Kilimo Kwanza

Tuesday 20 April, 2010

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The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA

POLICY


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The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA Tuesday 20 April, 2010

2 EDITORIAL

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Sudan offers cooperationin water managementenormous agriculturaland water potentialsin the two countriesare very importantand essential commonfactors that can initi-ate common and jointprojects as well as at-tract both nationaland foreign investorswhere possible

Responding to the needs ofTanzanian marginal farmersSignificant challengesare still remaining un-derscoring that therate of growth in agri-culture falls short ofthe government’s owntarget of ten percentgrowth for 2008-2015while food insecurityremains a problem formany people

The time to change Tanzaniathrough agriculture is nowFood security is anurgent challengewhich will worsenwith the currenttrends of popula-tion, adverse im-pacts of climatechange, growingdemand for bio-fuels, changing de-mands...

And Tanzania’smain business is…Policy makers didnot have a difficulttime identifyingthat business thathas the surest po-tential to redeemTanzania’s future;the obvious candi-date is Agriculture.

Eversince we launched this publi-cation, which is wholly devoted tothe Kilimo Kwanza initiative, wehave featured in every issue apledge by a development partnerto assist the country in its effortto realise a green revolution. Thistime there is a pledge by another

underdeveloped albeit richer country, The Sudan, toassist Tanzania in developing its irrigation poten-tial.

Offers to give Kilimo Kwanza a push forwardhave been made by developed countries, multilater-al donors and African states like Egypt and Sudan.And these are just the ones that have been commu-nicated to this publication. More must have beencommunicated to government and yet manymore ata smaller scale to specific recipient communities byNon Governmental Organisations.

While gestures of goodwill by Tanzania’s friendsare indeed welcome and the offers need to be fol-lowed up vigorously, there is a need to coordinate allaid being offered for Kilimo Kwanza for a number ofvery important reasons. First and foremost, KilimoKwanza is one hundred percent Tanzania’s idea,and its framers know best what is needed for it tosucceed. We welcome all advice of a technical na-ture, but we are best placed to know what we needfor the success of this initiative.

Secondly, lack of coordination can lead to dupli-cation, and as a poor country Tanzania cannot affordthat. Even the richest countries plan carefully in or-der to avoid wastage. In fact, that is one of the rea-sons they are rich – optimal utilisation of resources.

Moreover, even in the aid business, dumpingmust be avoided at all costs. It may not come to theclassic case when the former Soviet Union donatedsnow ploughs to a certain small, hot, African statethat was its ideological ally. But gifts of equipment

for example must be suitable for our physical andclimatic conditions, not to forget durability and serv-iceability.

Clearly therefore, someone in government orTNBCmust keep a bird’s eye view on all offers of as-sistance for Kilimo Kwanza, not only to follow themup but also equally important, the confirm their rel-evance. Tanzanians should not be shy to tell a wellmeaning donor if their offer is inappropriate eitherbecause the country already hopes to access itsequivalent from another donor or can provide for ititself. After all, donor support should be for supple-menting but not replacing local efforts and initia-tives.

Even though it is said that beggars are notchoosers, Kilimo Kwanza is not a begging exercise,and its owners, the people of Tanzania, are in posi-tion to state exactly what they need. Our kind de-velopment partners can then see to what extent theycan assist us towards the realization of our goal.

It is not an accident that many outsiders wantto take part in the development of Tanzania’s agri-culture – and they are welcome to do so. It is becauseat this particular time, the demand for agriculturalproducts is high internationally, and Tanzania iswell placed to play an important role, big time. Thecountry has the land, the fresh water, the coastline,seven international borders and affordable labour.These advantages are there to be exploited, andTanzanians should be the coordinators of theprocess.

Wallace MauggoEditor

Time to coordinateall assistance forKilimo Kwanza

Art & Design: KN Mayunga To have your organisation promoted in Kilimo Kwanza, Call: 0787 571308, 0655 571308 0754 571308

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And Tanzania’smain business is…

By Guardian Reporter

Tanzania will nextmonth host theWorld EconomicForum, whosemain theme will beabout rethinkingAfrica’s develop-ment strategy.Being on a conti-nent that has gen-erally been left be-hind by the rest ofthe world,Tanzania itself hashad to come to adecision over whatits main businessmust be if it is tobreak away fromcentury-long histo-ry of colonial dom-

ination and inef-fective growthstrategies.

Policy makers did not havea difficult time identifyingthat business that has thesurest potential to redeemTanzania’s future; the ob-vious candidate isAgriculture. Operatingunder the new dispensa-

tion of public/ private sector partnership,The Tanzania National Business Councildesigned the Kilimo Kwanza strategy to-wards a green revolution for the country.

The global economic climate now re-quires aid – dependent developing coun-tries to set their objectives and means of at-taining them clearly. TNBC has once againcome out to articulate why the defining mo-ment for Tanzania has come; why morethan at any other time in History, KilimoKwanza has to be embraced.

