The World Bank Board of Executive Directors
today approved US$25 million to boost the productivity of Tanzania’s
agriculture sector through timely delivery of seeds and fertilizer to
300,000 farmers, and additional financing of US$30 million to enable
farmers to access the latest in agricultural knowledge, farm technology
and irrigation infrastructure. The funds will be provided by the
International Development Association.*
The funding comes at a time of rising grain and fertilizer prices, and investments in the rural farm economy are needed to help small farmers to get inputs, extension services and access to local infrastructure.
The funding comes at a time of rising grain and fertilizer prices, and investments in the rural farm economy are needed to help small farmers to get inputs, extension services and access to local infrastructure.
The financing will support seed and
fertilizer subsidies under Tanzania’s flagship National Agricultural
Input Voucher Scheme (NAIVS) that has already distributed over 15
million vouchers to over 2.5 million farm households, enabling purchase
and application of more than 500,000 tons of fertilizer and 50,000 tons
of improved seed.
These inputs have increased production of 1.5 million
tons of additional maize and rice reducing the country’s dependence on
costly grain imports and food aid.
The additional resources will support local investments under the Agricultural Sector Development Program (ASDP) to increase smallholder crop and livestock productivity and farm incomes by strengthening small scale irrigation development, farmer capacity building and service delivery and market linkages.
The additional resources will support local investments under the Agricultural Sector Development Program (ASDP) to increase smallholder crop and livestock productivity and farm incomes by strengthening small scale irrigation development, farmer capacity building and service delivery and market linkages.
The program has noted
substantial gains, including rehabilitation and establishment of
120,822 hectares in irrigation contributing to a 48 percent gain in
total irrigated area, which has led to a doubling of irrigated rice
productivity. The number of farmers using improved seeds and farm
mechanization has also increased.
“Increasing the productivity of Tanzania’s farm sector is essential for meeting national economic growth targets, boosting food availability and protecting the environment,” said Philippe Dongier, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania. “This support is designed to help Tanzania achieve the goal of five percent agricultural growth rate and give farmers access to latest knowledge, technology and infrastructure.”
Agriculture is the primary economic activity for 80 percent of Tanzania’s population. The Agricultural Sector Development Program (ASDP) is Tanzania’s primary tool for implementing its growth strategy for the farm sector as outlined in Mkukuta II, the national development plan.
“Achieving income growth and food security are closely inter-linked and both depend on the sustained adoption of modern agricultural technologies,” said Jamal Saghir, World Bank Director for Sustainable Development in Africa. “Our support for Tanzania’s farm economy is designed to offset the risks posed by spiking food and fertilizer prices and climate change by equipping farmers with the necessary tools to increase food production to reduce dependence on imports and mitigate impact of climatic shocks” .
“Recent impact surveys indicate that the improved seed and fertilizer made available through the subsidy program have increased average maize yields by 1.2 tons per hectare, and increased average rice yields by 0.6 tons per hectare,” said Tijan Sallah, World Bank Sector Manager Agriculture, Rural Development and Irrigation. “We look forward to effective implementation of these projects for the benefit of all Tanzanians.”
“Increasing the productivity of Tanzania’s farm sector is essential for meeting national economic growth targets, boosting food availability and protecting the environment,” said Philippe Dongier, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania. “This support is designed to help Tanzania achieve the goal of five percent agricultural growth rate and give farmers access to latest knowledge, technology and infrastructure.”
Agriculture is the primary economic activity for 80 percent of Tanzania’s population. The Agricultural Sector Development Program (ASDP) is Tanzania’s primary tool for implementing its growth strategy for the farm sector as outlined in Mkukuta II, the national development plan.
“Achieving income growth and food security are closely inter-linked and both depend on the sustained adoption of modern agricultural technologies,” said Jamal Saghir, World Bank Director for Sustainable Development in Africa. “Our support for Tanzania’s farm economy is designed to offset the risks posed by spiking food and fertilizer prices and climate change by equipping farmers with the necessary tools to increase food production to reduce dependence on imports and mitigate impact of climatic shocks” .
“Recent impact surveys indicate that the improved seed and fertilizer made available through the subsidy program have increased average maize yields by 1.2 tons per hectare, and increased average rice yields by 0.6 tons per hectare,” said Tijan Sallah, World Bank Sector Manager Agriculture, Rural Development and Irrigation. “We look forward to effective implementation of these projects for the benefit of all Tanzanians.”
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