Research to market potential of onions in Tanzania

ICS is going to research, in collaboration with De Groot en Slot, market leader in onion seed, whether the onion is an interesting type of crop to add to the Agrics seed selection. The research focusses on the region Shinyanga, in the northern part of Tanzania, and it needs to prove if the onion grows well in this region. There will be investigated what a (small) farmer potentially can earn with the local cultivation of onions. In addition both present and potential markets will be investigated. In that way the onion can probably add to our aim: ensuring farmers food for their families and an income. 

Agrics, one of ICS' social businesses, provides small farmers in Tanzania and Kenya the opportunity to buy agricultural products, such as certified seeds and fertilizer, on credit. At this moment Agrics Tanzania mainly delivers mais and sunflower seeds. For onions are eaten plentiful, and in other parts of Tanzania are already produced, there might be an interesting chance for farmers in Shinyanga to also start cultivating this nutricious type of crop.

De Groot en Slot is a Dutch company with more than 50 years of experience in developing and producing onion seed. In Niger De Groot en Slot has helped collectives of farmers to cultivate their own onion seed. The wealth of knowledge and experience and their former cooperation with farmers in a developing country is for ICS of huge added value.