By Elizabeth Shumbusho
DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA — In a recent address, President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania detailed the significant markers to gauge the success of the BBT program, with a focus on youth involvement and national impact.
“How will we know if the BBT has succeeded? Through indicators,” President Hassan began. “The first indicator is the number of youth involved in the program. As mentioned, we already have 1,200 participants. However, we have numerous applications from youths wanting to join. So the first indicator is the attractiveness of the program to the youth.”
She continued, “The second indicator, I believe, will be the way we use fertilizer – the consumption of fertilizer. How it is extensively used shows us that the youth have understood good agricultural practices, and thus, they’re using the fertilizer in large quantities.”
Elaborating on subsequent markers of success, Dr. Hassan said, “The third is productivity — the yield that will be obtained from the farming in which the youth are involved. Another indicator, I think, will be the market — how you will be able to take those crops to the market and how the youth will see they are improving their lives. That’s a significant indicator now — how the lives of the youth continue to thrive.”
The President touched on the broader economic implications. “Another indicator is seeing that we reduce food inflation within the country. If production is high, undoubtedly the prices of food will drop. And as we know, the food basket is what causes significant inflation in the country. So, if we can reduce the food basket inflation, it would be a very good indicator that the youth are producing abundantly.”