A 10-year outlook for cultivated area and projected seed demand for sorghum and groundnut in Tanzania (see Table 1) was presented. If all cultivated land were planted with high-quality improved seed based on 2023 data, the country would require approximately 2,736 MT of sorghum seed and 42,163 MT of groundnut seed. Yet, actual certified seed distribution comprises roughly 3% of these volumes, revealing vast untapped opportunities within the seed market. Despite variability in 6 cropping area—particularly for groundnut—the uptake of improved varieties shows encouraging progress: by 2021, adoption rates reached ~39% for sorghum, up from around 8% in 2014, while groundnut adoption climbed to ~35%, further signalling opportunities for greater seed demand (ICRISAT, 2021; CIMMYT, 2023; PABRA, 2023). Table 1: 10-year production area and projected seed demand for Sorghum and Groundnuts in Tanzania Year Sorghum area (Ha) Sorghum seed demand (MT) Groundnuts area (Ha) Groundnuts seed demand (MT) 2014 851,478.00 3,406 1,619,500.00 102,028.50 2015 755,836.00 3,923 1,624,683.00 102,355.03 2016 729,995.00 2,920 950,000.00 59,850.00 2017 753,708.00 3,015 960,000.00 60,480.00 2018 609,567.00 2,448 980,000.00 61,740.00 2019 646,868.00 2,587 990,000.00 62,370.00 2020 695,088.00 2,780 1,000,000.00 63,000.00 2021 747,915.00 2,992 1,020,000.00 64,260.00 2022 711,770.00 2,847 1,020,000.00 64,260.00 2023 683,967.00 2,736 669,260.00 42,163.38 Source: FAOSTAT Cost benefit analysis of seed classes shows a crop specific pattern (Table 2). For groundnut, gross margins were ~36% for QDS and 47% for certified seed, favouring certified seed production. For sorghum, QDS was more profitable at 58% versus 40% for certified seed. The sorghum cost gap reflects higher processing costs for certified seed in packaging, inputs, and postharvest handling. Most certified sorghum is sold in 2 kg packs, raising material and packaging costs, whereas QDS is often sold in bulk and unpacked. For groundnut, higher land preparation and labour in QDS compress margins, making certified seed the more efficient option, especially if some processes in the latter are mechanized. Table 2: Cost benefit analysis for the certified and QDS of sorghum and groundnuts seed classes. Cost Items (TZS/Kg) Sorghum seed classes Groundnuts seed classes Certified QDS Certified QDS Land preparation 150.00 80.00 196.85 304.88 Input and Labour expenses 675.00 350.00 974.40 1,173.78 Post-harvest operations 440.00 58.99 398.54 153.66 Seed packaging 1,118.00 350.00 551.18 200.00 Total operations 2,383.00 838.00 2,120.98 1,923.78 Selling price 4,000.00 2,000.00 4,000.00 3,000.00 Gross Margin (%) 40.43 58.10 47.00 35.90 Source: Private and public entities. Note: Gross Margin formula = Revenue – Costs of goods x 100 Revenue Dr. Binagwa also discussed recent policy reforms that affect the seed sector, including: 7 • The 2020 Quality Declared Seed (QDS) Regulations, which provide a framework for individual or group-based QDS production based on demand. • The 2023 Seed Regulations (Amendments), which revised provisions on seed dealer registration, variety release, seed certification, and inspector authorization. • The 2018 Plant Breeders’ Rights Regulations, which safeguard intellectual property rights for developers of new varieties. • The 2023 Plant Health Regulations, enacted under the Plant Health Act (2020) and enforced by TPHPA, aimed at managing pest and disease risks in crop production. These reforms were designed to create an enabling environment for investment in the seed sector and strengthen institutional frameworks for seed quality assurance and variety protection. Dr. George Sonda, representing the TARI Director General, officially opened the forum (Figure 2). He reaffirmed TARI’s commitment to advancing technologies that address market needs, including improved varieties, good agricultural practices, and mechanization tools. Dr. Sonda emphasized that annual sorghum production is approximately 1.1 million tons against a demand exceeding two million tons, underscoring the opportunities available for stakeholders to exploit. For groundnut, production is estimated at 586,000–700,000 tons, with exports reaching 20,000 tons, further highlighting the crop’s growing potential in regional and international markets (Table 4). Dr Sonda further presented two new groundnut varieties released in 2024 (TARIKA 1 and TARIKA 2), which feature high yields, early maturity, and disease resistance. Moreover, in early 2025, five new sorghum varieties were released: TARI SOR 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, four of these are OPVs, while one is a hybrid TARISOR 6. These varieties are early maturing, drought tolerant, pest resistant, and have multipurpose uses (food, feed, brewing, & industrial