Farmers to get sh6bn productivity boost #tanzania

MORE than 100,000 smallholder farmers in Tanzania will
benefit after yesterday's announcement of US$4.25 million
(about 6bn/-) in projects to strengthen agricultural
productivity in the country.
The funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in
Africa (AGRA) aims to improve incomes, productivity and
access to markets for farmers in the southern highlands
covered by the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of
Tanzania (SAGCOT) initiative.
Availability of quality seed and inputs as well as poor
market access and difficulty securing finance are major
inhibitors to agricultural productivity in Tanzania and most
of sub-Sahara Africa.
The Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Rural
Urban Development Initiative (RUDI), Women in Social
Entrepreneurship (WISE) and Dunduliza Network of Savings
And Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) have worked together
to design a series of three year projects to directly tackle
these issues.
To enhance farmers' access to improved seed and inputs,
the project will facilitate the training of agro-dealers to
increase their knowledge and confidence on the improved
technologies.
The project will also link agro-dealers and farmers to
micro-financiers to make these improved technologies
more accessible.
The use of better inputs go hand in hand with improved
management practices, and through the project over 90,000
farmers will be trained on practices such as Integrated Soil
Fertility Management (ISFM).
ISFM can increase cereal crops yield by up to 300 per cent
and legume crop yields by 100 per cent, and involves the
use of the strategic use of fertilizers combined with organic
soil enhancers. farmers use fertilizers efficiently and in
combination with organic soil ameliorating inputs.
To ensure gains made from improved seed and
management are not lost when trying to sell the produce,
the projects will result in providing farmers with training in
post-harvest loss management, access to storage facilities
and access to structured markets for rice, maize, beans and
soybeans.
AGRA Tanzania Country Head, Dr Mary Mgonja, says the
grants announced aim to improve productivity from seeds
to access to markets.
"These grants take into consideration the whole value
chain: from ensuring farmers have access to improved
seeds and other inputs, training in the best soil
management practices and output markets which, pay a fair
price for their harvests," Dr Mgonja said.
In welcoming AGRA's annoucement, Deputy Permanent
Secretary Ministry for Agriculture, Food Security and
Cooperatives, Engineer Raphael Daluti said investments
such as what was being announcing today, complements
existing investments and initiatives occurring in Tanzania.
"This announcement builds on the work we are doing to
secure the country's food supply, in our initiatives such as
the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP)
and our Input Subsidy Programme," he said.
"But it also adds to the work occurring through SAGCOT,
which is helping us achieve a food secure Tanzania," he
said. AGRA's Director for Market Access Programme (MAP),
Mrs Anne Mbaabu, said the funding will help ensure
continued agricultural growth in Tanzania.
The funding will go to projects in several districts in the
southern highlands regions of Tanzania, including Ifakara,
Kilombero, Kilolo, Kyela, Ludewa, Mbarali, Mbeya, Mbozi,
Momba, Namtumbo, Songea and Sumbawanga.