Find Agriculture expertise in United Republic of Tanzania
- Nature of agriculture
- Development of industry
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries contributed 29% of GDP of mainland Tanzania in 2010, whilst 40.1% of land is dedicated to agricultural use (2009) and about 75% of the labour force is engaged in the sector, mainly on a small scale. The most important cash crops for smallholders are cotton, coffee, tobacco and cashew nuts; and for the large estates, sisal and tea. Maize, wheat, cassava, bananas, cloves, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cattle, sheep and goats are other important products. The principal agricultural export products are cashew nuts, cotton, tobacco, tea and sisal and the main export partners are UK, India, Germany and Netherlands. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives is responsible for agriculture at a federal level. The Ministry works with the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) which guards against food shortage by means of a Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR).
The World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report (2012-2013) ranks Tanzania 82nd out of 141 countries in relation to agricultural policy costs with a score of 3.8, just below the world average of 3.9. The Ministry’s aims include providing policy guidance and services to a modernised and competitive agriculture sector by 2025. There is great interest in expanding private sector involvement in the agricultural sector. To this end various organisations, including the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), have been set up, through which the private sector and government can interact. Tanzanian representatives were present at the 2012 Growth Africa Investment Forum which was jointly convened by the African Union, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the World Economic Forum. At this forum Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete confirmed the readiness of Tanzania’s agricultural sector to collaborate with the private sector to benefit small-scale farmers, modernise and make agriculture an attractive prospect for the youth of the country.
Agriculture organisations in United Republic of Tanzania | |
---|---|
Agricultural Council of Tanzania |
|
Business Information Services |
|
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives |
|
Sokoine University of Agriculture |
|