Tanzania

Tanzania is located in East Africa and borders the Indian Ocean between Kenya and Mozambique. The country’s total land area is 947,300 sq km. In comparison, it is slightly smaller than Egypt and twice the size of the U.S. state of California. The country’s climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate in the highlands. Of the total land area, only four percent is utilized for cultivated crops, while another one percent supports permanent crops such as fruit- and nut-bearing trees. Tanzania is in the bottom 10 percent of the world's economies in terms of per capita income. Its economy depends heavily on agriculture and related industries, which account for more than 40 percent of GDP and provide 85 percent of exports. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to a small percentage of the land area. The country’s population is approximately 41 million, with 80 percent of the workforce dedicated to agriculture. Primary exports from Tanzania are coffee, cashews and manufactured products from agricultural raw materials such as cotton. Other agricultural products include sisal, tea, tobacco, cloves, maize, wheat, cassava, bananas, wood products and fertilizer. The East and Southern Africa Division is responsible for IFDC activities in Tanzania.

IFDC in Tanzania

IFDC works to increase agricultural productivity and farmer incomes in the region. These objectives are accomplished by improving farmers’ knowledge of best practices for soil fertility management and by improving their access to quality inputs and to output markets. Through collaboration with national governments and regional economic communities, IFDC supports initiatives to create an enabling environment for agricultural intensification and private sector development.

Current IFDC Projects in Tanzania

  • NEPAD-FAO Fertilizer Subsidy Study, 2011-2012
    The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) has commissioned a study on fertilizer subsidy programs in eight countries in Africa, with technical guidance and financial support provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and IFDC. The study will be an overview of different subsidy models, thus providing a menu of options for countries considering subsidies or wanting to alter ongoing subsidy programs. The study focuses on fertilizer subsidy programs in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia.

DONORS: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

  • Tanzania Staples Value Chain (NAFAKA), 2011-2015
    To increase food security in the country, the NAFAKA project is improving the productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers in the maize and rice value chains while expanding the benefits from this growth to women, youth and other vulnerable groups. The five-year project is implemented by ACDI/VOCA and its Support for Food Security Activities team (including IFDC).
DONOR: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
 

Recent IFDC Projects in Tanzania

  • Extending Agro-Input Dealer Networks (EADN) in East Africa, 2008-2011
    EADN strengthened and extended agro-dealer capacities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The project focused on building well-functioning dealer networks that can support the introduction of improved production technologies to smallholder farmers. The project also focused on improving agro-dealer promotion and distribution capabilities for products such as quality fertilizers, improved seed and crop protection products.
DONOR: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

  • Strengthening Trade at the Regional Level in Agricultural Inputs in Africa (STAR), 2007-2010
    The STAR project promoted food security and agricultural growth through improved regional trade along eastern and southern Africa’s entire agricultural vale chain. The project improved market access for agro-dealers and smallholder farmers. This included better access to quality inputs and advanced technologies along with improved market linkages, local and regional agricultural policy reforms and greater involvement of agricultural enterprises.

DONOR: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Tanzania Information

Articles

New IFDC Projects in East and Southern Africa (Taken from IFDC Report Volume 36, No 4)



Extending Agro-Input Dealer Networks (EADN) (Taken from IFDC Report Volume 36, No.1)



An IFDC Core Competency: Agro-Dealer Development (Taken from IFDC Report Volume 35, No.3)



An IFDC Core Competency: Agro-Dealer Development (Taken from IFDC Report Volume 35, No.3)



Project Highlight: Extending Agro-Input Dealer Networks (EADN) (Taken from IFDC Report Volume 35, No.2 in English and French)