SWISSAID has been asked to extend a food security and nutrition project in Lindi and Mtwara region to other regions to benefit more smallholder farmers.
Assistant Regional Administrative Secretary-Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Bora Gretha Haule said here yesterday that the project that promotes production of traditional crops for growing organic market in urban centres has helped smallholder farmers in food and nutritional security and enabled them to increase earnings.
“Swissaid has been a great saviour for Lindi farmers as this is a unique opportunity that will help reduce and even eliminate the economic challenge for most farmers,” she said in a presentation at the second conference on the markets of organic agricultural products and food products organised by Swissaid.
Consumption of Resilient Orphan Crops & Products for Healthier Diets (CROPS4HD) project in Mtwara and Lindi regions seeks to integrate neglected and unterutilised species (NUS) in the established and growing organic market in urban centres.
The project, which started in March 2022, has reached 9,000 smallholder farmers.
The conference aimed at identifying stakeholders and new opportunities in the organic farming market.
Dr Haule said it is a unique opportunity that comes to the Lindi region as this conference will help reduce the economic challenge for small farmers.
Dr Haule said economic activities done in Lindi contributes a lot in the growth of Tanzania economy, therefore it is time for every farmer to understand that he or she has a duty in contribution of the nation economy either by export or import of the products.
She said this conference will help farmers to meet commercial stakeholders with the aim of promoting their products as well as development of market channels.
Dr Haule said the project would help to address the problem of malnutrition across coastal regions.
The SwissAid Country Representative Betty Malaki said the CROPS4HD project has improved livelihood, food security and nutrition of rural communities, especially women, through sustainable use and conservation of farmers’ varieties, neglected and underutilised species (NUS), as well as promoting agro ecological approaches and improving capacities for climate change adaptation.
Ms Malaki said the aim of the project is to provide production education using ecological agriculture to reduce poverty and ensure well-being and preservation of the environment and good nutrition.
Ms Malaki said these achievements have been made possible due to the good cooperation between SwissAid and the government where extension officers and nutrition officers have been involved in the implementation of these projects.
Ms Malaki said they have also provided training to health workers at the community level and nutrition mothers in the Masasi and Nanyumbu District with the aim of increasing the use of these natural products to reduce problems caused by malnutrition.