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To Certification and Beyond
MARKUP, through Solidaridad East Africa, conducted a Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) training to 24 government officers and other stakeholders including Local Government Authorities (LGAs), Ministry of Agriculture, Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), Zanzibar Bureau of Standards (ZBS) and farmers’ organizations in Zanzibar. The training covered the importance and principles of VSS, agribusiness, commodity safety and quality as well as social issues relating to VSS procedures. The trained extension officers will train and provide coaching and mentorship to the lead farmers throughout the project lifetime. They are also responsible for providing technical backstopping to lead farmers.