Transforming Tanzania’s Agricultural Landscape: The Agenda 10/30 Roadmap

Tanzania’s agricultural sector, the backbone of the nation’s economy, is set for a significant transformation with the launch of the Agenda 10/30 Roadmap during AGRA-supported Tanzania Food Systems Partner Dialogue and Workshop. This strategic initiative, introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, aims to propel the crop sub-sector GDP growth rate to an ambitious 10% by 2030, up from the current rate of 5.4%. The roadmap focuses on 13 priority crops, each representing unique opportunities for enhancing productivity, increasing market access, and fostering sustainable development.

A Bold Vision for Growth

Hon. Hussein Bashe, the Minister of Agriculture, highlights the transformative journey ahead: “The Agenda 10/30 is a bold and strategic initiative that sets the stage for revolutionizing our agricultural sector. In partnership with stakeholders nationwide, we embark on a journey to drive the crop sub-sector GDP growth rate to an ambitious 10% by 2030.”

The initiative aligns with Tanzania’s Vision 2050 and emphasizes the critical role of agriculture in achieving long-term development goals. With agriculture contributing over 25% to the GDP and sustaining livelihoods for 61.1% of the population, the sector is poised to be the driving force behind industrialization and poverty alleviation.

Strategic Focus on Priority Crops

The Agenda 10/30 identifies 13 priority crops that will significantly contribute to the increased crop sector GDP growth. These crops include Maize, Rice/Paddy, Wheat, Pulses/Beans, Cashew Nuts, Avocado, Sunflower, Cassava, Sisal, Cotton, Soya Beans, Sorghum, and Coffee.

These crops were selected based on their market value, potential for increased productivity, and their contribution to food sufficiency, export revenues, and employment generation. “From maize to avocado, each crop represents a unique opportunity to enhance productivity, increase market access, and foster sustainable development,” states Hon. Bashe.

Key Interventions for Transformation

The roadmap outlines a comprehensive strategy focused on key interventions to drive the transformation of the agricultural sector. These interventions include:

1. Improved Use of Modern Inputs: The initiative aims to increase the use of improved seeds and fertilizers among smallholder farmers. Currently, the supply of improved seeds in Tanzania is below 15%, and fertilizer use is far below global best practices.
2. Mechanization: With over 95% of farmers using animal-powered ploughs and hand hoes, there is a significant need to enhance mechanization. The roadmap targets increasing the use of tractor ploughs and modern machinery to boost productivity.
3. Irrigation Expansion: Only 2.5% of the potential 29.4 million hectares that can be irrigated are currently under irrigation. The roadmap prioritizes irrigation expansion to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure stable production.
4. Enhanced Extension Services: The extension officer to crop farmer ratio in Tanzania is about 1:1172, far below the recommended standards. The roadmap seeks to improve this ratio by leveraging digital extension methods to expand farmer reach.
5. Market Access and Value Addition: The roadmap emphasizes improving market infrastructure, packaging, branding, and achieving international market standards to enhance the competitiveness of Tanzanian agricultural products.

Public and Private Investment

Public and private investments are crucial for the success of the Agenda 10/30 Roadmap. Public investments in irrigation, mechanization, and input supply are essential for unlocking private investments. The government has already increased agricultural budgetary allocations, signaling a commitment to drive the sector forward.

“Implementation of Agenda 10/30 is expected to cost an estimated 36 trillion Tanzania shillings, with funding from government, private sector, and development partners,” explains Hon. Bashe. “The government will continue to increase funding towards public goods such as research, extension services, irrigation, and resilience to climate change.”

Private Sector Collaboration

The roadmap also seeks to create a conducive investment environment to attract private sector investments in the selected priority value chains. This includes fiscal incentives, removal of regulatory bottlenecks, and mobilizing farmers to adopt modern farming techniques.

“Private sector funding is vital in complementing public funding, especially in commercially viable opportunities, and reducing pressure on public resources,” notes Gerald G. Mweli, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. “The government will put in place credit guarantee schemes and partner with financial institutions to provide affordable financing packages to farmers and other value chain players.”

Empowering Youth in Agriculture

The roadmap places significant emphasis on increasing youth participation in agriculture. The Building a Better Tomorrow – Youth Involvement in Agriculture (BBT-YIA) Program aims to address barriers hindering youth from gainfully participating in agriculture. This includes improving access to production factors such as land, inputs, and finance.

“Tanzania has a young population, and empowering the youth to engage in innovative commercial agribusiness is crucial for the future of agriculture,” says Mweli. “The BBT-YIA program seeks to create a new generation of skilled, young agripreneurs who will drive the sector forward.”

Addressing Productivity Bottlenecks

One of the fundamental issues affecting the productivity of the main crops produced in Tanzania is the limited use of modern agricultural inputs. The vast majority of smallholder farmers do not use improved seeds and fertilizers, significantly limiting their productivity and efficiency.

“Seeds – the supply of improved seeds in Tanzania is below 15%, and over 76% of the cultivated area is planted with local seeds,” highlights the roadmap. “Fertilizer – the use of industrial fertilizer has oscillated between 9 kg/ha and 16 kg/ha in the last decade, far below the CAADP target of 50 kg/ha or global best practices.”

Mechanization and irrigation are also critical components for increasing productivity. The roadmap targets expanding irrigation coverage and promoting the use of tractors and modern machinery to enhance the efficiency of land and input utilization.

A Collective Effort for Success

The Agenda 10/30 Roadmap is a collaborative effort involving the government, private sector, development partners, and farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture will lead the implementation, utilizing existing decision-making organs and establishing a Roadmap Coordination Unit.

“The Roadmap Coordination Unit will comprise a Roadmap Coordinator, 13 Value Chain/Crop Champions, and specialists in M&E, crop agriculture transformation, and resources mobilization,” explains Mweli. “Together, we have the opportunity to unleash the full potential of Tanzanian agriculture, create sustainable livelihoods, and chart a course towards shared prosperity for generations to come.”

The Agenda 10/30 Roadmap is not just a set of aspirations but a blueprint grounded in empirical evidence, stakeholder consultation, and expert analysis. It embodies the collective determination of the Tanzanian government, private sector partners, development agencies, and, most importantly, the farmers.

As Tanzania embarks on this transformative journey, the commitment to addressing fundamental challenges, optimizing the use of modern inputs, and improving mechanization, irrigation, extension services, and market infrastructure will propel the agricultural sector towards sustained prosperity. The roadmap positions the crop sector to contribute effectively to the long-term development vision of the country, ensuring food security, poverty reduction, and economic development.

Hon. Hussein Bashe encapsulates the vision: “The Agenda 10/30 Roadmap is a bold step towards revolutionizing our agricultural sector. Together, we can create a brighter, more prosperous future for Tanzanian agriculture and the nation as a whole.”