TNBC’s agric resolutions set to transform the sector

THE Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), through its Agriculture Working Group, has passed a series of strategic resolutions aimed at addressing long-standing challenges in the agricultural sector, with the goal of revitalising productivity and stimulating the national economy.

Speaking during the group’s second meeting in Dar es Salaam, Chairperson of the Working Group and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Gerald Mweli, highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector.

“The government, through TNBC under the leadership of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, is committed to making agriculture more productive for farmers and the country at large,” he said.

Key resolutions from the meeting include a comprehensive review of policies, strategies, laws and regulations to improve access to finance.

The group recommended empowering financial institutions to offer affordable loans tailored to farmers’ needs.

Another significant proposal is the formation of a task force to address transportation and supply chain issues affecting the export of agricultural, livestock and fisheries products.

The working group also called for strengthening the national data system for seed demand and usage and for further empowering institutions like the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) to produce improved seed varieties.

Further resolutions focus on the construction of irrigation infrastructure, agroindustries and market centres in large-scale farming areas (Block Farming), as well as the development of strategic market hubs.

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Participants stressed the need for better integration of management systems across agriculture, livestock, fisheries and agro-processing sectors.

The meeting also resolved to enhance the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA)’s information and feedback systems, particularly for farmers cultivating export crops such as cashew.

Representing the private sector, Co-Chair of the Working Group and CEO of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), Dr Jacqueline Mkindi, expressed optimism about the resolutions.

“I commend the Ministry of Agriculture for its collaboration with the private sector. Initiatives like fertiliser subsidies, fair crop pricing and the BBT (Building a Better Tomorrow) programme are critical and deserve full support,” she said.

Dr Godwill Wanga, Executive Secretary of TNBC and Secretary to the Working Group, noted that the resolutions also include enhancing extension services, encouraging self-regulation in the private sector, timely disbursement of subsidies, supporting the sugar sector, strengthening innovation centres and establishing a unified payment system to streamline fee collection by various government agencies.

The Director General of the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA), Dr Andrew Komba, said the agency had made significant investments in competitive grain purchases to support farmers.

“We welcome stakeholders to invest in warehouse construction in regions such as Ruvuma, Songwe and Rukwa, where we anticipate major grain purchases,” he said.

Farmers from key crops— including sugarcane, cotton, cashew, coffee and tea—attended the meeting and contributed to the discussions. Mussa Hemed, a cashew farmer from the Coast Region, urged the government to expand irrigation schemes to help mitigate t