A seven-page statement issued byTNBC’s Executive Secretary DunstanMrutu describes the critical situationTanzania found itself in as far as food secu-rity and making a real economic take off isconcerned, gives the background to the for-mulation of Kilimo Kwanza and shows howthe country can get out of the untenablestagnation towards real growth.

Describing Kilimo Kwanza as a holisticset of policy instruments and strategic un-dertakings towards a Tanzanian GreenRevolution, the TNBC chief explains howKilimo Kwanza aims to bring to an end theabject and dehumanizing poverty in thecountry; modernization and commercializa-tion of agriculture; industrial developmentbased on backward and forward linkages ofagriculture; and overall competitiveness.

The statement also gives some worry-ing data, like the fact that Tanzania’s an-nual demand for improved seeds is about120,000 tons while average annual supplyfor the last four years has been 10,000 tons;the negligible use of fertilizer - Tanzaniauses average of 9kg of fertilizer per hectareof arable land while Malawi uses 27kg,South Africa 53kg and average utilizationin SADC is 16 kg, 103 kg for India; 279 kgfor China and 365 kg for Vietnam.

On water resources, Tanzania hascountless opportunities for irrigation sys-tems, but is only able to irrigate 1% of itspotential irrigable land of 29.4 millionhectares.

On the state of mechanisation, thecountry seems to be in reverse gear as theTNBC statement puts Tanzania’s stock oftractors in the seventies at an estimated17,000 tractors while present statistics putthe number at 8,000, 85% of which aremorethan 10 years old. 70% of the farmers stilluse hand hoe, 20% use oxen plough andonly 10% use tractors.

Agricultural finance is also in a worry-ing state as TNBC observes: The Bank ofTanzania shows that loans to theAgricultural Sector amounted to only 10.4%of the total loans to the Private Sector cur-rently available at about 20% interest ratemost being short term for buying and sell-ing and not for production.

Finally, TNBC says an elaborate RoadMap for implementing Kilimo Kwanza hasbeen drawn up whereby the whole processof implementing Tanzanian’s GreenRevolution is projected to be completedwithin ten years.

“Tanzania has made a fundamental de-cision for the future of its agriculture, whichwill essentially determine the long termprospects of its socio-economic transforma-tion,” Mr Mrutu concludes.

TNBC full statement overleaf Mr Dunstan Mrutu

Vision 2025 which has already been in op-eration for over 10 years implementedthrough MKUKUTA (Poverty ReductionProgram) and MKURABITA(Formalization of Informal Sector); theAgricultural Sector DevelopmentProgramme (ASDP); all of which lay em-phasis on agriculture transformationthrough irrigation and water management,livestock development and animal health,better land husbandry, crop production andprotection, mechanization, storage andpost-harvest, agro-processing, communityempowerment, agricultural information,client-oriented research, animal and plantmultiplication, market development and in-frastructure, HIV, research, extension/ad-visory services, training and education,marketing and rural finance.

In spite of all the efforts, Tanzania’sagriculture has not performed well. For thepast 25 years, while the population morethan doubled, there was a consistent de-crease in the volume of production of mostagricultural commodities.

On the other hand, in more recentyears, the sector has attracted a higher gov-ernment budgetary allocation as well as in-creased private sector investment. The per-centage of the national budget allocated toagriculture has increased from as low as 2.9% in 2001/2002 to 6.4% in 2008/2009. As aresult of the continuing increase in govern-ment budgetary allocation as well as ASDPand related agricultural programs, a posi-tive trend has started to emerge

What is Kilimo Kwanza and WhyNow, you may ask.

Kilimo Kwanza is a holistic set of policyinstruments and strategic undertakings to-wards a Tanzanian Green Revolutionwhich is a prerequisite of achieving Vision2025 objectives. The revolution process in-

volves considerablechallenges to Tanzania,but it is being launchedat an opportune timeconsidering the currentglobal changes favor-able to long term agri-cultural development which is underpinnedby global rise in food demand and prices.Domestically, achieving food self-sufficien-cy is of compelling necessity due to the cur-rent global financial crisis which limits ca-pacity for importation of food.

Kilimo Kwanza aims to bring to an endthe abject and dehumanizing poverty in thecountry; modernization and commercializa-tion of agriculture; industrial developmentbased on backward and forward linkages ofagriculture; and overall competitiveness.

A deeper review of the resource inputsTanzania has applied in its agriculture ex-plains the phenomenon of the country’spoor performance in agriculture some ofwhich Kilimo Kwanza is now confrontingdecisively as follows:-

Improved SeedsAvailable data shows that the potential

annual demand for improved seeds is about120,000 tons while average annual supplyfor the last four years has been 10,000 tons.This gap is due to the fact that seeds pro-ducing companies which existed ceased tooperate and those that were privatizedwere not able to perform as required.Kilimo Kwanza opens doors for new in-vestors in improved seeds cognizant of therising demand locally and exports potentialto neighbouring countries.

