TAHA in drive to reduce postharvest losses in
ZANZIBAR: IN a strategic initiative to revitalise Zanzibar’s horticultural industry, the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) has rolled out an ambitious project aimed at reducing postharvest management losses and waste.
Known as the “Feed the Future Tanzania, Tuhifadhi Chakula” (Let’s Save Food) project and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the initiative focuses on curbing losses by enhancing agricultural practices and technology uptake.
Targeting over 10,000 stakeholders in Zanzibar over four years, the project seeks to address critical gaps across the entire value chains.
Historically, the horticultural industry has suffered significant setbacks due to inadequate postharvest management technologies, with reported losses reaching up to 40 per cent, amounting to an economic loss of approximately 1.7 billion US dollars between 2012 and 2016.
One of the project’s flagship events, a farmers’ field day in Pemba, drew hundreds of farmers eager to learn from various actors and horticultural experts.
The event provided practical on ground demonstrations and awareness on essential post-harvest management technologies (PHMT), focusing on food handling, storage and value addition processes.
The deputy chief of party for the project, Mr Kelvin Remen highlighted the necessity of these demonstration sessions.
He mentioned significant issues such as limited access to finance and lack of awareness of post-harvest management technologies such as harvest technologies, storage techniques, processing methods technologies and packaging solutions.
In response, the farmers’ field day was organised to foster collaboration and present innovative solutions to post-harvest challenges.
“This initiative aims to transform horticultural practices in Zanzibar, paving the way for sustainable growth and resilience within the industry,” Mr Remen noted, adding: “Our forward-thinking approach promises to uplift the livelihoods of farmers, ensuring a brighter future.”
In his address at the field day, Officer in charge, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock, Engineer Indris Abdullah underscored the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences among farmers.
“The event not only focused on improving postharvest management practices but also facilitated building a robust network of horticulture farmers in Pemba,” he remarked.
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Engineer Abdullah commended TAHA for its role in providing professional agricultural guidance, advancing food security and helping to link farmers with markets and financial institutions.
He also lauded their advocacy efforts to create a favourable business environment for the horticultural industry in Zanzibar.
Overall, the “Feed the Future Tanzania, Tuhifadhi Chakula” project is setting a precedent for fostering innovation and resilience in the horticultural sub-sector, aiming for long-term economic benefits and food security for Zanzibar’s farmers.
