The United States has announced a donation of $5 million to enhance food security in Tanzania and empower local farmers.
The financial support will be channeled through the country’s aid agency, USAID, and is in addition to the $14 million previously provided for the agricultural sector in the past nine months.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power highlighted that the funding aims to support local food growers by enabling them to invest in essential resources such as irrigation systems, farm inputs, storage facilities, agricultural machinery, and climate change adaptation measures.
Ms. Power emphasized the resilience of local food producers amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruptions.
During her visit to Tanzania, Ms. Power engaged with local farmers, particularly women growers, and met with aspiring young farmers involved in the state-supported ‘Build a Better Tomorrow’ (BBT) program.
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Notably, more women have been participating in commercial farming activities, marking a shift from traditional restrictions. Eva Petro Mollel, Secretary of the Association of Arusha Onion Growers (UVIWAVA), highlighted the changing attitudes towards women’s involvement in farming, including irrigation activities that were previously considered impossible.
Taha Group CEO Jacqueline Mkindi expressed the organization’s collaboration with USAID to strengthen local farmers and secure markets for Tanzanian horticultural producers, emphasizing the importance of market access in modern farming practices.