Increased quantities of fertilizerand agro-chemicals

Importation and distribution of agricul-tural inputs in the country is beset with ca-

pacity constraints lead-ing to dismal agricul-tural input utilizationby households inTanzania. For example,currently Tanzaniauses average of 9kg of

fertilizer per hectare of arable land. Malawiuses 27kg, South Africa uses 53kg, averageutilization in SADC is 16 kg, 103 kg forIndia; 279 kg for China; 365 kg for Vietnam.Kilimo Kwanza puts down-to-earth incen-tives for extensive use of inputs, local pro-duction of inputs, importation and distribu-tion by the private sector and governmentsupport to peasant farmers.

Irrigation and agricultural waterresource management

Tanzania is second to DRC in Africa forlarge volume of water resources. Flowingrivers of Kagera, Mara, Rufiji, Pangani,Ruvu, Wami, Ruaha and Ruvuma togetherwith the largest lakes in Africa – Victoria,Tanganyika, Nyasa and Rukwa; numerousbasins and plains; countless opportunitiesfor irrigation systems, Tanzania is only ableto irrigate 1% of its potential irrigable landof 29.4 million hectares.

Irrigation makes significant contribu-tion towards food security in Sudan andEgypt using waters originating partly fromTanzania. Kilimo Kwanza sees this as anopportunity for large scale investments inthe irrigation infrastructure of Tanzania.

Agricultural implements and ma-chinery

In the 1970’s, Tanzania had an esti-mated 17,000 tractors while present statis-tics put the number at 8,000, 85% of whichare more than 10 years old. 70% of thefarmers still use hand hoe, 20% use oxenplough and only 10% use tractors. Clearly

Kilimo Kwanza focuses at measures to im-prove mechanization through local assem-bly of tractors and farm implements tomeetthe enormous requirement.

Low investment and financial re-sources

Kilimo Kwanza addresses the low levelof investment in agriculture through gov-ernment commitment to continue allocat-ing budgetary resources to the sector fromthe low of 2.9% of national budget a fewyears ago to the present level of 10% in or-der to adequately fund agriculture and trig-ger the process of Tanzania’s agriculturaltransformation. Private sector involvementin agriculture has remainedweakwith verylimited investment basically due to lack oflong term finance at affordable interestrates. The Bank of Tanzania shows thatloans to the Agricultural Sector amountedto only 10.4% of the total loans to thePrivate Sector currently available at about20% interest rate most being short term forbuying and selling and not for production.Doubtful whether commercial banks will,on their own, decide on competitive lendingto agriculture, Kilimo Kwanza is advancinga case for legislating commercial banklending to agriculture as it is in India. ATanzania Agriculture Development Bank isunder formation to address long term lend-ing.

Paradigm shiftA fundamental cause of Tanzania’s un-

successful effort in its agricultural transfor-mation is that we persistently continue toproduce what we do not consume and con-sume what we do not produce. This factorhad led to the so-called “cash crops” and“non-cash crops” when in fact all crops canbe sold in “cash”.

For over 100 years, about 80% of theworld populations in the SOUTH continueto produce primary goods for 20% of worldpopulation occupying the NORTH andwhose population is declining while we con-tinue to produce more sugar, more coffee,more tea, more cocoa, for them. The funda-mental requirement of a nation producingwhat it consumes, and consuming what itproduces, has been significantly demon-strated by current world economic crisis interms of falling prices of the so-called tradi-tional commodities: coffee price has fallenby 32%; leaf tea by 40% but recovered some-how to a fall of 19%; cotton by around 20%;sisal by 30%; etc. This demonstrates theeconomic vulnerability of relying on suchcrops. Kilimo Kwanza is advocating for par-adigm shift towards new crops and focus-ing on domestic market, a shift from “agri-culture supporting industry and country-side supporting city” to “industry re-feedingagriculture and city supporting country-side” as was the case for China and India’sagricultural transformation.

Implementing Kilimo KwanzaAn elaborate Road Map for implement-

ing Kilimo Kwanza has been drawn upwhereby the whole process of implementingTanzanian’s Green Revolution is projectedto be completed within ten years.

Each of the items contained in the roadmap has been given a time frame of imple-mentation with specific mention of the of-fice of the Government which will be re-sponsible for coordination and leadership inthe implementation of the relevant ac-tivity.

These include among others: enablingpolicy environment; availability of longterm financing for agriculture at affordableterms and conditions; improved arrange-ments for provision of land to investors; en-hanced level of private sector participation.

Others comprise modernization andcommercialization of agriculture from thepeasant to the large scale farmer; the use ofimproved technology by farmers at all lev-els; availability of all the inputs necessaryfor increased productivity in agriculture; anextensive irrigation program; greater use offarm implements and machinery; improvedinfrastructure including storage facilities toreduce post harvest losses; effective marketarrangements for producers; a comprehen-sive program of backward and forward link-ages; human resources and effective insti-tutional leadership.

