Youth hailed as new farming force

MASATO MASATO

AGRIBUSINESS Congress East Africa started in Dar es Salaam amid prospects of transformation in the country’s agricultural sector, which is lately attracting thousands of youth.

“I see a bright future of Tanzania’s agriculture,” Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Policy Advisor David Nyange told the two-day congress, projecting increased export of food and cash crops, technology and innovation driven sector growth as well as increased enthusiasm among the youth in farming.

In his paper “The future of agriculture in Tanzania’’, Professor Nyange said currently, poor technology, low productivity, resource driven growth, middle age labour force and traditional cash crop dominated exports typify the country’s agriculture.

However, he noted that the rising food prices, population explosion, rapid urbanisation, rising incomes and emerging middle class were some of the drivers of the agricultural sector in the country.

Prof Nyange welcomed the young men and women to the sector, saying unlike their aged counterparts, the underage were more likely to perform irrigated agriculture, produce for the markets, grow staples --rice, maize and horticulture -- for export markets and engage in post-harvest activities.

He proposed formulation of robust agriculture policies, warning that oil and gas sector threatens the competitiveness of agricultural sector through the Dutch disease.

“Resources tend to raise public expectations but unfortunately they cannot automatically create jobs or wealth,” said Prof Nyange, proposing investment of the revenue accrued from the oil and gas in sectors like agriculture and light manufacturing, which have the potential to promote broad based growth.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry (Agriculture), Dr Florens Turuka, reconfirmed the government’s commitment to develop appropriate infrastructure in support of agribusiness related activities but asked the private sector to play its role as well.

“There is still room for the private sector to support development of agribusiness infrastructure, especially in rural areas...opportunities exist in the development of irrigation, transport, storage and marketing infrastructure,” Dr Turuka said in his opening address to the congress delegates.

He described large, vibrant and competitive financial markets with adequate safeguards as critical in the promotion of agribusiness, noting that, “...they lower transaction costs, mobilise savings and efficiently allocate resources to investors.”

Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT) Chairman Sinare Yusuf, whose organisation is hosting the congress, described the meeting as a valuable avenue for agricultural sector stakeholders from the East African region to share experience and technology as well as deliberate on how best to transform the sector, which supports the lives of about 80 per cent of the population.

Dr Yusuf said the congress, which is being held for the third time, has brought together local and international exhibitors to display the latest agricultural technologies in the market.

“We have among the largest companies in agricultural sector exhibiting their technologies here today,” said the ACT Chairperson. A number of youth were among the curious and inquisitive Dar es Salaam residents who visited the exhibition at Mlimani City along Sam Nujoma Road