raw material). Dr. Sonda called on seed companies, traders, NGOs, and financial institutions to collaborate with TARI in commercializing these technologies through B2B linkages. Mr. Godfrey Moshi (figure 4), representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, delivered the keynote address. He commended CIMMYT and TARI for their continued collaboration and highlighted the strategic importance of dryland crops, especially in regions like Dodoma and Singida. He emphasized the role of public-private collaboration in tackling complex challenges such as climate change, limited capital, and market access. He encouraged stakeholders to act on the forum’s recommendations and invest in value addition and market development. He reiterated the government’s commitment to creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment for dryland crop development. Table 3: Sorghum and groundnut production and productivity trends (2014–2023). Year Sorghum Groundnuts Area (ha) Production (kg) Productivity (kg/ha) Area Production (kg) Productivity (kg/ha) 2014 851,478.00 883,195.00 1,037.20 1,619,500.00 1,635,335.00 1,009.80 2015 755,836.00 676,772.00 895.40 1,624,683.00 1,835,933.00 1,130.00 2016 729,995.00 739,807.99 1,013.40 950,000.00 640,000.00 673.70 2017 753,708.00 755,041.00 1,001.80 960,000.00 650,000.00 677.10 8 2018 609,567.00 672,235.00 1,102.80 980,000.00 670,000.00 683.70 2019 646,868.00 731,877.00 1,131.40 990,000.00 680,000.00 686.90 2020 695,088.00 750,000.00 1,079.00 1,000,000.00 690,000.00 690.00 2021 747,915.00 807,000.00 1,079.00 1,020,000.00 895,219.00 877.70 2022 711,770.00 768,000.00 1,079.00 1,020,000.00 936,799.00 918.40 2023 683,967.00 737,819.00 1,078.70 669,260.00 586,216.00 875.90 Source: FAOSTAT Figure 2. Clockwise from left: CIMMYT representative, guest of honour, and TARI director general representative giving opening remarks. 4.2 Showcasing innovations and support ecosystems. During the forum, researchers from TARI presented newly released varieties of sorghum and groundnut (Figure 7). These varieties exhibit key traits such as: • Drought tolerance • Resistance to pests and diseases • High yield potential • Suitability for confectionery and processing • High oil content (groundnut) • Enhanced micronutrient profiles, including protein and zinc. These innovations aim to meet both market and agroecological demands, enabling farmers and processors to improve productivity, resilience, and profitability. 9 Figure 3. Showcasing of improved varities of sorghum and groundnuts. Figure 4. Showcasing of improved varities of sorghum and groundnuts. In addition to varietal innovations, several forum participants showcased complementary technologies and services: • Mechanization technologies: Equipment for groundnut shelling, cleaning, and seed grading (Figure 8) • Value-added products: Locally processed snacks and oil products • Support inputs: Soil health and pest management solutions 10 Figure 5. Mechanization innovation (left) and value addition technologies (right) Beyond technology demonstrations, participants engaged directly with representatives from government institutions and development agencies that support dryland crop systems: • National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC): Operating under the Prime Minister’s Office, NEEC supports small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises by linking them to financing, business development services, and empowerment programs in rural areas. NEEC used the forum to highlight available financial instruments and capacity-building initiatives for agribusinesses. • Cereal and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA): COPRA regulates production, processing, and trade of cereals and other produce. Participants explored how traders and processors could align their operations with national and international standards, particularly for sorghum and groundnut value chains. • World Food Programme (WFP): WFP emphasized its commitment to strengthening local food systems through regional procurement and smallholder support. Discussions focused on how WFP’s work contributes to improved nutrition, dietary diversity, and maternal and child feeding practices. Participants explored entry points to collaborate with WFP, particularly around grain aggregation, food fortification, and value chain development. These engagements allowed participants to better understand the broader enabling ecosystem supporting innovation, investment, and commercialization in dryland crops. 