In conclusion, Tanzania has made afundamental decision for the future of itsagriculture, which will essentially deter-mine the long term prospects of its socio-economic transformation. The reality nowis that the country must move away fromproducing what it does not consume, andconsuming what it does not produce; andmake a substantial investment in the agri-cultural sector to achieve such a transfor-mation.

Dunstan MrutuTNBC Executive Secretary

The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA

COVER STORY


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4 COVER STORY

The time to change Tanzania through agriculture is nowWhile drafting theframework forKilimo Kwanza inearly 2008, a con-temporary policyfor mobilizing ourcountry to bracethe emerging eco-nomic climate,dimly did we fore-see that a year lat-er, Kilimo Kwanza,will be a globalphenomenon rele-vant beyondTanzania, writesDunstan Mrutu,ExecutiveSecretary of theTanzania NationalBusiness Council.For us inTanzania, agricul-ture is the econom-ic lifeline, trans-formation of whichwill determine thecountry’s socio-economic develop-ment consideringthat 80% ofTanzanians de-pend on agricul-ture for theirlivelihood, 34% ofwho are belowpoverty line, andthat the countrymust achieve foodself sufficiency forits continued sta-bility and develop-ment. Currentlyagriculture con-tributes 95% of thefood consumed inthe country whilethe required levelfor food self suffi-ciency is 120%.Agriculture con-tributes 26.7% ofthe Country’s GDP;30% of total ex-ports; and 65% ofraw materials forTanzanian indus-tries.

What drove TNBCto Kilimo Kwanzawas and still isthe state of pover-ty amidst the risein human popula-tion in many con-tinents which has

already outrun the growth in food supplies.It is disquieting to realize that while the ris-ing population has also brought drasticchanges in consumption patterns, we inAfrica and Tanzania in particular are un-duly dependent on outdated and harmfulagricultural techniques that are devastat-ing the environment irreversibly.

Food security is an urgent challengewhich will worsen with the current trendsof population, adverse impacts of climatechange, growing demand for bio-fuels,changing demands due to increased dispos-able incomes as experienced in sharpgrowth in demand for livestock products,skewed resource distribution between richand poor and between rural and urban andlast but most critical, increasing land andwater scarcity.

Cognizant of the truth that no countryhas achieved a significant measure of socio-economic and structural transformationwithout first modernizing its agricultureand no country has significantly reducedthe poverty of its population withoutachieving a high level of productivity inagriculture, Tanzania has launched KilimoKwanza as a pragmatic policy initiative foraddressing development needs of the coun-try. Kilimo Kwanza has received over-whelming acceptance by Tanzanians of allwalks.

Of course since independence, a rangeof policy instruments and programs wereinitiated and carried out in an effort to im-prove the country’s agriculture. These in-cluded: the Iringa Declaration of “Siasa niKilimo – politics is agriculture”; followed by“Kilimo cha Kufa na Kupona – life anddeath effort to improve agriculture”; TheArusha Declaration which had anchoredlargely in agricultural transformation,n;

What it takes to develop agriculture; financial serv-ices (above left), committed farmers (above) for-ward linkaged like the processing industries(below).

Dunstan Mrutu

The Guardian KILIMO KWANZATuesday 20 April, 2010

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6 PERSPECTIVE PERSPECTIVE

AN estimated 3.6 millionrural, largely marginal,farming householdsdominate agriculturalproduction in Tanzania.Understanding the chal-lenges that these house-holds face is, therefore,

key to reducing hunger and poverty.Concern Worldwide, an international or-ganization dedicated to reducing sufferingand working towards the elimination of ex-treme poverty has listened to poor farmersin four districts of the country and identi-fied ways in which the government, devel-opment partners, civil society organizationsand private sector could support them. StaffWriter LUCAS LUKUMBO reports onthe recent case study by a team of consult-ants under the guidance of ConcernTanzania Governance Manager, AudaxRukonge…

Starting with the good news, the teamreports that there have been some notablesuccess in Tanzanian agriculture over thelast 15 years. During the 1990s, Tanzania’sagricultural production grew by 3.6 percentannually compared to 2.9 percent and 2.1percent during the 1970s and 1980s respec-tively. Between 2000 and 2005 the growthrate increased to 4.8 percent reaching apeak of six percent in 2004.

The report however notes significantchallenges are still remaining underscoringthat the rate of growth in agriculture fallsshort of the government’s own target of tenpercent growth for 2008-2015 while food in-security remains a problem for many peo-ple.

“Crop failure that leaves a family un-able to meet household food requirementsfrom their own production also reduces in-come, which undermines the capacity of thefamily to access food from the market.

Improved food security therefore, be it fromhousehold production or purchased sup-plies, is reliant on agricultural growth per-formance,” the report says.

