Mwinyi calls for greater investment in organic farming, agricultural markets
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, has pledged continued government investment in agriculture, including modern production technologies, irrigation, affordable financing and reliable markets, as part of efforts to increase the sector’s contribution to the islands’ economy.
Dr Mwinyi said yesterday when he officially opened the third Zanzibar Organic Festival at Dole Kizimbani in West District, Unguja that agriculture remained one of the key pillars of Zanzibar’s economy and stressed the need to support farmers to increase food production while protecting soil fertility, water sources and consumers’ health.
The president said organic and agroecological farming, production methods that prioritise the health of soil, water and the wider environment should form an important part of Zanzibar’s future development because of their contribution to sustainable food production, public health and environmental conservation.
“Organic farming is not only about producing food; it is also about protecting the environment, improving people’s well-being and strengthening Zanzibar’s ability to cope with the effects of climate change,” Dr Mwinyi said.
He said the government had launched the Zanzibar Organic Agriculture Strategy, which covers areas including farm production, budgeting, agricultural extension services, access to inputs, research and development of the agricultural value chain.
Dr Mwinyi directed the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock to begin the process of establishing a dedicated Organic Agriculture Unit to coordinate organic farming activities across Zanzibar.
He also instructed the ministry to assess the possibility of including organic agricultural inputs in the government’s agricultural-input subsidy programme to improve farmers’ access to such inputs.
The president stressed the importance of using agricultural inputs safely and appropriately, saying the government would continue regulating hazardous inputs, monitoring their use and educating farmers to protect the environment, ensure food safety and safeguard consumers’ health.
He said the government’s agricultural strategy was also aimed at enabling farmers to increase food production at affordable costs while strengthening food security.
Dr Mwinyi also called for stronger links between agriculture and tourism through the development of a “Farmto-Table” system that would increase the use of locally produced agricultural products in Zanzibar’s hotels and restaurants.
He said the approach would provide farmers with more reliable and higher-value markets, increase their incomes and enable the tourism industry to access quality and safe food produced locally.
The president urged hotels, restaurants and food suppliers to increase purchases from Zanzibar farmers, while calling on the government to continue creating an enabling environment for farmers to expand production and access higher-value markets.
He said stronger links between local farmers and the tourism industry would help ensure that the benefits of the growing tourism sector also reached agricultural producers.
Chairman of the Zanzibar Organic Agriculture Organisation, Ikram Ramadhan Soraga, said the festival was designed to bring farmers together with stakeholders, connect them with business and market opportunities and educate the public about the importance of organic agriculture.
The third Zanzibar Organic Festival is being held under the theme “Think Globally, Eat Naturally.” The festival provides a platform for farmers, agricultural experts and other stakeholders to exchange experiences, knowledge, technologies and innovations while promoting sustainable food production practices.
During the festival, Dr Mwinyi presented awards to sponsors and other stakeholders supporting government efforts to develop Zanzibar’s agricultural sector.
He was also presented with an honorary award in recognition of his leadership and contribution to the development of agriculture in Zanzibar.
