The International Fund for Agriculture and the government of Tanzania have signed a US$77.4mn project to help 260,000 rural households that re facing impacts of climate change
Poverty is higher in rural areas, with 31% of the population living below the poverty line, and depending on livestock, food crop production and fisheries for their livelihood. At a time when the COVID-19 crisis could push another 500,000 Tanzanians into poverty, AFDP will target small-scale farmers, small and medium seed producers, artisanal fishers, processors, aqua farmers, seaweed farmers and others in 41 districts in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Half the beneficiaries will be women and 30% will be youth.
Through the project, 13,000 metric tonnes of quality certified seeds - maize, sunflower and pulses will be distributed to farmers. Local extension services will help create awareness on improved seeds and facilitate market linkages with grain buyers and processors to avoid fake seeds in the market and improve uptake by farmers.
AFDP will help to increase the capacity of aquaculture development centres to produce 25 million tilapia fingerlings and 10 million catfish. This will increase the supply and bring down the prices of fish in the local market. The project will also develop kitchen gardens for vegetables and provide training for households on nutrition.
In Tanzania, farmers will continue to bear the brunt of climate change, with droughts and increased rainfall putting pressure on the ecosystem that they depend on. To help build their resilience, farmers will be able to access locally adapted seeds. Small-scale producers will be trained on environmentally friendly techniques and technologies for fishing and management of natural resources. Public-private-producer partnerships will be supported to engage those involved in deep-sea fishing and reduce post-harvest losses.