The research undertaken by ConcernWorldwide focused on four districts- IringaRural in Iringa region, Kilosa in Morogororegion, Lindi Rural in Lindi region andMtwara Rural in Mtwara region.

According to the 32-pare report the

challenges facing poor farmers in-clude:

Land: Landholdings average between0.2 and two hectares per household.Competition for fertile and irrigated land isintense, especially amongst extremely poorhouseholds including those headed by loneparents, orphans and elderly people.

In Kilosa and Lindi districts, areas ofpotential arable land held by tittle-holdersor traditional owners are under-utilized,

adding to competition amongst poor farm-ers. The pressure on the land also leads toconflicts between farmers and livestockkeepers.

“ For example, in the area of Kilangaliin Kilosa district, farmers complain that thetramping of land around rivers by Maasaiand Sukuma heards has resulted inchanges to the course of the river, increas-ing the frequency and severity of floods,”the report says.

Gender:Women are probably the mostmarginalized of farmers. Men often controlfamily resources, especially those from themajor income earning activities. Singlewomen who are heads of households areparticularly vulnerable as they often haveno one to help them in their farming activi-ties. Single women also face discriminationin the allocation of irrigation rights andmarried womenwhose husband dies if often

denied the chance to retain family livestock.Hand-hoe technology: In many areas

there is no tradition of using animal powerand the use of mechanical power like powertillers, tractors and accompanying equip-ment is restricted by limited availabilityand the inability of most farmers to affordthe high cost of such equipment.

Labour: In areas of Mtwara and Lindi,some young people routinely leave the vil-lages to go to towns during the farming sea-son, depleting labour resources. Labourconstraints are particularly acute for un-married and widowed women with childrenand families affected by HIV and AIDS,where older siblings and grandparents takecare of the younger orphans.

Livestock: Families with no livestockare relatively more marginalized as theyare more exposed to livelihood shocks thanthose with livestock. Livestock are an im-portant source of power for cultivation andtransportation of goods to and from mar-kets and are important means of generat-ing additional family income to meet unex-pected social and economic obligations.

Remoteness and infrastructure: Theabsence or extremely poor state of feederand access roads increases the cost of farminputs and agricultural equipment while atthe same time lowering prices of farm out-puts. In the rainy season some roads be-come impassable. Following the collapse ofold cooperative marketing structures, areasthat are easily accessible have seen risingreturns from farm produce as local marketsattract traders and other buyers from nearand far.

By contrast, farmers in remote areashave seen demand for their produce fall, re-sulting in low prices. The few traders whotravel to these areas dictate prices, knowing

that eventually farmers will be obliged tosell at virtually whatever price offered.

Farm inputs: The use of improvedseeds, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticidesis constrained by their limited availabilityand high cost. Distances to the nearest in-puts suppliers range from between 25 kilo-metres and 56 kilometres in Lindi RuralDistrict to between 25 kilometres and 70kilometres in Mtwara Rural and IringaRural Districts.

“These are prohibitive distances, espe-cially considering the very poor state of ru-ral feeder roads and lack of reliable meansof transport. In addition, there is a generaltrend of raising prices of most farm inputs.

InMtwara and Kilosa for instance, overthe past three years the price of a 50kilo-gramme bag of fertilizers has risen by 178percent from 18,000/- to 50,000/-.

Accessing credit: Access to credit is oneof the most common ways of improvingfarmers’ access to inputs. Efforts to estab-lish Savings and Credit CooperativesSocieties (SACCOS) have achieved limitedsuccess. The most impressive success hasoccurred in Mtwara Rural District wherethe number of registered SACCOS has in-creased from ten to 21 over the last threeyears.

But most farmers are unable to accesscredit, which makes it difficult for them topurchase the inputs they need.

Extension services: Most farmers havevery limited access to extension advice. Thefarmer-extension officer ratio presentlyranges from 10,000 -20,000: 1. Farmers inmore remote areas are least likely to see anextension workers as most extension work-ers only have bicycles. In some cases be-cause of lack of regular refresher courses,extension agents are not in a position tosupply farmers with up to date advice onproduction and related techniques.

In order to improve the district agricul-tural development plan process so that thevoices of the marginal farmers could beheard, the report recommend that the gov-ernment should strengthen the planningprocess by directly consulting with margin-al farmers and ensuring that the results ofthose consultations are included in planswhile also reducing delays in disburse-ments by simplifying the planning process.

The government should also initiate asystem of regular monitoring and review ofimplantation to ensure that plans stay on-track and allow changes to be made whilealso developing amechanism to ensure thatconsultation includes non-state actors.

According to the report, there havebeen delays in the release of funds forDADP implementation both from centralgovernment to region and from region todistrict. In 2006/07 for example funds weredisbursed by central government inNovember/December, which is a bout half-way through the financial year.

The delayed funding often results in aninability to acquire inputs or pay for otheressential services, including paying salariesand wages.

