Rhoda Owaga Wassena

Po Box 3,
Nzega- Tabora - Tanzania.
Mob: +255(0)752803593,
Email: wassenarhoda19@gmail.com

23ST November, 2019.

Van Hall Larenstein University,
Larensteinselaan 26a, 6882 CT Velp,
Postal address: Postbus 9001, 6880 GB Velp,
The Nethelands.

REF: APPLICATIONS FOR MASTER’S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION VALUE CHAIN

MANAGEMENT (LIVESTOCK)

I am Rhoda Wassena , a Tanzanian female with 31 years old . I am working with local
government in Nzega District Council as a livestock officer. I have attended my Bsc.
Applied Agricultural Extension at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Tanzania and
completed in the year 2014.

As Livestock Officer working with local government my main duties includes working as
change agent by linking farmers with different stakeholders, organizing training of
farmers and Agricultural extension field officers, formulating farmers groups,
establishing training through farmers field school and preparing monthly, quarter and
annual department reports.

Nzega District is located in west of Tanzania its population is about 514,000 while 90
percent of its population depends on agriculture. There is no pure pastoralist in the
district rather all livestock keepers also cultivate crops as agro pastoralist. The district
experience tropical climate, the District have total number of livestock 456,325
including cattle, goats and sheep.

Farmers earn income by selling live animals, animal products such as Milk, eggs, ghee
and Meat and animal by products Livestock are very important in crop production
system as they produce manure, draft power in field operations as wells as
transportation of agricultural products and agro-inputs. Despite large number of
livestock population, its contribution to household income is low as livestock
productivity is very low due to poor genetic potential. Season variation in availability of
animal feeds caused by frequent droughts lower further the productivity of these
animals. It takes about 3 – 4 years for that type of cow to attain maturity and milk
production for an indigenous cow is only 2 litres per day. Egg production from
indigenous chicken is less than 30/hen/year.
Lack of value addition to livestock’s product can be attributed to lack of knowledge of
ways for value addition. Additionally due to poor quality of their produces are due to
lack of value addition knowledge to their produces that renders their produces
uncompetitive to local and regional market.

Due to the above explanation or context that I am applying to study the masters degree
in Agricultural Production Value Chain Management (livestock) as mentioned above the
number of animals in the District in the household women have no chance to own and
she has no final say on decision making but she have a right on poultry production only.
I believe that this master degree will equip me with knowledge and skills required in
facilitating livestock keepers especially women challenges.

Therefore the Master Degree in Agricultural Production Value Management (livestock)

will enable me to advice livestock keepers beyond production. Also a big multiplier
effect will be achieved through sharing of knowledge and skills with others Agricultural
Extension Officers in the District who are also advising farmers in their respective
villages and wards and in national wise.

I hope that my application will be considered positively

Your Sincerely

Rhoda O. Wassena.