Tanzania Climate-Smart Dairy Prize Competition
In Progress
SUMMARY
The AgResults Tanzania Climate-Smart Dairy Prize Competition is a two-year $US2.8 million prize competition that aims to increase dairy productivity and resilience by encouraging private sector actors to expand the availability and adoption of animal health, nutrition, breeding, and fodder solutions for smallholder farmers. By rewarding businesses for successfully delivering productivity-enhancing dairy inputs and services in the Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe, and Morogoro regions, the competition is expected to boost milk yields, improve farmer incomes, strengthen resilience, and support the long-term growth of Tanzania’s dairy sector. The competition supports the broader Climate-Smart Dairy Transformation Project, a 10-year, US$231 million investment by the Government of Tanzania and IFAD to transform Tanzania’s dairy value chain. Heifer International serves as the Project Manager.
Tanzania Climate-Smart Dairy Prize Competition Timeline
THE LEARNING JOURNEY
THE PROBLEM
Low Productivity and Limited Market Access
Tanzania’s dairy sector faces significant barriers to productivity, profitability, and growth. Most cattle are low-yield indigenous breeds, while many smallholder dairy farmers have limited access to veterinary services, breeding services, extension support, and quality fodder. Seasonal feed shortages, particularly during the dry season, further constrain milk production and animal health. At the same time, only a small share of the country’s milk production reaches formal markets, limiting opportunities for investment, quality improvement, and value chain development..
CONTEST DESIGN
Theory of Change
The project is designed to incentivize private sector input providers and fodder producers to expand the delivery of climate-smart dairy inputs and services to smallholder farmers. By rewarding verified sales of animal health products, artificial insemination services, and improved fodder and feed, the project will address persistent barriers to input access and uptake across Tanzania’s dairy sector. As suppliers build relationships with underserved farmers and provide accompanying advisory services, farmers will strengthen their livestock management practices and increase their use of veterinary, breeding, and nutrition inputs. Healthier, better-nourished cows with improved genetics will produce greater volumes of higher-quality milk, increasing farmers’ incomes and resilience. A larger and more reliable milk supply will also position smallholder farmers to participate more fully in formal markets, supporting the growth of dairy businesses while strengthening food safety, traceability, investment, and climate resilience across the sector.
Competition Structure
The competition includes two complementary PfR prizes for dairy health inputs and fodder production. Competitors receive prizes based on verified delivery of eligible products and services to smallholder dairy farmers. Quarterly payments are meant to encourage reinvestment and business growth. Competitors must sell pre-approved input packages to at least 200 smallholder farmers to be eligible for prizes. Top-performing competitors will also be eligible for grand prizes.
Input Categories
Competitors had to sell the following inputs directly to smallholder farmers to qualify for a prize:
Competitors must sell inputs directly to smallholder farmers to qualify for a prize. Competitors must also provide extension services to smallholder farmers to be eligible. Eligible inputs are listed below:
- Parasite Control: A combination of Acaricides plus an Anthelmintic
- Fodder: A complete package of approved improved fodder (hay or other dry matter, silage)
- Vaccines: Minimum of two AgResults-approved vaccines (Brucellosis, Anthrax, Rift Valley Fever, Lumpy Skin, CBPP, East Coast Fever, Blackleg, Foot and Mouth Disease)
- Artificial Insemination (AI): Conventional or sexed semen plus a complete supplement ration (urea molasses block, minerals, or standard dairy meal)
EXPECTED IMPACT
The competition is expected to expand smallholder access to climate-smart dairy inputs and services, increase fodder availability, and strengthen Tanzania’s dairy markets.
AgResults expects to achieve the following by the end of the project:
- 28,000 smallholder dairy farmers reached
- 100-300% productivity gains per cow
- 7,500 MT additional fodder produced
EVALUATION
Evaluation Design
Coming soon!
Evaluation Stage
Coming soon!
LEARNING
What We’ve Learned through Implementation
This section shares our learning from the Tanzania Climate-Smart Dairy Prize Competition design and implementation. Further details can be found in the Learning Library.
Project Team
Elina Lusuva
Heifer International – Team Lead
Elina Adrian Lusuva has more than 18 years of experience managing and implementing donor-funded development programs in Tanzania. She currently serves as Team Lead for the AgResults Tanzania Climate-Smart Dairy Prize Competition, where she oversees project implementation and delivery. Her areas of expertise include agriculture and dairy development, value chain strengthening, market systems development, private sector engagement, microfinance, and enterprise development. Prior to joining AgResults, Ms. Lusuva held senior positions with ACDI/VOCA, Fintrac Inc., SNV, Land O'Lakes, TechnoServe, and BRAC. She has extensive experience supporting agribusinesses and cooperatives, improving market access, and promoting inclusive economic opportunities for smallholder farmers, women, and youth. Ms. Lusuva holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Sokoine University of Agriculture and a Master's degree in Integrated Water Resources Management from the University of Zimbabwe, with a specialization in Water and Society from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
Wema Chuwa
Heifer International – Technical Officer
Wema Chuwa is the Technical Officer for the AgResults Tanzania Climate-Smart Dairy Prize Competition. She has more than 10 years of experience supporting donor-funded dairy and agribusiness development programs in Tanzania. Her areas of expertise include dairy value chain development, private sector engagement, farmer organization strengthening, agricultural finance, stakeholder coordination, and climate-smart agriculture. In her current role, Ms. Chuwa supports competitor engagement, coordinates the Technical Advisory Committee, supports technical monitoring and verification activities, and works closely with government institutions, private sector actors, farmer organizations, and development partners. She holds a Master's degree in Project Management from the Open University of Tanzania and a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness from Sokoine University of Agriculture.