DODOMA (Tanzania), Feb 7 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — The governments of Tanzania and Norway have signed a three-year agreement that will see the latter releasing USD 1.3 million (approximately 4bn/-) through institutions overseeing agriculture in a bid to boost the country’s key sector.
The agreement was signed through agricultural institutions in Tanzania, including the Agricultural Council of Tanzania (AGCOT), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and the Agricultural Transformation Office (ATO).
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Dodoma, Deputy Minister of Agriculture David Silinde stated that the agreement gears to invest in modern agriculture, enabling smallholder farmers to adopt productive farming practices.ADVERTISEMENT
Silinde noted that through this partnership, small-scale farmers will enhance productivity and gain access to markets for their produce, thereby boosting the economy and reducing poverty.
“The other goals of this agreement include promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture, addressing climate change, increasing crop productivity, uplifting smallholder farmers’ economies, and strengthening food security,” he said.
He further mentioned that under the agreement, the Ministry of Agriculture, through its various departments, will directly oversee the implementation of the agreement, with the Director of Crops playing a key supervisory role.
“We highly appreciate the Norwegian government for providing these funds to support the agricultural project. We will continue to collaborate with Norway to ensure the agricultural sector keeps growing in Tanzania,” Silinde added.
He also pointed out that signing this agreement will help remove agricultural regulatory barriers, open up foreign market opportunities, attract private sector investments in agriculture, and broaden the scope for farmers to engage in productive agriculture.
He added that the project will also target youth involved in the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative, as they are actively engaged in agricultural activities across different farms producing various strategic crops.
He highlighted that the government has made significant progress in addressing farmers’ needs by formulating and implementing policies and plans that create an enabling environment for agricultural transformation and sector growth, contributing to the national economy.
Silinde emphasized that the 10/30 Agriculture Agenda is a strategic plan to ensure agriculture becomes a viable business across different regions of the country.
On her part, Norway’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Tone Tinnes, reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to continue partnering with Tanzania in the agricultural sector to support economic growth and improve food security in various regions.
“For over 60 years, Tanzania and Norway have enjoyed strong relations in the agricultural sector, and this cooperation will continue to strengthen as the sector grows in different areas,” she said.
“I commend the Tanzanian government for continuously investing in agriculture, as this will economically empower smallholder farmers and help them seize government-provided opportunities,” Tinnes added.
Meanwhile, AGCOT’s Executive Director, Geofrey Kirenga, assured farmers that the agreement will benefit them by empowering them to engage in agribusiness and create employment opportunities.
“The goal is to remove agricultural regulatory barriers to attract private sector investments, enhance food security, and reduce poverty,” he concluded. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
