RATIN

Ireland pumps in Sh2.6 billion for WFP farmers

Posted on September, 18, 2018 at 10:26 am


The Irish government has released a one million euro (Sh2.6 billion) grants to support smallholder farmers in addressing value chain challenges under a project to be implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP).

The funding is part of Irish aid towards WFP humanitarian and development activities which include a feasibility study and potential pilot for farmers on the sorghum commodity value chain in Dodoma.

According to the Irish ambassador to Tanzania, Paul Shelock, Ireland also supports crucial WFP work in providing emergency food and nutrition assistance to Burundi and Congolese refugees in Kigoma region.

“Our focus now is beyond refugees… this time we are extending our support to increase farm productivity, expanding marketing opportunities, and offering training on post-harvest loss reduction said the envoy.

He said Ireland’s approach emphasizes the importance of coordinated public and private investment in the agro sector to increase farm production, and value locally, and create employment.

“Investment by private sector actors is pivotal to the transformation of Tanzania’s agricultural sector as these actors supply farm inputs, provide business services, and engage in the trading and processing of agricultural products,” he added.

Dodoma project is expected to impact approximately 6,000 farmers.

WFP country representative Michael Dunford said the agency’s support to the farmers and the project will include financial aid where they have difficulties in access bank loans at fair interest rates.

“WFP works to find the best market for farmers and the share within them ideas on how best to overcome value chain challenges,” Dunford said

Or declining funding for refugees support Dunford said the Irish movement support is a wake-up call to our partners to join the race.

WFP announced earlier this year that it was working with authorities to integrate Tanzania into the universal methodology for measuring food security so as to facilitate a quick international response whenever there is a food shortage.

During the 2015-2016 financial year WFP, commissioned a comprehensive Zero Hunger Strategy Review on food security and nutrition in Tanzania, based on the targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) dealing with the eradication of hunger.

The findings of the review highlighted a role for WFP in strengthening national systems for a more integrated, systematic approach to a national food security.

WFP Tanzanian’s current Country Strategic Plan (CSP), which is an update on the previous plan runs from July 2017 to June 2021.

The CSP design has been informed by the comprehensive analysis conducted with a broad range of stakeholders to identify country-specific needs and priorities in the fight to eliminate hunger and malnutrition.

 

Source: The Citizen