Posted on August, 5, 2024 at 09:19 am
FARMERS’ Day dates back to the early 1980s when the Tanzanian Government initiated the celebration to recognise and appreciate the contributions of farmers to the national economy.
The Nanenane exhibition is an annual event held in Tanzania to commemorate the founding of Farmers’ Day, celebrating achievements in agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors.
It takes place from August 1st to 8th each year and features displays and demonstrations from various sectors related to Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, including innovations, technologies and practices aimed at improving productivity and sustainability.
“As Tanzania proudly marks the 31st Nanenane International Agricultural Exhibition in Dodoma, SAGCOT Centre is honoured to stand alongside our nation’s farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, innovators and partners in celebrating our incredible progress in transforming our agricultural sector,” says Geoffrey Kirenga, the Chief Executive Officer of SAGCOT Centre Limited.
He says it is a special year for SAGCOT and its partners as it marks the year that SAGCOT is embarking towards taking its work beyond the SAGCOT area to the rest of the country and shall be known as the Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania – AGCOT.
Expanding the SAGCOT Model He said as the country celebrates the Nane Nane 2024, SAGCOT is committed to expanding the successful SAGCOT model to new corridors (Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania-AGCOT), amplifying their impact and extending the benefits of sustainable and inclusive agriculture to more regions.
Mr Kirenga says by leveraging their experience and collaborative approach, they are poised to create more resilient and thriving agricultural communities across Tanzania.
The Nanenane 2024 exhibition exemplifies Tanzania’s resolute commitment to food security, economic growth and sustainable development.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Tanzania expects over 500 exhibitors worldwide to converge in the capital city.
This event will showcase cutting-edge technologies, foster valuable partnerships and attract international attention to the immense potential of Tanzanian agriculture.
Mr Kirenga says Nanenane is about Tanzania’s collective achievements and a powerful reminder of the vast opportunities to advance the country’s agricultural landscape.
Tanzania’s agriculture is on the cusp of a remarkable transformation, poised to become a leading global player capable of feeding Africa and the world.
This presents a tremendous opportunity for millions of Tanzanian youths to earn respectable incomes and improve their lives.
Showcasing SAGCOT’s End-to-End Solutions
Since its inception at Nanenane, SAGCOT will be at the forefront, showcasing their commitment to facilitating publicprivate partnerships through comprehensive end-to-end value chain solutions that increase productivity and enhance the quality of Tanzanian produce.
“Our initiatives address our agricultural community’s diverse challenges and provide innovative solutions that drive productivity and sustainability.
For instance, our work with potato farmers has transformed the lives of thousands of smallholder farmers and the local economy in potato-producing areas,” said Mr Kirenga.
He said by introducing improved potato varieties and better farming practices, they have significantly increased yields and quality, allowing farmers to access larger markets and secure higher incomes.
Even at this stage of potato investment, he said they are witnessing increased investment in potato value addition through sorting and grading and production of potato chips and crips.
He said SAGCOT’s collaboration with the government and the private sector, particularly the smallholders, makes the SAGCOT area the most attractive area for agricultural investment.
A significant transformation is also happening in other value chains, such as avocado, spices, apples, cocoa, sunflower, soybeans, poultry and dairy project demonstrating their transformative work is the Tanzania Sustainable Soybean Initiative (TSSI).
This collaborative effort, he said, which is coordinated by the SAGCOT Centre, involves the government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ASPIRES and the World Food Programme’s Farm to Market Alliance (WFP-FtMA), with funding from the Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE).
He said the initiative enhances soybean production through a multifaceted approach, including improved agricultural practices, access to better seed varieties and the establishment of effective market linkages.
“TSSI’s impact on Tanzania’s soybean sector is undeniable. While the industry contributes 0.2 per cent to GDP, with 19,710 metric tons produced in 2019, TSSI has illuminated the sector’s untapped potential.
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Through meticulous data collection and analysis, we’ve profiled over 20,777 farmers, identified 66 prime investment zones and showcased best practices through 137 demo plots and 45 model farms,” he said. He said this groundwork has revealed the potential to cultivate a staggering 952,500 hectares of land, with an estimated 2 million metric tons production capacity.
This, he said, translates to a potential value of over $1 billion at current market prices, which he says it is a data-driven roadmap for Tanzania to become a major soybean producer, enhancing food security and economic growth.
Transforming the Dairy Value Chain
Mr Kirenga further said that significant strides are being made in the dairy value chain strategic partnership, where ASAS Dairies Ltd. has achieved an important milestone by starting the production of powdered milk, opening up new opportunities for thousands of smallholder farmers to access larger markets and secure better prices for their milk.
He said this achievement has enhanced the dairy value chain, where through comprehensive training programs on best practices in animal husbandry, providing high-quality feed and access to essential veterinary services, they have empowered smallscale dairy farmers to boost milk production and improve quality.
Transforming the Poultry Value Chain
He said SAGCOT is actively enhancing the poultry value chain through multiple initiatives, including supporting the drafting of the National Poultry Strategy and implementing commodity compacts.
“A significant effort involves connecting poultry feed processors with local farmers, ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality, locally sourced ingredients for poultry feed production, he said, adding that this initiative supports farmers by providing them with a reliable market and strengthens the poultry industry by ensuring access to affordable and nutritious feed.
Through these efforts, SAGCOT aims to boost the poultry sector, fostering sustainable agricultural growth in Tanzania.
Attracting Significant Investments.
SAGCOT’s strategic approach, which focuses on developing integrated agricultural value chains and providing a supportive environment for investors, has been instrumental in attracting substantial private sector capital into Tanzania’s agricultural sector.
Over the past ten years, Mr Kirenga said that SAGCOT has facilitated the mobilisation of over $1.32 billion in privatesector investments, saying these investments are not merely financial figures, but they represent tangible contributions to the growth and modernisation of Tanzania’s agricultural landscape
Source: Daily News