Over 4200 farmers set to take part in a project testing innovative storage technologies to reduce post-harvest losses in Tanzania.
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Rockefeller Foundation on Tuesday 2nd December 2014 launched a project to test three innovative storage technologies to help the country’s smallholder farmers reduce post-harvest losses.
The three technologies – hermetic cocoons, metal silos and PICs (Purdue Improved Cowpeas) bags – are part of a two year project in response to this year’s impressive bumper harvest of key food crops in Tanzania’s breadbasket regions, which has seen a harvest surplus following 2013’s 14.38 million metric tons. Tanzania’s National Food Reserve stores are currently saturated, creating a need for storage facilities to reduce food loss and transportation costs.
With farmers across Tanzania adopting improved agricultural practices, the country is facing increased yields, leading to increased pressure for storage facilities. Farmers are at great risk of losing significant amounts of their harvest and consequently their income, due to their inability to properly store their grain. Research funded by AGRA estimates that Tanzania sometimes faces post-harvest losses as high as 40 per cent for some crops.
Over 4200 farmers will participate in the project, from which lessons will also be drawn on barriers to their adoption to technologies in their trade.
Speaking at the project launch in Ibumila Village, Njombe, The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Cooperatives Sophia Kaduma thanked AGRA and the Rockefeller Foundation for coming up with the very important project and if the technology proves a success, the government would work with private sector to support the mass adoption of the innovations.
“We have seen agriculture continue to grow and prosper in our country; as the government works to increase warehouse storage capacity, projects like this one will ensure our farmers can store their grain and reap the benefits of bumper harvests,” she said.
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AGRA President Dr. Agnes Kalibata explained the timelines of the project, and its role in generating research to inform similar interventions in future.
“There are a number of innovative storage technologies available, but these are yet to reach farmers, traders and government agencies involved in food storage. This project will enhance efforts to increase farmers’ access to new technologies to reduce post-harvest losses, and increase our understanding of how to best encourage greater uptake of similar storage technologies,” said Dr. Kalibata.
AGRA Country head in Tanzania, Dr Mary Mgonja said the project would go along way in consolidating Tanzania’s drive to be the bread basket for East Africa and beyond. “ I am confident that availing these technologies for safe storage and with increased access to markets Tanzania will be able in future to supply all the rice and maize needs for East Africa,” she said.
Managing Director of the Rockefeller Foundation, Africa Regional Office, Mamadou Biteye, said the project would be important in helping improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
“The Rockefeller Foundation is pleased to collaborate with AGRA in this project through our Food Waste and Spoilage Initiative. These technologies will not only preserve a greater harvest, but will help increase the small holder farmers’ income, and strengthen their livelihoods through future reduction of post-harvest loss,” said Mr. Biteye.
Tanzania is a high priority country for AGRA, which has invested over US$45m there to improve smallholder productivity and incomes, and has helped train farmers in improved agricultural practices, enhanced their market access and increased smallholder farmer access to finance.
One example is Festo Kaduma, from the Njombe region, who has managed to double his maize yields by using Integrated Soil Fertility Management and by planting improved seed.
With his story common across many parts of Tanzania, there are calls for better storage options, post-harvest management and market access.