The principal reason for delays in therelease of funds for DADP implementationappears to be the government’s failure toprepare and submit to the developmentpartners the draft Annual ActionProgramme (AAP), on the basis of whichthe partners request funding from theirgovernments.

Each of the DADPs in the district stud-ied has invested in the acquisition, equip-ping and training of oxen and farmers inusing oxen for cultivation. This technologyis likely to be more appropriate to the scaleof operation and within the financial reach,of the average marginal farmer than moreexpensive techniques, such as the use oftractors.

“To increase the effectiveness of thecurrent extension team, the DADPs arepurchasing more motorcycles for extensionstaff to improve their mobility and ability toreach the maximum number of farmers.

Addressing gaps in current plans, thegovernment has been advised to ensurethat all resources are utilized effectively tomake maximum contribution to enhanced

food security, poverty reduction and eco-nomic growth.

This, according to the report, requiresproper land use planning, resolving landuse conflicts between crop and livestockfarmers and between large, medium, smalland marginal users among others.

Civil Society Organizations should alsosupport the development and implementa-tion of DADPs by increasing the awarenessof marginal farmers of their rights and re-sponsibilioties and supporting their en-gagement in the DADP process.

The private sector has a key role in en-suring that marginal farmers obtain thetools and inputs they need. In fulfilling thisrole, private sector organizations have neeadvised to cooperate with government andother stakeholders in providing the specialcommunity services needed in ensuringthat marginal farmers are assisted to growout of poverty and become regular partici-pants in the market place,

Steps are also needed to improve theuse of seeds, fertilizers, herbicides and pes-ticides in order to raise agricultural produc-tivity. This, the report says requires im-provement of extension services, includingensuring extension workers go to remoteareas and to expand the Farmer FieldSchool Programme.

It is suggested also that a system ofproperly targeted subsidies, along withmeasures to prevent the subsidized sup-plies from being accessed by those for whomthey are not intended.

There should also be investments inproduce storage, enabling farmers to storefarm produce during harvest season whenprices are very low for sale later in the yearwhen prices are better. Also steps should bein place to encourage private inputs dealersto open input supply outlets in all produc-tion centres.

Responding to theneeds of Tanzanianmarginal farmers

“The principalreason for delaysin the release offunds for DADPimplementationappears to be thegovt’s failure toprepare and submitto the develop-ment partners thedraft Annual ActionProgramme(AAP)

“

• There are 1.3 billion smallholderfarmers in the developing world. Mostfarm small areas of poor land and cannotgrow enough food to feed the their fami-lies, let alone earn an income. Many areexcluded- socially, economically and po-litically and have no say in policy deci-sions that affect them.• In Tanzania, an estimated 3.6

million rural, largely marginal, farminghouseholds dominate agricultural pro-duction In recognition to the importanceof agriculture, and with the aim of im-proving farm incomes and reducing ruralpoverty, the government developed an

Agriculture Sector DevelopmentStrategy. That strategy is opera-tionalised through the AgricultureSector Development Programme(ASDP).• Six development partners support

it through a multi-donor basket fund-Danish International DevelopmentAgency, European Union, InternationalFund for Agricultural Development,Irish Aid, Japan InternationalCooperation Agency and theWorld bank.The ASDP is implemented throughDistrict Agricultural DevelopmentPlans.

Profile of smalltime agriculture

Concern Tanzania Governance Manager, Audax Rukonge

Remoteness and bad infra-structure keep prices ofagricultural produce fallingin some places and inputslike fertilizers almost hardto procure

Produce markets like thisone at Kibaigwa have en-abled many farmers link tointernational buyers and toget better prices for theirproduce

SudaneseAmbassador inTanzania AbdielBagi Kabeir ex-plains to theGuardian’s AngelNavuri whatSudan is consider-ing to offerTanzania to boostthe management ofthe country’s soiland water re-sources:

Q: What is the size of Sudan at as-sistance to agriculture sector inTanzania?

A: As you may know the economy inboth Sudan and Tanzania depends a greatdeal on agriculture. It is only until the lastdecade when Sudan started exporting oil.

In fact the enormous agricultural andwater potentials in the two countries arevery important and essential common fac-tors that can initiate common and jointprojects as well as attract both national andforeign investors where possible.

Despite Sudan's steady economicgrowth within the last decade it is unfortu-nate that there hasn't been any direct as-sistance in the field of agriculture toTanzania so far, but I can assure you of thegenuine desire to do so whenever possible.

Q: What form is the possible assis-tance likely to take?

A: Given the fact that Sudan andTanzania are categorized as developingcountries in every sense by the industrially“developed" world hence must wait and de-pend on assistance, I am of the opinion thatthat the word ‘assistance’ is not appropri-ate. Instead ‘cooperation’ sounds better.That is how we can lift each other up andeventually the entire continent.

Because Africa is the haven whichholds the solutions to the global food de-mand, Africa is the future. Not long agoSudan was referred to as The Bread Basketof the World. Currently Sudan is one of themost favorable investment spots for theagricultural investors particularly from theGulf countries due to the fertility, abun-dance of arable land and physical and polit-ical proximity, qualities Tanzania sharesSudan in most of them.

