Agriculture stakeholders to take part at organic farmers’ exhibition
Over 10,000 organic farmers and stakeholders from Tanzania and the rest of the world are today expected to take part at a one-day organic farmers' exhibition, which is geared towards bolstering organic agriculture in Tanzania
The event has been organised by Flora and Fauna Restoration System Tanzania (Floresta) in partnership with Bank of Commerce (NBC), Tanzania Forestry service (TFS), Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), Export and processing Zone (EPZ), Small Industries development organisation (SIDO), NEMC and Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT).
The exhibitions came after a two-day training of 23 journalists from different local print, electronic and online media houses held in Same district in Kilimanjaro region with the purpose of shaping and improving their knowledge and abilities in reporting organic agriculture, its essence and impact that is mostly based on protection of consumers health from food stuffs produced through conversional farming.
TOAM’s Communications Advisor, Constantine Akitanda said that the exhibition themed ‘Achieving sustainable industrial Economy and food security through Ecological Organic Agriculture Innovations’ is intended at promoting Ecological Organic Agriculture innovations in order to attain sustainable industrial economy.
According to him the exhibition is intended at facilitating market linkage, it offer farmers an opportunity to access local and global markets for their agricultural producers, increase awareness of the importance of EOA in achieving sustainable industrial economy, trade promotion and Job creations and Sustainable farming systems and small scale agro processing industries.
“The exhibition will seek to link initiatives that support scaling up the agro-ecosystems for increased productivity, while ensuring resilience and sustainability for achieving food security, poverty reduction and enhancing a green and resilient economy,” said Akitanda.
He asserted that the Exhibition is designed to respond to key questions as to why famer’s exhibition is relevant in contemporary agricultural transformation agenda, environmental and health concerns, climate change resilience and sustainable production and consumption.
What are scalable best practices and technologies tested by research and practised by farmers and organic operators and how can farmers and the country achieve scaling up and mainstreaming including methods and approaches.
He said over the years there have been efforts and initiatives from a wide range of actors in promotion, investment and advocacy for more sustainable, environmental, safer and responsible production and consumption patterns.
“This has been necessary in order to address challenges facing not only agricultural production but also livelihoods such as climate change and the need to immediately change the course to a more sustainable agro-ecological agriculture. The trade show is therefore designed to exhibit products and information for awareness raising and sharing best practices for scaling up small scale famers and industries,” he added;
Each year, Flora and Fauna Restoration System Tanzania (previous known as FLoresta Tanzania) organises agricultural exhibitions and trade show that brings together smallholder farmer and traders within and beyond the Kilimanjaro region. Last year it brought together 10,000 participants who include leaders of various government and non-government entities within Tanzania and around the globe.
