Rieta AgroSciences Tanzania Ltd. is a dynamic
and rapidly growing agribusiness dedicated to supporting small-scale farmers
across Tanzania. Established in July 2019 by two young and passionate
entrepreneurs, Mr. Happy Sikalengo and Ms. Jema Noah, the company emerged from
a shared vision to address the pressing challenges faced by local farmers,
particularly in accessing high-quality, affordable seeds. Leveraging their
extensive experience from leading seed companies, Tanseed International and
Meru Agro-Tours & Consultants Co., Ltd., the founders have successfully
positioned Rieta AgroSciences as a trusted provider of certified seeds,
including maize, sorghum, beans, and groundnuts.
Since its inception, Rieta
AgroSciences has achieved remarkable growth, starting with the cultivation of
10 hectares at the Mbozi Seed Farm in 2020. The company’s first certified seed
harvest in 2021 yielded 32 tons, which generated TZS 77 million in sales.
Building on this initial success, Rieta has expanded its operations
significantly, reaching a production capacity of 107 tons of various seed crops
by 2024. The company has also established a robust distribution network
comprising 102 agro-dealers across nine regions, supplying over 250 tons of
maize seeds to more than 25,000 small-scale farmers over the period of four
years.
In addition to its core business of
seed production and distribution, Rieta AgroSciences is deeply committed to
community empowerment, particularly through youth employment. The company
currently employs 10 permanent staff members, all of whom are youths under 40
years old, with a balanced gender representation. This commitment to local
development is further reflected in Rieta’s origins, which trace back to its
beginnings as a village-based agro-dealer (VBA) in the Mbozi district in 2017.