Tanzania is determined to Promote the agriculture sector. Tanzania’s President, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, declared that his country is committed to advancing the agricultural sector to benefit the entire continent and itself.
President Samia made the remarks while speaking to young people at the ongoing Africa Food Systems Forum in Dar es Salaam.
Her remarks add to the nation’s pledge to restructure the industry for it to serve as the world’s largest food source by 2030.
The “Building a Better Tomorrow” (BBT) initiative is one of the steps taken to attain the targets, according to Dr. Samia, who also stated that the country intends to increase the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to reach 10% by that time.
The project spans from 2022 to 2030 and seeks to empower the nation’s youth by giving them access to agribusiness possibilities and promoting economic growth.
The initiative aims to develop a generation of agribusiness entrepreneurs that can drive economic growth and change Tanzania’s agricultural environment by empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools and resources.
By 2030, almost 3 million young people will have direct and indirect employment. She noted that 1252 youth have been enrolled in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries since the program’s inception.
She went on to say that the government undertakes research to determine which crops are in high demand domestically and abroad and links producers and buyers to develop the market for agricultural products produced by young people.
Peas are a fantastic illustration of this strategy in action, as the government was able to link Southern Tanzanian farmers to the market through this commodity.
Peas’ price increased as a result, rising from 300/- per kilogram last year to 2000/- this year.
She added that to facilitate crop transit from the hinterlands to the market, the government was working to upgrade the road infrastructure connecting various regions.
She added, “We have also upgraded our ports and bought new cargo planes to help export the agricultural products.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Yara International, Mr. Svein Tore Holsether, claimed that the young generation can reshape the continent because they are entrepreneurs.
As he urged the young people to understand that farming is business and food is commerce, Mr. Holsether stated that technology is driving the development of agriculture and is currently deploying things like advanced satellites and drones.
“I implore the younger generation to consider a career in agriculture. He insisted that we must attract young people to this enterprise and show them that it is a business.