4.4 Market Access and Investment Dialogue Unlocking market access for dryland crops requires addressing a combination of biophysical, social, economic, and institutional constraints, such as i) Strengthening community and institutional capacity, ii) Enhancing market information systems, iii) Promoting value addition, iv) Improving access to credit and financial services and v) Facilitating adoption of sustainable production practices. To explore these issues, a high-level panel bring together representatives from the following organizations was facilitated by Mr. Emmanuel Mwenda: 11 • National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) • ALSSEM Company Ltd • Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) • Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) Discussions were guided by six strategic questions; key takeaways are summarized at Table 2: Table 4: Summary of Panel Discussion – Questions and Responses NO. QUESTION KEY RESPONSES 1 What criteria do you use to assess the bankability of agricultural ventures in dryland crops? NEEC noted that bankability criteria vary across financial institutions they work with. Their role is to connect agribusinesses with the right institutions based on business size, type, and maturity. 2 How can SMEs, especially those led by women and youth, improve their chances of securing finance? SMEs must develop realistic, bankable business plans. NEEC offers support in refining business ideas and facilitating links with suitable financial partners. 3 What risks and incentives exist for investing in sorghum and groundnuts compared to other crops? Risks: Limited awareness of improved varieties and best agronomic practices; Low seed purchasing culture; Perception that sorghum is less desirable as food; Older varieties prone to bird damage Incentives: Strong domestic and regional demand (e.g. breweries, confectionery; Proven profitability of improved varieties; better alignment of products with target profiles; Alignment with target product; Emerging private-sector interest. 4 What public investments or policy shifts are needed to de- risk private investment? Public investment in EGS and irrigation infrastructure; Strengthened market linkages and buyer aggregation; Regulatory reforms to streamline seed certification, import/export procedures. 5 What innovation could “tip the scale” in unlocking dryland crop investment? Release of high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties; Bird deterrent technologies; Aflasafe adoption to mitigate aflatoxin in groundnut; Digitally enabled market platform 6 Other issues raised by participants Lack of awareness and low availability of seed despite high demand; High QDS registration fees and unstandardized packaging; Limited value addition focus in seed systems discussions; Need for more robust extension approaches of TARI innovations; Call for digital platforms to connect buyers and sellers real-time; Need to build nutritional awareness of dryland crops. The dialogue underscored the importance of co-investment between the public and private sectors. Several participants noted that financing institutions remain hesitant due to information asymmetries, perceived risks, and policy fragmentation. Addressing these gaps requires collaborative effort across actors to build transparency, trust, and shared investment priorities. 12 4.4 Business-to-Business Matchmaking A central feature of the forum was the structured Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking session (Table 3 and Figure 9), which connected businesses along the sorghum and groundnut value chains to explore partnerships, deals, and exchange knowledge. Unlike informal networking, matchmaking was designed to be outcome-oriented, linking potential clients, suppliers, financiers, and aggregators based on shared business interests. The session was facilitated by the organizing team and resulted in over a dozen documented engagements between seed producers, processors, service providers, NGOs, and support institutions. These interactions provided fertile ground for future collaboration in areas such as: • Seed supply and varietal promotion • Mechanization and processing solutions • Access to finance • Fertilizer and input distribution • Technology demonstration and dissemination • Aflatoxin control and packaging services. Table 5: B2B Matchmaking – Sample Business Interactions Service Provider Customer / Partner Discussion Summary Agricom Kilimo Tumaini la Jasiri (KITUJA) Discussed access to groundnut shelling and cleaning equipment. Exchanged contacts for follow-up. EONICE Food Products Explored financing options through Agricom’s linkages to credit providers. NEEC Seasoning Pallets (Processor) Sought connections to financing institutions with favorable loan terms. TOSCI QDS Producer Raised concerns over high packaging costs for QDS. Requested TOSCI to review and standardize costs. MAFADA Kilimo Trust, BRAC Maendeleo, DASPA, ALSSEM, CIAT Sorghum and groundnuts farmers Discussed bird deterrent