The Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) has commended the government for making a significant milestone in terms of formulating and adopting policies and regulations that relate to agro-processing industries, climate change, trade and food security.
The Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) has commended the government for making a significant milestone in terms of formulating and adopting policies and regulations that relate to agro-processing industries, climate change, trade and food security.
In a joint presentation at the Pact EAC Project workshop in Dar es Salaam held last weekend, Dr Oswald Mashindano, and Solomon Baregu from ESRF said agro-processing industries have a close association with climate change, trade and food security.
ESRF’s Research Fellow Dr Mashindano pointed out that the linkages between climate change, trade and food security have tended to bring about spillover benefits as well as costs which affect the economy and therefore livelihoods of the people.
“All of these policies acknowledge the importance of promoting agro industries – but they are not louder enough in demonstrating and emphasizing the outcome of the linkages between agro industries, climate change, trade and food security such as emerging opportunities and threats or risks,” he said.
Dr Mashindano added: “Agro-processing development has been earmarked as a key regional priority in East Africa. But with the multi-pronged challenges facing Tanzania, it calls for the pertinent question:
How can this process be at the same time climate-aware, trade-driven and food security enhancing? This question is at the heart of a research study being undertaken in Tanzania, which will be presented for your insights.”
In an ideal scenario, trade policies should ensure the availability of inputs despite climate change, markets for the processed products and access to cleaner technologies while climate change policies support this effort through targeted adaptation and mitigation initiatives, he observed.
He further said that the role of international trade and climate negotiations in framing the policy space for such policies cannot be overlooked.
“For the next three years (up to 2019), we expect this project (Agro-Industrial Development Policies: What Nexus to Climate, Food Security, and Trade?) to bring together, inform, train and move to advocacy action hundreds of stakeholders for more climate-aware, trade-driven and food security-enhancing agro-processing in East Africa”.
Seconding Dr Mashindano’s observation, ESRF research fellow Baregu said post harvest losses in Tanzania are very high especially in the horticultural sub-sector ad questioned on the whereabouts of the requisite responses from the agro-processing industry.
“Climate change has made it possible in some parts like Njombe Region to grow tropical commodities such as fruits, vegetables and flowers. Where are the interventions to support and make use of such opportunities?” he queried.“Do we have supportive policies in Tanzania?” he continued to query.
Answering, he said: “Yes, the policies are supportive judging from the available policy documents and a long list of strategies, programmes and regulations, this is perhaps a necessary condition – but not a sufficient one.”
Much as most policies acknowledge the importance of agro industries, none of them clearly pronounces the linkages between agro-processing industries, trade, food security and climate change, Baregu argued.
“In terms of policies, regulations and therefore the monitoring framework, Tanzania has made significant progress. However, the country has not been able to translate its policies and regulations into practice,” the research fellow noted.
On her part, Anna Mwangamilo – Agricultural Engineer, Mechanisation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development said the current focus of the government is to promote the farmers to enhance agro processing and climate change awareness in the country.
“We are now doing contract farming between agro processors and farmers, out-grower schemes between processors and smallholder farmers, strong producer Organisation/associations to give farmers bargaining power, research and exchange information with other research institutions at regional and international levels,” she said.
Mwangamilo pointed out that last year, Climate Smart Agriculture Programme was implemented to ensure sustainable increase in agriculture productivity, build resilience in food systems, adapt to climate change, reduce food losses and waste and contribute to the reduction and removal of greenhouse gas emissions.
“The government has established and strengthened dialogue forum among key public and private sector stakeholders, to discuss the improvement of business environment and expand agricultural finance services through Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank, but also commercial banks for medium- and long-term investment in the sector,” she said.