P. Sarojini
Tanzania (CWBN)_ A project funded by European Union (EU) to enhance the quality and quantity of the farming goods aims to help more than 20,000 smallholder farmers involved in horticulture in Zanzibar, who mainly cultivate vegetables, fruits and spices. Project Monitoring and Analysis Manager Ally Mbarouk announced this while presenting it to Unguja West B District Local Administrative Council officers.
Ally Mbarouk said that at least 21,000 small farmers in 50 shehias, the lowest administrative divisions, in the islands of Unguja and Pemba will be benefitted through this €5 million project sponsored by the European Union. He further added that the project’s main objective was to unlock the capacity of Zanzibar smallholder farmers’ horticulture value chains and supply the local and international markets with high-quality goods.
Mr Mbarouk further said, “We need to help the smallholder farmers engaged in horticulture improve production and quality. This four-year project is co-implemented by Tanzania Media Women Association (Tamwa), Community Forest Pemba (CFP) and the Dar es Salaam based People’s Development Forum (PDF).”
In the country’s anti-poverty policy, the production of fruits, spices and vegetables plays a key role in raising the lives of numerous smallholder farmers, but the main challenge remained in the quantity and quality of the products. Mr Mbarouk said that after discussing with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock, smallholder farmers in nine districts, including four on the Pemba Islands, were selected.
Mr Mbarouk further explained the plans of the project. He said, “Through this project we also hope to build a network between farmers and stakeholders in farming, improve quality and support the country’s national food security and nutrition programme”. Mr. Mbarouk said the project would also educate farmers on value adding and encourage organic farming, and that the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) will support to advertise the quality farm products of Zanzibar abroad.
He said the project was an effort of President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, which aimed at motivating the country’s small traders and entrepreneurship. A cross cutting issues officer at the Unguja North A Town Council, Ms Nahla Abdulhalim Mohamed, welcomed the project saying, “It is a timely project to help farmers transform with the hope of increasing their incomes.”
Deputy Director of Agriculture and Environment in Unguja Central District, Mr Makame Kitwana Makame, said that this project will boost farming and uplift the lives of farmers. He said, “Farmers have been producing crops of low quality, leading to difficulties in selling.” He also listed the most highlighted spices in the project which include vanilla, black pepper, ginger and red pepper.