technologies, and herbicide options for sorghum (Haimax) and groundnut (Fennut). Shared contacts for product accessibility across production zones. TARI Olipa Mahala (Farmer), Women Farmers Group (Chamwino), Gairo Farmers (Morogoro) Dialogue focused on soil suitability for sorghum, timely access to improved seeds, and on-farm demonstrations. ALSSEM BRAC Maendeleo Explored bulk seed supply arrangements for BRAC-affiliated farmers in the next season. FARM Africa Zoisa Seeds, Singidan Seed Company Joint plans to establish demonstration plots and facilitate input marketing through local business advisors. ITRACOM QDS Farmers Agreed to trial ITRACOM’s fertilizer on tomato plots and discussed agency roles for local distribution. 13 A to Z Company QDS Farmers, VEJOS Discussed access to Aflasafe (aflatoxin control product), silage bags, and standardized packaging materials. Farmers expressed intent to purchase during the cropping season. Figure 6. Matchmaking session in progress between partners. These discussions reflected a growing appetite for collaboration across the ecosystem, and a shift toward more market-responsive seed system interventions. Participants emphasized the need for continued facilitation to maintain momentum, finalize deals, and track delivery post-event. 4.5 Feedback and Evaluation Participant feedback played a key role in assessing the effectiveness of the forum and shaping priorities for future engagements. A total of 49 attendees completed the post-event evaluation, offering both quantitative ratings and qualitative suggestions. Most Valuable Sessions as ranked by Participants: Participants identified the following as the most valuable components of the forum: 14 The feedback revealed a strong emphasis on practical engagements that could directly influence participants' businesses, particularly those related to finance, partnership building, and market linkages. Overall Satisfaction and Follow-Up Interest • 98% of respondents felt that the forum clearly surfaced investment and partnership opportunities. • Key highlights included: o Opportunities for networking and B2B exchange (23%) o Access to potential business partners for seed production, aggregation, and marketing (22%) o Exposure to financing institutions relevant to agribusiness (20%) o Interest from NGOs and development partners in follow-up collaboration (17%) A notable 98% of participants expressed interest in continued engagement, specifically in the areas of: • Business matchmaking • Access to finance • Seed market linkages • Joint pilot initiatives Participant Recommendations for Future Forums Participants identified several areas they would like to see emphasized more deeply in future forums: 1. Financing – Greater involvement of diverse financial institutions and extended time for NEEC sessions 2. Export Markets – Deeper insights into regional and international trade opportunities for dryland crops. 3. Seed–Grain Linkages – Aligning seed demand projections with downstream grain markets. 4. Safe Food Processing – Ensuring food safety and quality standards. 5. Extended Networking Time – More structured time for peer-to-peer exchanges and product exhibitions Business-to- Business Matchmaking 26% Financing Opportunities for the Industry 21% Showcasing Innovation and Technology 18% Market Access Dialogue 16% Partner Pitches (Mechanization, Inputs) 14% Crop Industry Trajectory and Outlook 5% 15 6. Utilization and Agronomy – Guidance on value chain integration, agronomic packages, and input use 7. Irrigation Financing – Models to support irrigation for dryland crop production. 8. Mechanization and Value Addition – Business models to scale equipment and postharvest processing. 9. Varietal Profiling – Clearer presentation of strengths and weaknesses of local vs. improved varieties 10. Storage Practices – Long-term storage methods for groundnuts 11. Soil Health and Climate Info – Integration of meteorological and soil health data for production planning 12. Business Skills – Training on basic entrepreneurship, marketing, and business planning. 