TANZANIA—The government of Tanzania has announced a tax exemption initiative as part of the Feed the Future Tanzania Tuhifadhi Chakula project, a strategic move to combat post-harvest losses in cereal and horticultural crops.
The project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and led by the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), aims to reduce post-harvest losses by 2028.
According to Gerald Mweli, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, the government’s commitment to the Tsh50 billion (US$18,269,117.50) project includes providing import duty exemptions on relevant purchases.
This initiative will enable farmers to access technologies at lower costs, enhancing their productivity, sustainability, and ability to manage post-harvest losses through value addition and timely sales.
The project’s ambitious goals include reducing post-harvest losses in horticulture from 30-40% to 15% and grains from 13% to 7% by 2028.
Mweli emphasized the importance of technology transfer and highlighted the government’s support for farmer groups in processing their cooking oil, citing the example of a farmer with 10 acres of sunflowers investing in a Tsh3 million (US$1096) machine to produce oil for their community.
The government’s subsidy for high-quality sunflower seeds in 2022 has already led to a dramatic increase in sunflower production, rising from 490,000 tons to 1.1 million tons.
This achievement underscores the growth potential when farmers have the necessary support and resources.
The project aims to improve food preservation, crop processing, and access to regional and international markets while addressing policy barriers that hinder the affordability of food storage and value-adding technologies.
Amani Temu, Chief of the Party for the Feed the Future Tanzania Tuhifadhi Chakula project, stated that these exhibitions will become annual events in various regions to ensure farmers have continuous access to essential technologies.
The exhibition featured innovations in soil health assessment, harvesting, storage, processing, packaging, and value addition, with around 30 companies participating.
Jacqueline Mkindi, CEO of TAHA, expressed gratitude for the support from the Tanzanian government and USAID, recognising their critical role in strengthening the horticulture sector.
The government’s strategic tax exemption and commitment to the Feed the Future Tanzania Tuhifadhi Chakula project demonstrate a concerted effort to empower farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance the agricultural sector’s competitiveness in Tanzania.
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