TANZANIA : TANZANIA has recorded a series of significant achievements in the successful implementation of the Second Phase Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP II).
The accomplishments have facilitated the agricultural sector to contribute immensely in the nation’s economy by harnessing domestic resources.
Elaborating on this during the Inception Workshop for ASDP II Midterm Review and Re-planning held in Dar es Salaam, on Tuesday, Dr Jim Yonazi, the Permanent Secretary in Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination) further said the progress is impressive.
He said the meeting was organised to assess the midterm achievements of ASDP II and chart out the plan for the subsequent five years.
In particular, Dr Yonazi highlighted four pivotal milestones that ASDP II has achieved, noting that the successes have ignited notable growth and innovation, elevating Tanzania’s agricultural landscape and bolstering economic resilience.
On sustainable land utilisation and irrigation expansion, he said: “over the past five years, ASDP II has championed a paradigm shift in land utilisation, leading to an increase in villages adopting exemplary land use strategies. The tally of villages with exceptional land management stands at 2,860, surpassing the initial target of 3,800. Furthermore, the area of irrigated land has expanded significantly, currently covering 783,749 hectares, which exceeds the initial aim of 763,120 hectares.”
On the enhancement of livestock water sources, Dr Yonazi praised the programme’s efforts in augmenting water sources for livestock.
“The initiative has accomplished a total of 1,412 sources, surpassing the initial projection of 2,076. This progress is crucial for bolstering Tanzania’s livestock sector, an indispensable segment of the nation’s economy,” the PS said.
Delving into the subject of revitalising agricultural productivity, Dr Yonazi observed that, under ASDP II, Tanzania’s agricultural sector has witnessed a pronounced upswing in both productivity and profitability, especially in key commodities such as sugar, meat and milk.
“This advancement has translated to a remarkable 121 per cent self-sufficiency in food production, achieving 114 per cent self-sufficiency even amidst challenges,” he said.
On market expansion and value addition, he emphasised ASDP II’s role in bridging the price disparity between farmgate and market prices for staple crops like maize, rice and millet. This initiative has enhanced post-harvest crop preservation, stimulating growth in both domestic and international markets, ensuring food security and propelling exports.
ASDP II’s triumphant restructuring of Tanzania’s agricultural and livestock sectors is attributed to collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders, under the guidance of the Office of the Prime Minister.
On his part, Prof Riziki Shemdoe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, spotlighted the substantial progress within the livestock and fisheries sectors.
“We are forging a path to achieve heightened productivity, which includes the establishment of livestock guesthouses as safe havens for herders during adverse conditions,” noted Prof Shemdoe.
He elaborated on the success of the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative, with young livestock keepers netting a profit of 70m/- in post-animal fattening.
He added that the projects would be equipped with requisite infrastructures, encompassing water supply and veterinary services.
On the other hand, Dr Hussein Omar, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, underscored the imperative of enhancing productivity and maintaining a forward-looking perspective.
Dr Omar aspires for Tanzania to be a prominent contributor to Africa’s food security, projecting agriculture’s contribution to national income to rise beyond 26 per cent and envisioning annual agricultural growth touching 10 per cent by 2030.
He affirmed that ASDP II has laid a robust foundation for continued growth. Given the ministry’s multifaceted strategies, there’s an ongoing effort to craft a comprehensive framework to synchronise all undertakings, striving for steady agricultural advancements, including escalating crop exports and creating over 3 million job opportunities.
Vianey Rweyendela, the County Manager of AGRA, postulated that the midterm review is pivotal for deepening insights to realise the objectives of ASDP II.
He cited the exponential growth in rice production, which has leaped from 500,000 to 3 million tons per season.
Rweyendela lauded the Tanzanian government’s commitment, evidenced by increased budget allocations to the Ministries of Livestock, Fisheries and Agriculture. He also accentuated the urgency of addressing contemporary challenges, like ensuring funding and intensifying stakeholder engagement, to position Tanzania as a regional and global beacon of food security.
