Emphasizing the need for building local private-sector seed companies, fostering public-private partnerships, and promoting the use of improved seed varieties, AGRA Board Chair Hailemariam Desalegn has urged Tanzania to bolster its local seed production capacity to achieve food security and economic growth.
To reinforce and augment its food system, Tanzania has been advised to enhance the abilities of local seed firms to ensure consistent seed supply, thereby reducing reliance on overseas companies.
During his visit to Meru AGRO seed farms in the Mbozi region, Songwe on 16th March 2023, Desalegn, who is a former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, underlined the significance of developing domestic agricultural capacity and how this could potentially benefit Tanzania’s food security and economic growth.
Desalegn spotlighted the crucial role of public-private partnerships in seed production and argued against the sustainability of depending on foreign companies for seed supplies. He pushed for the strengthening of local private sector companies in seed production, as a sustainable long-term solution. The importance of producing a diverse range of seeds by local companies and the benefits of local seed production, including foreign currency conservation, were also highlighted. These recommendations spotlight the pivotal role local private sector companies can play in promoting food security and enhancing Tanzania’s agricultural sector.
While lauding Meru AGRO’s seed production efforts, Desalegn encouraged the Tanzanian government to support young entrepreneurs’ participation in agricultural seed systems. He underscored the need for an increase in locally-owned seed companies in Tanzania and ensured that AGRA would extend support to young entrepreneurs in agricultural seed systems.
He insisted on a gradual shift towards locally-owned seed companies and underscored CESSA’s (Center of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa) role in continual support of seed systems.
Dr. Hussein Mohamed Omar, Deputy PS of the Ministry of Agriculture, appreciated Meru Agro and stated Tanzania’s commitment to working with domestic and international agricultural stakeholders to achieve seed production self-sufficiency. He noted the government’s aim to boost agricultural productivity by 10% by 2030, with seed multiplication being a key part. He acknowledged AGRA’s significant support in accomplishing the government’s 2030 agenda, especially in seed production.
Meru AGRO CEO, Watanga Chacha, advised farmers to use quality seeds to increase yields and combat climate change impacts. He thanked the Tanzanian government for their partnership in seed production. Despite large scale seed production, the national seed demand remains high. Chacha indicated the estimated demand for seeds is 160,000 tons, while actual production is less than 60,000 tons. He urged the government to assist in obtaining more land for seed production.
Dr. Sophia Kashenge-Killenga, CEO at Tanzania Agriculture Seed Agency (ASA), highlighted three focus areas: the agriculture sector, domestic seed production, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). She revealed that the agriculture sector contributes 26.9% to the country’s GDP, but its growth has been sluggish, achieving only 4%. The disparity between population growth and food production growth is one of the major challenges. The rapidly growing population and high fertility rate, averaging five children per woman, necessitate an increase in food production. She noted the population increased from 44 million in 2012 to 60 million.
She also addressed the insufficient use of improved seed varieties in Tanzania and other eastern countries, and noted the current seed demand is at 300,000 MT, with the country producing just about 50,000 MT. The ASA encourages private sector involvement in seed production and shared that the seed import market is decreasing, indicating local seed production growth, with around 70% of seed production being local.
Dr. Kashenge stressed the need to produce 60,000 MT of improved seed in the country by 2030 and urged all stakeholders to ensure every smallholder farmer has access to certified improved seeds.