Training owner/managers of small and medium agri-food enterprises (SMAEs) in Tanzania

This article looks at the training methods and the training materials used to increase thebusiness management and technical processing competencies of owner/managers in smalland medium agri-food enterprises in Tanzania. Adapting training methods and materialsrequires an in-depth understanding of owner/manager training needs and how these canbe appraised and diagnosed. Common training needs assessment (TNA) methods wereadapted to three workshops that did not overtly address a TNA, but were organized tocovertly address a TNA. The results of this method provided for considerable and in-depthinsights into adapting training methods and materials to suit the social and culturalcontext. The focus was on enabling and empowering owner/managers to be co-trainers,building on their knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviours of doing business. Thisimplied that the training had to be practical, interactive, tactile, experiential, highly verbalin terms of communications (the communications being socially and culturally sensitive),and use pictographic images that were socially and culturally sensitive. The results of thistraining programme showed that owner/managers increased their competencies in terms ofbusiness management and processing techniques, but also provided for increased distributionalnetworks and increased sales and revenue. The basic tenet is: prepare and implementtraining programmes with owner/managers and not for owner/managers.