TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2012
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 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 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.”