Q: In what specific areas of agri-culture where Sudanese cooperationcan be expected?

A: Regarding the most specific assis-tance relevant to agriculture that Sudan isconsidering offering Tanzania is the expert-ise and training in the field of irrigation andclose cooperation in water management.

As you are quite aware Sudan andTanzania share along with other countriesworld's longest river, The Nile, a life linethat could only be shared cooperatively andcollectively to the benefit and well being ofall.

It is also worth taking note of the long,

outstanding and sound sugar industry inthe Sudan, as well as the fields of horticul-ture and edible oil (Sesame, groundnut andSunflower) and the subsequent by prod-ucts.

Q: Do you have any specific inter-est in Kilimo Kwanza?

A: Indeed Kilimo Kwanza is the way

forward, bearing in mind that like in themajority of African countries, poverty andlack of development prevail in the rural ar-eas where agriculture is the major source ofsustenance. So such a focus on agriculturaldevelopment could be the right answer.

Such has been the case in my country,The Sudan, where a relatively similar ini-tiative was recently launched, under the

motto” Green Collectivity" aimed at mak-ing agricultural development the core ofSudan's current and future economy.

I can tell quite confidently the rewardsare high and certain. We saw how properagriculture and horticulture made some ofthe smallest countries in the world amongits biggest economies, if they did it weshould do it even better.

Q: Do you think heavy mechaniza-tion best for Tanzania?

A: Heavy mechanization certainly im-proves agricultural productivity but a lotdepends on the physical conditions of theland to be cultivated as well as the irriga-tion technicalities.

Heavy mechanization may require vastlands a situation which may lead to aban-doning of small farmers to their farms orjoining farms together. In any case it is myprofound conviction that the concerned au-thorities are well aware of what is best forthe nation at all levels

Q: What advice do you have for theagriculture sector?

A: Given Tanzania's potentials 'Land,Water Manpowerb and the geographicallystrategic location, one can confidently sayagriculture is the answer.

Of course the role of the state and theprivate sector are intertwined in order tobring about the maximum yield for all, thefarmers, investors and the nation as whole.

Q: Does Kilimo Kwanza in yourview have a future?

A: As experiences shows, many nationsand countries went through hardship tocreate arable lands and dig rocks for water,some under tyrants and others withoutguides. But fortunately here you are todayin Tanzania so opportune in this significantjuncture of global strife for food security, tohave President Jakaya Kikwete himselfmaking sure the banner of Kilimo Kwanzaraised and kept at the highest level and isdetermined to deliver.

Q: Any specific areas in agriculturewould like the government to focuson?

A: If I may suggest anything it will bethat the leadership in Tanzania at all levelsshould continue in the right path chosenbearing in mind that agricultural develop-ment is a long bumpy journey which re-quires besides the blessed stability, a com-mitted leadership, a strong and durable ba-sic infrastructure.


8 WHAT OTHERS SAY

Sudan offers cooperationin water management

By Miki Tasseni

AHECTIC week has justended at the Universityof Dar es Salaam, wherelocal scholars and visi-tors from outside, unitedby a common interest inthe work and life of thelate Mwalimu Julius

Nyerere, turned up for week long series ofseminars. While the major focus was defi-nitely political, ethical and ideological –that is, what good leadership is all about,what ethics ought to govern policy making,and Pan-African visions generally, a fewsalient issues were raised. One is how todefinite agriculture policy for the peasants.

The matter was approached in bits andpieces as it came up in different panels ortopics of discussion, for instance in the over-all presentation where Prof. Samin Aminespoused his concept of ‘the long road to so-cialism.’ In that sort of view, even if earliersocialist policies covering the agriculturalsector failed or were besieged by manyproblems, that outlook was still the rightone, as it assured peasants of ownership orcontrol of their land. Later ‘neo-liberal’ poli-cies compromise this side of peasant expec-tations, as they elevate economic use ofland rather than uplifting the manner inwhich the peasants use the land.

The debate about the utility or other-wise of current policies like Kilimo Kwanzahinged on what sentiments a contributorwould have on the previous experience,that of Ujamaa villages. Few would suggestthat it was a success, and Prof. ReneDumont, one of the earliest global voices onenvironmental destruction, warned wayback in ‘False Start in Africa’ that collec-tivizing peasants ruined the environmentaround them. Decimation of trees in largenumbers followed not just spectacular ur-ban growth but rural collectivism.

An equally engaging contribution inthat direction was the now classic study onEcology Control and EconomicDevelopment in East African History,Norwegian researcher Helge Kjekshusdemonstrated how abandoning some colo-nial efforts at protection of environmentcreated problems for agriculture policy af-ter independence. For political reasons forinstance, the nationalist party TANU criti-cized the colonial administration for enforc-ing terraces in farming, saying it was an op-pressive policy. After independence TANUtried to revive or extend the policy and itfailed despite all its effort.

