The Root and Tuber Crops Development Trust (RTCDT) has completed a consultative process of reviewing its Strategic Plan (2018-2023) from where it has developed a new RTCDT Strategic Plan for the platform 2023-2028.
On 30th November 2022 and 7th December 2022, the RTCDT, with support from the CIP’s RTC-ACTION bridging year project funded by the Embassy of Ireland engaged the services of an individual international consultant, Darla Gonson, to facilitate members and RTC stakeholders, value chain players and partners the review of its ending strategic plan.
As part of the review process, the independent pro-bono consultant, courtesy of a strategic partnership with Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), carried out a desk review of the current strategic plan, organized and facilitated a one-day stakeholder’s meeting/workshop on review of current RTCDT SP, consolidate and incorporate the issues from the stakeholder workshop and came up with a proposed revised 5-year strategy as well as provide a final report.
6 Highlight Resolutions of the RTCDT Strategic Plan (2023-2028)
- The Root and Tuber Crops Development Trust (RTCDT) Strategic Plan 2023-2028 will continue all its current pillars and adopt a 5th pillar on RTC commercialisation and industrialisation as it is the next logical step in stimulating developing the value chains across the pathways from seed development to processing and utilisation.
- The Root and Tuber Crops Development Trust (RTCDT) should lead the commercialisation pillar by establishing and maintaining a viable RTC business entity for resource mobilisation within the Strategic Plan 2023-2028 and act as an example for commercialisation and become a market outlet option for informal value chain actors.
- The Root and Tuber Crops Development Trust (RTCDT) Strategic Plan 2023-2028, the RTCDT, Ministries of Trade and Agriculture, RTC Stakeholders follow up on all outstanding advocacy and international potential RTC trade exchange opportunities.
- In the Root and Tuber Crops Development Trust (RTCDT) Strategic Plan 2023-2028, the Trust to formally engage Ministries of Trade and Agriculture, RTC Stakeholders and develop a response plan regarding formalising and developing informal RTC markets. Ministries of agriculture, trade and industry, RTCDT, MCCCI and development partners to formally collaborate in establishing a formal market forum for RTCs through RTCDT and actively support producers as businesses by curbing illegal foreign trading of RTCs.
- MoA, MoTI, IITA, CIP and RTCDT and development partners to jointly forcus on commercialisation and developing systematic robust markets for RTC sector through linking commercial players and cooperative combining model.
- In the Root and Tuber Crops Development Trust (RTCDT) Strategic Plan 2023-2028, the Trust should scale up RTC cooperatives and ordinary members to be directly lobbied and supported to register their establishments with the minimum 5-stripe model of 1. SME registration with ministry of trade. 2. MRA TPIN. 3. MRA Tax Clearance and 4. PPDA Certification. 5. RTCDT Membership.
After weeks of extensive desk research, intense negotiations, reviews and key informant interviews, consultant presented a final revised strategic plan during a validation workshop which was reviewed and the next step is for the RTCDT board and member general assembly to consider and adopt the new RTCDT Strategic plan 2023-2028 at their next designated fora.