Tanzania;GOVERNMENT has said that it would encourage the participation of the private sector in transforming the agricultural sector by creating an enabling environment.

Speaking at a dialogue on making markets inclusive for smallholder farmers in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr William Ole Nasha, said it was government’s commitment to revitalise agriculture, the mainstay of the country’s economy.“Our goal is to make agriculture practices resilient, inclusive and market responsive throughout the country,” he said.

He said smallholder farmers need access to information on good agricultural practices, good quality seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other inputs.
He said access to infrastructure such as irrigation and storage, transportation, credit and most importantly, access to markets for selling products were of paramount importance in transforming agriculture.
“Unless the system provides smallholder farmers access to these resources on a sustainable basis, the goal for transforming agriculture in Tanzania will not be fully realised,” he said.
The dialogue was organised by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in collaboration with the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
The event aimed at harnessing the knowledge and experience of colleagues from the government, development partners and civil society organizations.
AKF Tanzania Country Director, Mr Abid Mallick, said in Lindi and Mtwara regions multi-sectoral Coastal Rural Support Programme has been working in partnership with regional and district governments since 2009 to improve and increase agriculture production, facilitate market connections, and support access to finance.
Mr Mallick said the programme has benefited more than 100,000 farmers and value chain actors in both regions through a combination of push and pull approaches.

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