Tanzania has achieved a 128% food security, slowly making it the food basket, particularly to it’s SADC neighbours. The food surplus is exported.
The Tanzania President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, revealed this during a session at the 2024 World Food Prize Norman E. Borluag International Dialogue, held in IOWA,USA. The theme for the session was “Bold Measures to Feed Africa”, it was facilitated by Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group and it featured Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone. Tanzania’s success is as a result of its participation in the banks 2023 Dakar 2 Food Summit, which mobolized over 72 billion dollars in commitments to agricultural transformation in Africa. A pact was signed, which emphasized the boosting of productivity and support structures for farmers. According to President Hassan, the country is now shifting focus to improving quality, accessibility, affordability and reducing post harvest losses. Tanzania has made strides in cashew nut processing, becoming a processor and net exporter. In most countries on the continent, cashew nuts are processed in Asia. Nearly 100% of Tanzania’s 12,300 villages have electricity, an achievement in rural development. The achievement underscores the growing readiness of African countries to make long-scale investments in agriculture and food production. The African Development Bank’s investment in Tanzania extends food production support to youth and women. It came up with the “Creating Jobs for Youth and Women” programme. The initiative targets the country’s 65% youth population by providing training in farming, agriculture, livestock and crop management. As part of the programme, each young person is given 10 Acres of land, along with the needed training and support. About 11,000 youth have benefited from the programme so far. “This is why we bring African leaders here, so you can hear from them directly,” said Adesina, emphasizing the banks commitment to creating platforms that amplify African voices and showcases their achievements to the world.
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Over 11,000 youths and women have contributed to Tanzania’s food security.