While financial sector penetration is be-ing urged everywhere as the means to ‘em-

power’ peasants acquiremodern agricultur-al inputs and put away the hand hoe, de-velopment researchers are wondering onthe ‘ethics of profiting from the poor.’Bangladeshi banker and economistMohammed Yunus obtained the NobelPeace Prize in 2006 for systematic empow-erment of millions of poor people in hiscountry by a successful microfinance strat-egy based on peer pressure guarantees in-stead of collateral. But researchers are nowquestioning whether rates of interestcharged, higher than usual banks, are alsoethical.

There is also plenty of microfinancepenetration in the Tanzanian environmentbut not to compare with South Asia, whereboth the placing of collateral and effectivepeer pressure are higher than in sub-Saharan Africa. The story however of fail-ure to pay most of the 21bn/- revolving mi-crofinance funds called the ‘JK billions’shows the limitations of such a strategy be-ing taken up by the state, though this wasthe preferred design at an earlier period.The reason was that private sector-basedmicrofinance operations are often rude.

Recent data indicates that close to 60per cent of the ‘JK billions’ had not been re-paid as yet, well above the usual six-monthperiod that microfinance loans areprocessed and repaid, or at best one year.Data from Bangladesh showed in the pastdecade that the usual repayment level wasabove 90 per cent, which isn’t perhaps ex-plained from a ‘culture of payment’ as somemarketing-oriented explanation at timessuggests. It is easier to infer the reasonfrom difficulties of market outlets for mostgoods produced in informal sector economy,

as they add ‘more of the same’ to what mayalready have been saturated. Microfinancedoesn’t push one to change places or livedifferently from earlier.

Within the confines of the UDSM festi-val debates, it became a bit difficult to sayexactly what is ‘agriculture first,’ as itbegets the query ‘whose’ agriculture shouldbe first, whether it is that of the peasant orthe commercial farmer. The latter is com-ing up rather quickly as local firms startsourcing materials from within, like thebeverage firm Tanzania Breweries Ltdlately putting up a promotional drive of‘drink and beer and win a tractor,’ meant tobring people to cultivate the rye it needs forbrewing. Cost cutting being the basic re-

quirement of competition, processing rawmaterials locally is helpful.

Activists from the Tanzania GenderNetworking Program (TGNP) buoyed withevents to the north of the country wherewomen demonstrated against land seizuresand resource control in different ways,questioned the rationale of Kilimo Kwanza.Economists on the other hand tended to gothe other end of the matter and questionwhether the very idea that policy shouldtarget a peasant was a ‘farming’ policy, say-ing the peasants aren’t farmers. ‘The da-tum that 80% of the population is made upof farmers is simply wrong.’

In sum there remains substantial con-tention between the old vision of agricul-ture which sees the focus on peasants andmaking other economic initiatives work forthe peasants, and themoremodernist view.The vision of improving lives of the peas-ants sees the nation’s very identity in occu-pational terms, as made up of peasants andtheir defined residential areas and lan-guage systems as the nation itself.Mwalimu espoused that very idea in an es-say in August 1967 after the ArushaDeclaration, saying ‘the acceptance of theArusha Declaration is an affirmation of thefact that we are Tanzanian, and wish to re-main Tanzanian as we develop.’ His origi-nal goal of stopping land alienation and theformation of owning and laboring classes inthe countryside was guiding his policies.

Yet there is little substance to that kindof worrying, as refusing the rise of classesisn’t the same thing as refusing classless-ness, as a number of Kenyan participantsin the seminars were cautioning, thatTanzania should not follow Kenya’s path.Yet Kenya seems to have started havingproblems of food security the moment theold model is being put to question. If any-thing, economists will go further and assertthat the real problem is that land as awhole isn’t privately owned, so there isn’tsufficient credit that goes to industry andeven agriculture, as only urban land isfreely exchanged. Rural land usually re-mains out of reach; inherited land can’t suf-fice for needs of another generation.

Worse, socialists campaigning againstland alienation and private ownershipseem to be suggesting that it is bad for peo-ple to work on a farm for someone else, ex-cept if it is their own farm. This sort of ar-gument has never made sense in economicterms, and indeed not only during the colo-nial period but later many people preferemployment on the land to tilling some drypatch on their own, as at least their wagesare assured, periodically. But the phenom-enon of seasonal labor tied to insecurity andeven criminality is rather fearful.

Scholars differ on KilimoKwanza significance togrowth, uplift of peasants

HIGH LEVEL SUPPORT: President Kikwete Sudan President Omar Al Bashir Vice President Salva Kiir

Miki Taseni

“It became a bit dif-!cult to say exactlywhat is ‘agriculture!rst,’ as it begetsthe query ‘whose’agriculture

“

Kilimo Kwanza

Documents

Transcript of Kilimo Kwanza