Posted on March, 11, 2025 at 10:42 am
THE European Union (EU) and the Government have celebrated the significant achievements of the AGRI-CONNECT programme, a key initiative focused on fostering sustainable agriculture and improving value chains for shared prosperity.
With a total investment of euros 100 million (approximately 278bn/-) funded by the EU, AGRI-CONNECT, launched in 2019, has played a pivotal role in enhancing Tanzania’s agricultural sector, particularly in horticulture, coffee and tea.
A celebratory event held midweek at Mbeya Food Park in Mbeya City marked the conclusion of the programme. The event was graced by David Silinde, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, and Christine Grau, EU ambassador to Tanzania and the East African Community. Over 100 participants from both private and public institutions attended the occasion.
AGRI-CONNECT focused on the Southern Highlands and Zanzibar and followed the EU's "Farm to Fork" strategy, which emphasised improving farm production, road infrastructure, access to finance, and market linkages. The ultimate goal was to enhance the nutrition and livelihoods of rural communities.
The programme has successfully created a conducive environment for farmers by improving policies, encouraging their involvement in commodity platforms, and reducing trade barriers. AGRI-CONNECT has benefitted 135,000 farmers in the southern highlands and 35,000 in Zanzibar, with a strong focus on nutrition education and empowering rural communities. The initiative has also created 516,833 jobs and self-employment opportunities, generating 3.86bn/- in income for small-scale farmers across selected value chains. Additionally, the programme completed 166 infrastructure projects and upgraded 162 kilometres of rural roads.
In his remarks Silinde commended the positive impact of the AGRI-CONNECT programme.
He praised the EU for its support of the agriculture sector, particularly traditional export crops like coffee, tea, and horticulture, which have benefited smallholder farmers.
“AGRI-CONNECT’s priorities are in line with our Agricultural Master Plan and support our vision for a sustainable economy, climate change resilience, and the use of sustainable agricultural practices to improve the livelihoods of the majority of Tanzanians reliant on agriculture,” said Silinde.
The programme made substantial investments in agricultural infrastructure, including the Mbeya Food Park and the Mpanda agro-processing facility, which supports more than 50 women-led enterprises. In total, approximately 90 processing units were established, alongside investments in technology such as screen houses, solar irrigation, and cold storage, all contributing to value addition along agricultural value chains.
Grau highlighted the programme’s broad impact, stating: “The success of AGRI-CONNECT is clearly reflected in the tangible improvements across Tanzania’s coffee, tea, and horticulture value chains. I am honoured to be here today and to witness how this initiative has benefitted over 177,000 small-scale farmers and created more than half a million jobs. As a flagship EU initiative, it has been delivered with outstanding success, and we take great pride in the partnership that made it all possible.”
The event also provided a unique opportunity to inaugurate upgraded rural roads, addressing critical farm-to-market and industry bottlenecks.
“Well-maintained roads offer numerous benefits, including attracting investment that boosts the rural economy by improving access to markets and processing centres. These upgraded rural roads are part of Tanzania's broader strategy to expand its national road network,” said Dr. Festo Dugange, Deputy Minister of State in the President's Office (Regional Administration and Local Government)
Source: IPP Media