4.6 Conclusion The B2B forum on dryland crops successfully provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, business development, and strategic partnership building. Participants deepened their understanding of the sorghum and groundnut value chains, particularly regarding financing, seed access, market linkages, and technology dissemination. By combining expert presentations, interactive discussions, innovation showcases, and structured matchmaking sessions, the event empowered participants with: • Practical insights into scalable innovations and improved varieties • Opportunities for direct engagement with seed developers, financial institutions, and agribusiness partners • A better understanding of the policy and regulatory environment • Tangible business leads and partnership prospects across the value chain The forum also addressed several pressing challenges within the dryland crop ecosystem, such as: • Gaps in early generation seed availability • Disconnects between seed supply and grain demand. • Limited investment in value addition, irrigation, and mechanization • Financial barriers to scaling small and medium agribusinesses. Participants left the forum equipped with knowledge and actionable connections that can directly enhance the performance of their enterprises and initiatives. The B2B forum demonstrated that with the right enabling environment, inclusive dialogue, and sustained follow-up, dryland crops can become engines of rural development, resilience, and agribusiness growth in Tanzania. Moving forward, it is critical to build on the forum’s momentum by: • Operationalizing the partnerships and deals initiated • Strengthening feedback loops between seed producers, traders, and end users • Expanding access to finance and mechanization support • Promoting policy dialogue and regulatory reforms to unlock further investment 16 This event marked a meaningful step toward positioning sorghum and groundnut as priority crops, not only for food and nutrition security but also for inclusive economic transformation in Tanzania’s dryland regions. Appendix 1: Program agenda 5.0 References CIMMYT. (2023). Driving the adoption of improved varieties and productivity of sorghum through QDS in Tanzania. CIMMYT Repository. Retrieved from https://repository.cimmyt.org ICRISAT. (2021). Harnessing opportunities for informed sorghum adoption in Tanzania. ICRISAT Working Paper Series. Retrieved from https://oar.icrisat.org/11978 Kalema, E. P., Akpo, E., Muricho, G., Ringo, J., Ojiewo, C. O., & Varshney, R. K. (2022). Mapping out market drivers of improved variety seed use: the case of sorghum in Tanzania. Heliyon, 8(1). Unlocking Investment and Innovation in Dryland Crops: A Business Forum on Sorghum and Groundnut Date: 25th June 2025 Venue: Morena Hotel, Dodoma, Tanzania Time Activity Facilitator Session 1: Opening and Strategic Framing Chair: Emmanuel Mwenda 08:30–09:00 Arrival and Registration Coordinating Team, TARI 09:00–09:30 Welcome and Introductions Dr. Emmanuel Chilagane, TARI 09:40–09:50 Objectives of the Forum Dr. Lilian Gichuru, CIMMYT 09:50–10:15 Crop Industry Trajectory & Outlook DTTP, TARI 10:15-10:25 Opening Remarks DG TARI 10:25–10:45 Official Opening DCD (Guest of Honor) 10:45–11:00 Group Photograph & Health Break Fikiri Stiliwati Session 2: Showcasing Innovation and Support Ecosystem Chair: Centre Director, TARI- Makutupora- Dr James Armachius 11:00–11:30 R&D Pitches: New Varieties and Technology Packages Alex Gerald, Eliud Kongola (TARI), TOSCI Representative 11:30–11:45 Financing Opportunities for the Industry NEEC Representative TABD Representative 11:45–12:00 Strengthening DLC value chains COPRA Representative WFP representative 12:00–12:30 Partner Pitches: Mechanization, Crop Protection, Fertilizer, Processing, Post-harvest handling Selected Service Providers 12:30–14:00 Lunch & Exhibition Walkthrough Session 3: Market Access and Investment Dialogue Chair: Dr Andekelile Mwamahonje 14:00–14:40 Investor Panel: What Makes a Dryland Crop Bankable? (Panelists: Seed Companies, ESRF, SIDO, Financial Institutions, Universities) Moderator: Emmanuel Mwenda 14:40–15:40 Business-to-Business Matchmaking Sessions Facilitated 15:40–16:00 Open Discussion and Call to Action Dr. Eliud Kongola 16:00–16:10 Feedback & Evaluation Fikiri Stiliwati & Papias Binagwa 16:10–16:30 Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks CIMMYT, TARI, Private Sector Rep 17 Mangasini A. Katundu; Mwanahawa L. Mhina; Arbogast G. Mbeiyererwa and Neema P. Kumburu (2014). Socio-Economic Factors Limiting Smallholder Groundnut Production in Tabora Region. Research Report 14/1, Dar es Salaam, REPOA https://www.repoa.or.tz/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/REPOA_RR_14.1.pdf. Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA). (2023). Demand-led seed system accelerates adoption of improved bean, sorghum, and groundnut varieties in Tanzania. Retrieved from https://www.pabra-africa.org https://www.repoa.or.tz/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/REPOA_RR_14.1.pdf 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Forum Objectives General Objective: Specific Objectives: 3.0 Approaches 3.1 Pre-forum preparation and stakeholder mapping 3.2 Forum delivery implementation 3.3 Post-forum follow-up 4.0 Forum highlights 4.1 Participant Categories 4.2 Showcasing innovations and support ecosystems. 4.4 Business-to-Business Matchmaking 4.5 Feedback and Evaluation 4.6 Conclusion 5.0 References