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Tanzania envisions future where farmers access quality fertiliser

THE annual demand of fertiliser in Tanzania has been increasing over time from 698,260 metric tonnes in 2021/22 to 848,884 metric tonnes in 2023/24, but due to low capacity of local fertiliser production, about 90 per cent of the demand is imported.

TANZANIA is envisioning a future where farmers have access to quality fertiliser at affordable prices and knowledge necessary to maximise their yields sustainably.

The government’s goal is to empower farmers, enhance their livelihoods and contribute to the overall development of the country and the African continent at large.

This vision of a thriving agricultural sector has necessitated government authorities to focus on rural production in order to avert poverty and promote economic growth as gathered from what took place during the first Fertiliser Symposium in the country held in Dodoma on October 11 to 12 to advance the development of the fertiliser sub sector.

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The Dodoma platform, which was held as part of commemorating the World Fertiliser Day on October 13, forged a long-lasting relationship between government agencies, research institutions, the private sector and local communities. Worldwide, fertilisers are a cornerstone of agricultural productivity.

They enhance soil fertility, increase crop yields and contribute to the overall economic well-being of farming communities and the country at large. In Tanzania, where agriculture is a vital part of the economy, the effective use of fertilisers is crucial for sustainable economic growth and food security.

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Considering the importance of fertiliser sub sector in the development of agriculture and the economy at large, the government felt it convenient to have an independent institution, the Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority (TFRA), to regulate the quality and trade of fertiliser along the value chain including manufacturing, importation, exportation, distribution, sale and utilisation of agricultural fertilisers.

The objective is to ensure that farmers get quality fertiliser on time and friendly payment terms. Through implementation of regulatory functions on quality and trade of fertiliser in the country, TFRA Executive Director, Joel Laurent, says the fertiliser sub sector has attained remarkable achievements overtime.

For instance, the demand for fertiliser has increased from 485,000 metric tonnes in 2015/16 to 848,884 metric tonnes in 2023/24 while fertiliser availability has increased from 578,472 metric tonnes in 2015/16 to 1,213,729 metric tonnes in 2023/24.

Additionally, consumption of fertiliser has increased from 325,916 metric tonnes in 2015/16 to 840,714 metric tonnes in 2023/24. To commemorate the World Fertiliser Day 2024, TFRA organised the 1st Fertiliser Symposium with the theme: ‘Let’s Talk Fertiliser.

Agriculture is Fertiliser.’ The event presented a platform for analysing policy, strategic and technological issues pertinent to the development of the fertiliser sub-sector.

Presentations and discussions that were scheduled through predesignated themes and topics led to area specific actionable recommendations that promoted agricultural productivity in an environmentally sustainable manner Laurent says the Dodoma meeting shed light on quality assurance systems in the fertiliser value chain and provide a platform for discussion on appropriate strategies and structures to ensure supply of quality fertiliser to the farmers both in the East African Community (EAC) member states and the sub-regional Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

It also marked an important milestone in the history of fertiliser sub-sector development not only in Tanzania but also in the EAC and SADC regions as it has developed progressively over the past few years and that the President Samia Suluhu Hassan government has played a key role in taking the country this far.

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“By forging robust partnerships, we can ensure that our initiatives are aligned with national, regional and international goals and that they benefit all stakeholders involved,” he says.

He adds: “My sincere gratitude goes to our partners in organising the event, participants and stakeholders who made this symposium possible. We used this platform to share experience, build new partnerships and drive forward the agenda of agricultural transformation.” Gerald Mweli, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, says the development of the fertiliser sector is important to Tanzania’s immediate and long-term economic and social development goals.

Its development through increased crop productivity and production will significantly raise agricultural incomes and reduce rural poverty which meets one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He says based on population explosion, the “alarming message is that we should focus on investment to increase food production to feed the growing population both in Tanzania, Africa and contribute to the Global Food Security through export of food to other countries. To achieve this, the increased use of fertiliser is inevitable.” According to the Tanzania Census of 2022, the country’s population of 61.7 million is expected to increase to 80 million by 2030 requiring 20 million metric tons from the current 13 million metric tonnes.

The annual demand of fertiliser and fertiliser supplement in Tanzania has been increasing over time from 698,260 metric tonnes in 2021/22 to 848,884 metric tonnes in 2023/24, but due to low capacity of local fertiliser production, about 90 per cent of the demand is imported.

The dependence on fertiliser imports has posed various challenges including affordability to the farmers and in some cases delayed distribution particularly of basal dressing fertiliser needed during planting. To address these challenges, the government has initiated strategies to reduce over dependence on imported fertiliser.

“As part of long-term strategies to reduce over dependence on fertiliser importation, the government has continued creating conducive environment and sensitising stakeholders to invest in fertiliser production using the available raw materials including rock phosphate, coal and natural gas,” Mweli explains.

The implementation of these strategies by the government in collaboration with the private sector, has contributed to the increase in fertiliser production from 84,696 metric tons in 2022/23 to 158,628 metric tons in 2023/24 equivalent to an increase of 87.3 per cent. This increase is due to the expansion of existing manufacturing facilities and establishment of new ones for both blending and manufacturing.

African Head of States meeting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, during the May 2024 Nairobi Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit pledged to triple domestic production and distribution of certified quality fertiliser, improve access and affordability of fertiliser, make available targeted agronomic recommendations to at least 70 per cent of smallholder farmers and restore soil health on at least 30 per cent of degraded soil by 2034.